3rd Gen Exhaust Size 2.5 vs 3”

I’m considering a few different exhausts for my 2020 TRD Sport. I’ve read up on the Gibson Elite which is a 2.5” pipe front to back. Seems the real difference between that and stock is the muffler. The option #2 is AFE Mach set up with a 2.5” in pipe and 3” out pipe. I spoke to AFE yesterday and they said you’d lose low end with their pipe that is 3” in /3” out. The last thing I want to do is spend money and lose power. I like the throaty sound so I’m thinking of going AFE. I understand there’s a ton of exhaust posts but I didn’t see any touching upon pipe size in conjunction with power. What say yee, brothers?

 

I know there have been a couple guys on this forum that have changed out their exhaust with something other than the TRD or Borla and have been very disappointed to find out that their truck now sounds like a Honda civic with a coffee muffler tip.

Let's be honest. 3.5 v6 isn't going to sound throaty or grumble. It is going to be more along the louder than stock but a little whiny lines.

If you wanted to sound cool should've gotten a v8

 

Yeah I wouldn’t do much other than OEM for exhaust. Unless you find a tried and true recipe that will also involve tuning the software. The engines are designed for back pressure. Start messing with things that are engineered and you will likely have disappointing results.

 

Yes sir and thank you. That’s kinda why I was asking those whom may have tried various options. The folks at AFE basically said that. They offer two pipes, one is 2.5”-3” and the other is 3”-3”. You’ll lose power w the 3”.

Will changing the muffler only add any power ?

 

In my opinion, any muffler that will change the tone (louder) of the exhaust can potentially make the exhaust sound way worse if the incoming sound into the muffler is bad to begin with. If you want to change the tone just a bit and sound better than stock, go with a TRD exhaust. Lots of ppl here are happy with theirs. The 3.5 V6 won’t begin to sound good until you clean up the sound past the primary catalytic converters with an equal length y-pipe. If you don’t want rasp, you need resonators and a large muffler. There are a few ppl here that have tried lots of different things, it all depends on what you want it to sound like that is realistic for a V6. Look into the new urd spec u, it may be what you want.

 

Thanks my friend... the URD is one I had not heard of. I’m trying to check out their website but it appears to be having server issues. I’ll look into the gear tho!

 

I am looking at the URD pipe now... it says 3” piping which goes back to my original question. Is there a lower loss with the larger pipe in front of the muffler? Hmmmmm

 

You will never lose power anywhere with a free-er flowing exhaust. The back pressure myth is bs. It's been proven over and over and over again. I'm curious why AFE says that.

With that said, 2.5 vs 3" isn't going to matter on a NA taco. It doesn't make enough power for 2.5 to be a restriction. You need to be making like 320 whp before you see a difference from 2.5 to 3

 

Speaking of AFE, I have been trying to purchase their ypipe since June. Missed the fourth of July sale because they took so long to process my order. Still waiting on that invoice....

 

the phone tech said the power/torque loss might be in the lower end. Given I pull a small boat/trailer on ocassion I didn’t want a power loss, this he recommended I go with the 2.5”->3” version.

 

If you want an AFE pipe you’ll be better off locating a distributor whom haS them in stock. Maybe extreme terrain. AFE says they’re out of stock for a month or so but not sure when.

 

If you want to piss money away spend it on a lift, bumper, new speakers, light bars etc like the average Tacoma owner does.

 

What if I don't want to be average?

 

You may not even notice it. I didn’t notice a loss but a gain on mine, which is equivalent to a 3-1/2”. Yeah, overkill.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-true-dual-exhaust-build.686707/

 

Lol get a turbo or supercharger then. I have aborla on my truck and I am still trying to find a sucker willing to swap his stock exhaust for it.

 

3in

 

lots of good and bad info here. @rj_taco has experience and i agree with him for the most part.

i also agree that going with open flow unrestricted from restricted stock, even with a 3" mid, will improve things on this particular motor noticeably. this motor is super sensitive to restrictions and it shows clearly to anyone who has worked to open it up, not really subtle.

but it is also true that a 3" mid on this motor with NA (non-FI) config will be a bit loose with throttle response and that equates to torque. these things, however, are probably only clear on the MT trucks where you can modulate the throttle and power while not under load, and that's a huge difference that the AT trucks cannot work with unfortunately.

 

Yeah I agree. You have more experience with this than me for sure, you’ve tried several things and know what should/shouldn’t work good NA.

 

I’m rocking a 2.5” custom bent stainless magnaflow setup after Star Tuning (specializes tuning tacomas) advised that he feels the 3in system looses too much back pressure. With the intake, tune and other mods I’ve done I’m very happy. The exhaust is calm enough when wanted and sounds throaty enough when ever I feel like hearing it!

 

2016 2.7L 5speed.

3'' tailpipe back with the Magnaflow Street Series Catback system. Modified the system and cut off tailpipe, dumped it over the rear axle with a black tip.