Are you looking to upgrade your Prado exhaust system? Whether you want more power for your off-roading activities or in-city driving, there are many reasons why Prado owners look for Prado exhaust upgrades. While the factory exhaust system does the job just right, aftermarket exhausts simply provide more. They’re made using higher-quality materials, feature unrestrictive bends, are more durable, and come with larger-diameter pipes. All of this allows for the faster airflow of gases going in and out of the engine, thus increasing performance by improving engine efficiency. However, you have to carefully select your Prado exhaust system to make sure you get these benefits. Here’s a list of factors to consider before choosing.
Exhaust System Materials
Prado stock exhaust systems are typically made using mild steel, which is good but not great. On the flip side, Prado exhaust upgrades are made using stainless or aluminised steel. Both these materials are superior in quality. They’re not only more durable, but also provide superior heat transfer. There are some differences between stainless and aluminised steel that may make you sway towards one over the other. For starters, stainless steel is heavier than aluminised steel, but is also more durable and resistant to the elements.
Aluminised steel, however, is lighter, which will positively impact your mileage. Of course, you can take it a step further and invest in a titanium exhaust system, but those come at a premium price and are generally used in sports cars by petrolheads who want to shorten their lap times by a few seconds extra.
Exhaust System Bending
Exhaust system bends can be made using different techniques, the most popular of which are crush, wrinkle and mandrel. Crush and wrinkle bends are what you’ll generally see in stock exhaust systems, as they’re more economic. Mandrel bending, on the other hand, is what you’ll find in performance aftermarket exhausts. Crush bending is also known as compression, press or ram bending, and it refers to the technique used in which only a radius die and backing shoes are used. As a result, you get bends with depressions, restricting airflow.
On the other hand, mandrel bending also involves the use of a mandrel. The mandrel supports the inner walls of the pipes as they’re swept through the ide and backing shoes. The end result is a bend that’s free of diameter and profile changes. As a result, you get a virtually uninterrupted final product that’s kink-free and crease-free, allowing for optimum airflow.
Exhaust System Pipe Diameter
In the world of exhaust system pipes, bigger is not automatically better. The diameter needs to match the engine displacement and horsepower level output. Even though larger diameter pipes look cooler, if they’re too large for the system, you’ll lose on exhaust velocity and thus, on low-range and mid-range power. The pipe diameter always refers to the outer diameter.
Exhaust System Pipe Shape
Most exhaust pipes are round, but there are specialty dies that allow oval profiles to be made. Oval pipes are recommended when you have clearance issues, as they’re narrower on the plane, providing extra ground clearance on low-ground clearance vehicles. Besides this benefit, oval pipes provide a unique look to the system.
Exhaust System Fit and Clearance Considerations
You need to make sure the aftermarket exhaust system fits your Prado. While this is possible by cobbling a system together by purchasing pipes and trimming to length, the pipe-to-pipe sections will need to be clamped or welded together. Alternatively, you can get a pre-formed kit, which is the more popular option. Pre-formed kits are typically shaped to fit your Prado make and year. The only thing you’ll need to do is install the system.
There are also completely custom options that are ideal for those looking for something specific out of their exhaust system. This, however, is only common for unique applications where no pre-designed systems are available. Still, the selection of pipe diameter needs to be based on engine size and horsepower level. generally, performance V8 engines require pipes of 2.5-3.5 inches.
In any case, the pipe diameter needs to be larger in single exhaust systems than it would be in dual exhaust systems. However, as aforementioned, bigger is not always better. If the pipes are too large, you’ll lose on velocity.
Further, make sure you don’t experience clearance issues. Installing pipes too close to the floor can result in excessive heat transfer to your floor and carpet. Additionally, if the pipes are too close to the frame or floor, they can make contact which results in resonance or banging noise.
Last but not least, the pipes need to clear the driveshaft and transmission properly, if they’re too close, transmission fluid temperature can rise, resulting in transmission damage. typically, you’ll want at least 2-3cm clearance between exhaust pipes and the transmission cooling lines.
