Exhaust FAQ

Should I get a 4" or 5" exhaust?

If your truck is currently less than 500 RWHP, then upgrading to a 5 inch exhaust will actually cause your truck to lose power on the low end of the turbo spool. The speed at which a trucks turbo can spool is directly related to the amount of backpressure on the exhaust side of the turbo. By going with a larger exhaust system, it takes more backpressure and more time to reach the amount of turbo spool that you were able to reach before. Therefore, we recommend 4 inch systems, unless, you are( or plan to be) over 500 RWHP, or if you prefer the sound of a 5 inch system.

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Should I Choose an Aluminized or Stainless Exhaust System?

The stock system from the factory is aluminized steel. With the aluminized system you will get the same performance as a stainless system. However, the aluminized system is more susceptible to rust and usually has a lesser warranty from most manufacturers. Our general rule is to recommend stainless to any customer living in an area that usually receives snow fall during winter months. This is because the salt on the roads quickly promotes corrosion and rust on the aluminized systems.

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Why is There Rust on My Stainless Steel Exhaust System?

It is a common belief that stainless steel cannot rust. This is false. There is only one grade of stainless steel that cannot rust and that is surgical grade stainless steel. All other grades will contain some iron content to prove rigidity in the material therefore they can rust to some degree. Purchasing a stainless steel exhaust system prevents the system from rusting though, as mentioned above the system may develop some surface rust. That rust should not, however, cause any harm to the exhaust system or its ability to function.

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What is a DPF?

DPF stands for Diesel Particulate Filter. In late 2007 the EPA released a new Standard of Emission Complacence rules for diesel trucks. All light duty diesel pickups manufactured after 07.5 and up now come equipped with a diesel particulate filter in line with the exhaust system. The DPF is a two part system, a physical filter and electronic sensors. The filter portion of the system catches an extremely large percentage of the particulate matter which leaves the exhaust, and when the filter is full, the sensor portion kicks the truck into what is known as a regeneration cycle. During this regeneration cycle the filter goes through a phase in which it burns all of the particulate matter. While in this cycle most trucks lose a considerable amount of power along with huge drops in their fuel economy.

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My Truck is a Long Bed. Why Isn't There an Exhaust Listed for That?

Our exhaust systems are universal for bed length. This means that each exhaust is made to fit the longest truck produced for that particular make and model. This also means that you might be required to cut one of the pipes on a shorter truck. (see: Can I Install An Exhaust Myself?)

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Should I Get a Turbo Back or a Cat Back Exhaust System?

A turbo back exhaust system will provide better air flow and lower EGT's than a catalytic convert back system will. The down fall is that most Turbo Back Systems will eliminate the catalytic converter. This usually doesn't become an issue unless you live in a state that requires emissions testing. Removing the catalytic converter does not usually cause a truck to fail the emissions smog testing. However, it will cause the vehicle to fail the physical inspection. Therefore you should asses the risk of failing an emission test. If the risk is high then you should choose a Cat Back system. If emissions regulations are more relaxed in your area then you can choose a turbo back system. Your local DMV should be able to provide you with information on the emission regulations in your area.

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Can I Install the Exhaust Myself?

Yes! In the grand scheme of diesel related upgrades, installing an exhaust system is probably one of the easiest things you can do. All of our exhaust kits utilize the stock exhaust hangers; therefore,everything pretty much goes right back in where the original exhaust comes out. Unless you are attempting to save the stock exhaust system, it is very helpful to have a sawzall to cut the pipe which often makes removal much easier.

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Which Brand of Exhaust Should I Choose?

When choosing an exhaust brand you should consider 3 things.

• Price
• Style
• Sound

The performance gains are practically the same between all of the brands that we carry therefore to ensure your satisfaction with your purchase you should choose based on the style you want and how much you are willing to pay for it.

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Will a New Exhaust System Improve my Horse Power?

In theory, any upgraded exhaust system should increase horse power on a stock truck. However, the increases are small and may not consistently show up on a dynometer test. Overall, you should be able to feel a noticeable difference in power by upgrading your exhaust due to the increased airflow.

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What is the Difference in Sound if I Add a New Exhaust System?

Upgrading to a new exhaust system will ALWAYS make your truck louder than it was at stock. The difference in sound is the result of two different variables. First, how big the diameter of the exhaust is. The greater the pipe diameter then the louder that exhaust will be. The second variable is the muffler. A more restrictive muffler will obviously reduce the sound.

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What is a Cat Back Exhaust System?

A Cat Back system refers to an exhaust system that begins after the catalytic converter and continues to the tail pipe. This type of system is very popular in states with strict emissions regulations, because it does not remove the catalytic converter.

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What Kind of Clamp Styles Do the Exhaust Kits Use?

Exhaust kits typically use two main styles of clamps. V Clamps, which attach the exhaust system to the turbo and band clamps for inline joints.

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Why Doesn't the Exhaust I Want Come With a Tip?

Exhaust systems are typically sold as a full kit from the manufacturer. Therefore if the kit in question does not include an exhaust tip, it is because the manufacturer chose not to include one. However tips can be purchased separately and will work with almost any exhaust system.

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2001Dodge 3500 turbo diesel 5.9... my stock exhaust is patched in 3 places😞, been looking at turbo back pipes with small flow thru muffler, in the 5” category. Any chip mods necessary? Also, would you recommend a better intake system also? Thanks

There are no chips or modes required for the 5” turbo back exhaust. S&b is a good clean cold air intake.

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