When Should You Put an Exhaust System on Your Truck?

by: JasonLancaster
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Truck owners love how powerful their vehicles are. Trucks need lots of power because they're designed to haul and tow heavy loads without difficulty. However, many truck manufacturers use fairly quiet exhaust systems on their vehicles, despite their powerful engines. If you want your truck to sound as powerful as you know it is, or if you're aiming to reduce the constrictions on the exhaust, then consider adding to or altering your truck's exhaust system.

Fortunately, the factory exhaust system is efficient and doesn't require much modification for you to improve it. The first component in your exhaust system is the exhaust manifold, the part that directs exhaust from individual cylinders into one or two main exhaust pipes. Most exhaust manifolds are pretty efficient and don't require replacement, but if you decide you'd like to replace this part, then you're going to look at a set of headers. A good set of headers will offer a ceramic coating, as well as factory mounting points for sensors. Again, most of the time the factory exhaust manifold is just fine.

After the manifold, exhaust travels through the catalytic converters. These are already very efficient and legally required to be on your truck, so you're much better off leaving these alone. The only time you'd do really do anything with the factory catalytic converter is if you were adding an extremely powerful upgrade to your engine, such as a turbo- or supercharger.

As they leave the catalytic converters, exhaust gases will cool down a bit and enter the muffler. The factory mufflers usually aren't too restrictive, and replacing them won't make a huge difference in the amount of hp or torque you get. The average change is about 3-5 hp and 5-10 ft-lbs of torque. After market mufflers, however, will make a dramatic change and are definitely worth the money. Your truck will sound much better! After the mufflers, exhaust exits the truck via the tailpipe. You can add tailpipe tips to this part, but it'll be purely for decoration purposes, and won't affect the exhaust system in any way.

Changing the factory muffler on your truck for an after market muffler will make the biggest change to your exhaust system, so it's the obvious move to make. Here are some things to consider about after market mufflers:

First, will you be happy hearing the exhaust ALL the time? If you're not too sure you'll want the background noise to include exhaust drone every time you drive anywhere, try to choose a muffler that's not described as loud. Your local muffler shop and the Internet are useful tools for choosing a muffler that suits your needs. Some muffler manufacturers will even have sound clips on their websites now to help you create that perfect roar.

Second, do you want something that people can slightly hear when you drive by, or do you want something so loud that the neighbors know exactly what time you leave for work every morning? Words like "racing" or "glasspack" usually indicate exceptionally loud mufflers, so watch out for those terms unless you want a lot of attention.

Another important choice when considering a new muffler is single or dual exhaust. Remember, most factory exhaust systems are pretty good. If your truck came from the factory with a single exhaust, it will work just fine and give good performance with a single after market exhaust system. Dual exhaust systems cost more money, but they look and sound better than single exhaust systems. If you decide to go with a dual exhaust, make sure that your installer works around your trailer hitch and/or leaves room for one in case you want to add it on later.

Your final decision is which exhaust material system you'll use. The right material for you will depend on where you're located geographically. If it's anywhere near a saltwater body, buy stainless steel. It may cost more, but stainless steel will be a wise investment since the saltwater in your environment is harsh on regular galvanized or aluminized steel. Drivers in dry climates won't really benefit from the extra cost of stainless steel, since it'll take years for rust damage to occur if it gets into the system.

About the Author

Author Jason Lancaster, a car business veteran, created AccurateAutoAdvice.com. You'll find accurate car advice and tips for buying a car.  

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