Exhaust system ?

I am just curious if anybody has an exhaust system on their truck. Flowmaster, Borla, etc...If you do was it because you want more HP or something or do you just like the noise?

 

I am just curious if your thread is a set up to start trashing people? It may just be me but it sounds like you have a predetermined opinion of aftermarket exhaust and those who may choose to go that route?

 

Not at all! I am actually very interested. I have been watching videos all night and trying to learn about these things because I am a new tacoma owner. I'm trying to figure out if these custom exhaust actually do help make the engine run smoother, and more efficiently.

 

No personal experience with exhaust mods on a Taco, but i have Stainless Works Retro Cat Back exhaust on my 2015 Mustang GT and according to the dyno, that mod alone added 9 hp. That said, no noticeable difference was felt at the user level.

 

URD is going to have a y pipe and catback available on the 30th.

 

If one makes more power (dyno proven)

a) it won't be much

b) it will be very expensive on a $/HP basis, especially if it's a quality cat back.

It will make a different sound. Whether that sound is appealing on a Tacoma motor (either one) is strickly a matter of ear opinion. I spent too many years with throaty v8's and high revving sweet 4's to find either Tacoma motor to be sound seductive. But that's just me.

One thing to be cautious of if you highway cruise much, and that's drone. What may sound appealing at idle, driving around town, or at WOT can often become a headache maker at a steady state RPM. I'm not talking just Tacoma, but all kinds of vehicles with all kinds of aftermarket systems.

 

I've had a experience with Magnaflow and Flowmaster.. Both on the 4.0 engine. Both coupled with and without cold air intakes. (This is my 2nd 2 gen)

Personally I feel that replacing just the muffler doesn't net a whole lot of performance increases. However, it can make your vehicle feel more responsive, shed a few lbs and sound nicer- changing your driving habits a bit. Still an improvement over stock, so I wouldn't say it's wasted money.

Now with the Magnaflow I had paired it in stages, first adding a CAI, then adding Doug Thorley long tube headers, then a pipe bomb y pipe.. It's been a while so I can't be precise on the differences. However, the truck was so much more fun to drive and meaner once I had the headers and CAI on it. It honestly felt like it had a bit of pull on it afterwards too. I can't say much about the y pipe except it help get rid of the raspy sound and completely eliminated all the cats of the truck. I ran this set up in CA, and never worried about smog as the truck was brand new..

As for the flowmaster, I am running a stock truck with just a flowmaster40 as the muffler. Sounds okay. Better than stock, I'm not terribly happy with it though. However, performance mods will be near the bottom of my list for the time being. I chose flowmaster this time however due to three parts..

1. Availability.

2. A change from past experience.

3. I read that Magnaflow recommends a replacement of their mufflers every few years. This is because of the baffling inside, it's subject to deteriorate and "dull" changing the sound and back pressure in your truck. I want to say it uses some type of sound deadening materials. Where as the flowmaster system uses more of a channeling method, metal that creates an internal pattern that reflects and cancels the sound waves against themselves. Which led me to believe it would last longer..

I know this has no real science or evidence to support it, I'll have to find the article when I have more time and edit this post. But in a nut shell that's my 3rd grade explanation of my choices. I do it for driving experience. Nothing more.

 

Love these threads almost as much as oil change threads

 

Good point- never thought too much about it but i know what you are talking about

 

just leave it stock.. it is a very nice exhaust system from the factory... - this is coming from a guy that has modified the exhaust on almost every vehicle i have ever owned.......

 

just for the sound, nevermind other claims or wanna-be-claims, i put in a strong vote for the TRD Pro exhaust. it sounds fantastic in the cab and helps me hear when to shift, so there's some enhanced function as well.

 

I have an exhaust system. It came with the truck....

 

Yep. I've done the same thing as you, modified every car exhaust I have owned but likely not this 04. I drive it on the highway a lot (when driven, 1200 miles a shot) and dread the inevitable "drone" in the cab.

 

A system will help the truck breath better with no "real" noticable gains.
I have the trd system and have a manual trans. which i think you should have when buying a system, unless of course you are supercharged and cai.

I think it sounds best at about 3500-4000 rpm.

Good luck in your search.