This is why, after the engine, the exhaust is one of the most worked on systems in terms of performance. There are many reasons to replace your stock exhaust, but the biggest one is to help improve the scavenging effect which helps suck in air in the cylinders as gasses exit out of the exhaust ports. This effect is best done with aftermarket exhausts, as they improve airflow.

Important Features of Exhaust Systems

Material

The two main options when it comes to materials are stainless steel and titanium. While the price of an exhaust depends on other factors too, if you go for one made of titanium you’ll spend a lot more. But you’ll also get a lighter and more corrosion and heat-resistant system. However, most major exhaust system suppliers offer stainless steel exhausts as the go-to solution since they are durable, corrosion and heat-resistant.

Bends

The performance exhaust systems can only be made with one type of pipe bending in mind, and that is mandrel bending. This process makes for an exhaust that is smooth from start to finish and one that doesn’t restrict airflow no matter the number of bends it comes with. Crush-bent exhaust should be avoided if you want to improve performance figures.

Diameter

The size of the pipe(s) determines the amount of gasses coming from the engine, which can pass without obstructing the intake of air in the cylinders. Obviously, the larger the diameter, the more air can pass through the system at once, but if you get an exhaust with a diameter that’s too large for your vehicle, it can have the complete opposite effect. Make sure to get a system that has an inch of diameter for every 100HP your car makes.

Thickness

The thicker the exhaust is, the more it weighs, but that alone can’t beat the other two benefits that thicker exhaust systems offer. For instance, a thicker exhaust is able to sustain heavy impacts, which makes it more durable. Thicker systems also help reduce the number of annoying frequencies coming from the engine, which makes for fewer reverberations.

Midpipe

While not always in the middle of the exhaust, the midpipe is the section responsible for evening out the pressure in the system. This helps reduce the amount of strain the system has and improves its efficiency. For the most performance-oriented exhaust, you should go for a midpipe configuration in the shape of an “X”, as it evens out the pressure in the system in the most seamless way.

Headers

The header or headers, since some vehicles have multiple ones, are the very first components and the ones that connect the exhaust to the engine. To improve the scavenging effect of your vehicle, you should go for tubular headers made of aluminium as they are light and can take a lot of heat while being able to route engine fumes out the quickest.

Tailpipes

Going at the other end of the exhaust, the one you can see from the back of your car, there you’ll find the tailpipe(s). They may not affect performance, but they sure do affect how your car looks and sounds. Larger and multiple tailpipes make for a louder car and a more aggressive-looking rear.

Valve

You can also have your exhaust have a valve on it. This valve can make your vehicle street-legal as you close it up so that it doesn’t make loud pops and bongs. When the valve is open, you can hit the track and listen to the symphony of your engine better. A valved exhaust is, therefore, more versatile than one without a valve.

Types of Exhaust Systems

Axle-Back

With an axle-back exhaust, you can’t expect much in terms of performance. However, you can definitely change the way your car sounds without spending a lot of time or money. In fact, an axle-back system is the most affordable solution since it only replaces a handful of components from the rear axle to the tailpipes.

Cat-Back

A cat-back exhaust is the most popular system recommended by most exhaust system suppliers since it’s not as unnoticeable as an axle-back exhaust but also not as expensive as more complex performance exhaust systems. Cat-back aftermarket exhausts offer reasonable improvements in performance. It can also change the exhaust note of your current exhaust by replacing half of its components from the catalytic converter to the tailpipes.

Header-Back

If you go with a header-back system, you get to replace the whole stock system, and in doing so, you get to improve your acceleration and the sound of your vehicle in a more drastic way. Keep in mind that a header-back exhaust is a more expensive solution.

Turbo-Back

The most expensive exhaust is definitely a turbo-back system, which is able to replace both your exhaust and turbocharger. If you have a naturally aspirated engine, then adding a turbo is going to make an even bigger difference.

The post Discover The World of Exhaust Systems appeared first on Sherlocks.com.au Blog.

With 115kW on hand, the Gen 3 Rangers and BT50s are eager beneficiaries of the increased flow and up to 12kW increase that outback aftermarket exhaust systems have to offer. They’re the perfect way to unleash the power that the Ranger’s snappy Duratorq 3.0l is capable of producing; and since they’re also one of the most affordable upgrades around, you can’t afford to overlook them.

