4x4 Exhausts: How They Work and Why They're so Useful

There are numerous reasons to go off roading in Australia, weather it's for work or for leasure you're going to need a 4x4. And the popularity of utes shows that us Aussies understand exactly how beautiful and sprawling our nation is, and the most popular vehicles show this to be the fact.

There are many different viable 4x4 vehicles, however there are also many downfalls that don't completely break the vehicle but do have an impact on the performance and longevity of the vehicles. Parts and components that are made of mild steel are fairly susceptible to corrosion and damage, and there are ways to protect some of them, except for one the exhaust.

With stock exhausts you can never be sure since the manufacturers usually have crush bent mild steel or stainless steel exhausts that aren't as durable as an off road trip would require. The performance is also mildly affected by the stock exhaust's bend type, namely the crush bending technique causes many different imperfections within the bore of the exhaust which reduce the air flow, thus making the engine work slower to compensate for the excess gases it can't exhaust. There are aftermarket 4x4exhausts that are mandrel bent which gives them better air flow which will improve the performance of the vehicle. Improved airflow lets the engine exhaust gases and fumes that go through the filter.

Aftermarket 4x4 exhausts are known for being fairly loud, however this is only the case with those drivers that like to make their vehicles more like sports cars rather than commute vehicles. The sound an exhaust makes depends on the diameter of the exhaust, so a larger exhaust system will in turn produce more sound. Smaller exhaust pipes present a greater resistance to steady state flow, so smaller isn't necessarily better either. Finding a good size in between what's too large and what's too small is your best bet. Since a larger exhaust would also lead to more fuel consumption that the engine would burn up.

The material also plays an important role when getting an aftermarket exhaust, the steel used should be durable enough to withstand the corrosion and bumps of a rough dirt road. Aluminised exhuast are the most corrosion resistant while stainless steel is the most durable in terms of stability and strenght. An aftermarket exhaust can only be installed by a trained professional so consult your mechanic before deciding on a modification that may not even be compatible with your vehicle.