People love debating whether small modifications actually make a difference. One of those ongoing arguments is about removing the turbo silencer ring. Some claim it’s just there to reduce noise, while others insist it restricts airflow and costs horsepower. To find out, Kyle from Dark Iron Diesel took a fifth-gen Cummins-powered truck and put it on the dyno to measure the results.

Before making any changes, the truck was tested in stock form. It wasn’t completely untouched — it had a full emissions delete and a “75-horsepower” tune — but the turbo system remained unmodified. Running with brake-load to help build boost, the truck made 428 horsepower at the rollers. When the truck ran without brake-load, power dropped slightly, showing results of 420 and 416 horsepower.

Removing the Turbo Silencer Ring

With baseline numbers recorded, it was time to remove the turbo silencer ring. The process turned out to be more involved than expected. The exhaust back pressure sensor had to be unplugged, multiple clamps were removed, and the compressor side of the turbo had to come apart. Even after all that, the silencer ring refused to come out easily.

Drilling was the only way to get it loose, but after some effort, the ring was finally removed, and the turbo was reassembled. With everything back together, the truck went back on the dyno for another round of testing. This time, it produced 435 and 436 horsepower, marking an increase over the original 428. When running without brake-load, the numbers also improved, jumping from 420 and 416 horsepower to 424 and 423. That meant removing the silencer ring alone resulted in a gain of six to eight horsepower.

Taking Out the Intake Baffle

Next, the intake resonator baffle was removed. Unlike the silencer ring, this part was much easier to take out. A factory hose clamp had to be cut off and replaced afterward, but there was no need for drilling or pulling apart major components.

Back on the dyno, the truck picked up a little more power. The new peak number came in at 440 horsepower, an additional increase over the previous 436. However, the runs without brake-load stayed the same at 424 horsepower, meaning the intake baffle only added power when boost was loaded up before the pull. In total, the two modifications resulted in a 12-horsepower gain with load and a six-horsepower gain without it.

With both modifications done, the truck was taken out on the road to see if the sound changed. Listening for turbo noise. A faint high-pitched squeal could be heard, but the difference was barely noticeable. As for performance, the extra horsepower wasn’t something that could really be felt while driving.

There was one unexpected result — a small improvement in fuel economy. The truck showed about one liter per 100 km (0.7 miles per gallon)better fuel economy than usual. However, it was hard to say whether that was due to the modifications or just the driving conditions.

The dyno testing confirmed that removing the turbo silencer ring and intake baffle does increase horsepower. The total gain came in at around 10 horsepower, but the sound difference was minimal, and the added power wasn’t enough to create a noticeable change in how the truck drove.

For those looking to squeeze out every bit of power, this is a free modification worth considering. However, the process isn’t as simple as pulling out a ring — drilling may be required, and some patience is needed. While the power gains are real, expectations should stay realistic.