What Is a Jet Ski Dry Pipe?

Cruising over the rolling waves of a lake or ocean on a jet ski while the wind blows in your face can be a very thrilling and exhilarating experience. Many jet skis feature different exhaust systems, with each system offering different performance functions. If you are interested in using or purchasing a jet ski, it can help to know about dry pipe exhaust systems.

  1. Exhaust System

    • Effective exhaust systems are required for jet skis to operate correctly. The engine in a jet ski converts gas into energy to generate power for the jet ski. An exhaust system is a system of pipes or tubes that collect burnt or used gasses to direct the burnt gasses away from the engine, out of the jet ski and thus away from the rider. Exhaust systems therefore eliminate the fumes of used gasses to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the jet ski and also to prevent the rider from having to inhale the fumes.

    Dry Pipes

    • A dry pipe jet ski is a jet ski in which the exhaust system contains a dry pipe to direct and transfer the gases. Wet pipes inject water into the pipe to cool off the exhaust gases at a relatively fast rate. On the other hand, dry pipes do not use water to cool off these expanded gases, but instead they push the unburned gases back into the cylinder so that the engine can generate more power.

    Advantages

    • By reflecting unburned gases back into the cylinder before the exhaust port closes, dry pipes help maximize the amount of gas an engine can use to generate power. Thus, the dry pipes give the cylinders and the engine an additional surge of energy, which increases the amount of power exerted by the jet ski. This feature provides for a higher horsepower rate at higher rpm levels, which can make dry pipes ideal for racing; it also enhances the ski's top-end power, which enables the jet ski to easily rise and stay on top of the water as it cruises at high speeds.

    Disadvantages

    • Because wet pipes cool off the exhaust gases, they tend to have more bottom-end power than dry pipes, and thus wet pipe exhaust systems tend to generate more power at lower rpm ratings than dry pipes. As a result, wet pipe systems are more effective for extreme jet skiers looking to perform tricks. Furthermore, maintenance problems can develop from using dry pipe exhaust systems. Because dry pipes do not cool off the gases and remain relatively hot, they can be more difficult to tune, can melt couplers and O-rings and can be susceptible to cracking.