You Get a Natural Increase in Power from an Upgraded Ranger Exhaust

It’s a fact: when you swap out the Duratorq’s throttled 2.0“ pipes for a tuned outback 3.0“ exhaust for Ford Ranger PJs and PKs, not only can you expect to see an instant increase in performance, but also an increase in the Duratorq’s efficiency. A larger diameter pipe is especially helpful with moving power robbing heat away from the engine and turbo: a problem that’s complicated even further by Australia’s hot climate.

Heat, and heated exhaust gas evacuation are crucial components in helping prevent potentially catastrophic thermal fatigue, and an upgraded 3.0” Ford Ranger exhaust helps keep the heat in check by:

• Scavenging as much heat away from the engine as possible;
• Creating enough exhaust flow velocity to evacuate spent gases quickly; and,
• Removing any obstacles that could hamper exhaust gas movement.

The increased flow velocity produced by a Ford Ranger exhaust upgrade also contributes significantly to faster turbo spooling. Across the board, the upgrade’s larger pipe diameter is tantamount to a natural increase in power and torque.

Free-Flowing Features for any Ranger Configuration

Although they’re an inch wider, top quality Australian-made 3.0” outback Ford Ranger exhaust systems are exact replacements for the Duratorq’s OE pipes and boast a range of standard and optional features that include:

• Standard front dump pipe and connector pipe with double braided flex joint;
• Optional 200 cell high flow diesel catalytic converter assembly;
• Optional low-restriction muffler or resonator assembly;
• Standard side exit tailpipe assembly; and,
• All necessary connection hardware.

TIG welded flanges and mandrel bent tubing round out the free-flowing characteristics that these Ranger exhaust systems have, with the advantage that they generate minimal turbulence while encouraging maximum scavenging. As these systems are direct replacements for all Durotorq’s factory exhaust systems, they also work with any of the Ranger’s space-, extra-, or dual-cab configurations.

409 Stainless Steel is the Key to Efficient Performance

Materials are one of the primary considerations when it comes to aftermarket Ford Ranger exhaust system design, and 409-grade stainless steel has all the performance attributes needed to make a system that’s durable, long-lasting, and as effective as possible. Unlike the standard selection of highly polished grades of stainless steel like 304 or 316, the 11% chromium content in 409-grade stainless is easily identified by the passive layer of surface rust that forms over it. This layer of oxidation protects it from corrosion, while the chromium composition also adds to the ductility that makes it easier to repair than other grades of stainless.

Most importantly, 409-grade stainless is as much as 60% more efficient at shedding heat than other stainless steel alloys, giving it a core of efficiency attributes that include:

• Sustained heat resistance to 675°C, with limited short term exposure up to 815°C;
• Excellent resistance to thermal fatigue as a result of heat cycling; and,
• Outstanding corrosion resistance against exhaust gases or on-road exposure.

The heat transfer capacity of a 409-grade stainless Ranger exhaust system also helps reduce the possibility of EGR sensor failures, together with unwanted increases in fuel consumption and decreases in performance.

High-Performance Coatings That Keep Ranger Temperatures Under Control

Because heat is such a persistent performance prohibitor, especially with turbocharged engines, there’s no way to overlook the role that exhaust systems play in regulating temperatures. Ford Ranger exhausts are no exception; and even under modest loads, downstream turbo temperatures can routinely climb beyond 600°C, creating all kinds of exhaust scavenging problems that need to be addressed as quickly as possible.

Thermal barrier coatings are essential applications that are formulated to withstand exhaust temperatures over 1000°C; and when it comes to a premium quality exhaust system for Ford Ranger PJs and PKs, they’re the perfect compound for:

• Improving the active heat retention needed for exhaust scavenging;
• Reducing mechanical losses at the turbo due to heat build-up; and,
• Reducing exhaust tube oxidation resulting from extreme temperatures.

Make no mistake: when you invest in a custom aftermarket exhaust, Ford Ranger systems need the protection that thermal coatings have to offer, and you’ll benefit from the boost in durability throughout your full drivetrain.

The Final Word

At the end of the day, the Gen 3 Ranger’s Australian-bred simplicity, together with its feisty 3.0l Duratorq, are the reasons behind its success. It’s the 4WD that was made especially for Australia, and an Australian-made exhaust system is the best way to get the most out of it.

A tuned outback 3.0“ exhaust for Ford Ranger PJs and PKs is the right system to get the most out of these steadfast performers. They’ve got power to spare, and an outback exhaust is the best way to tap into it.

The post Ford Ranger Exhausts: Discover How it Improves Outback Performance appeared first on Sherlocks.com.au Blog.