Every vehicle, be it big or small, has an exhaust system as to filter out harmful gasses. The exhaust system on your Navara does the same job too but sometimes an improvement is more than welcome. An aftermarket exhaust system can easily improve fuel efficiency and while the change won’t be anything drastic you will definitely notice it. The same goes when it comes to power – while you won’t get the same boost in performance as with a turbo or super charger  you will definitely feel it when driving your Navara. The sound of your Navara will also change to a deeper tone, depending on the type of exhaust you get.

Types of Exhausts

Cat-back

With a cat-back upgrade you’ll be replacing every component from the catalytic converter to the muffler. A cat-back Nissan Navara exhaust system can provide a solid improvement for your engine performance and fuel economy over the stock system. A cat-back upgrade also includes a tailpipe change which (depending on the make of your Navara) can be an H-pipe, Y-pipe or an X-pipe. An X-pipe is going to provide a more even air flow than an H or Y pipe which are still a good upgrade from a stock tailpipe.

Axle-back

Compared to a cat-back Navara exhaust, an axle-back system is the least demanding upgrade you can go for. This upgrade includes changing the components from the rear axle to the exhaust tip. You won’t get as much power gains as with a cat-back but you will still feel the improvement over a stock exhaust system.

Header-back

A header-back exhaust system can completely replace your Navara’s stock exhaust and it can provide the highest level of improvement in fuel economy and performance. This is a more radical upgrade that will cost you a lot more than a cat-back or an axle-back system.

Turbo-back

This type of Nissan Navara exhaust system can give you an even greater boost in performance than a header-back system. This upgrade replaces every component behind the turbocharger, if you have one, if not, you’ll need to install one (https://www.howacarworks.com/modifications/installing-a-turbocharger). This can make the upgrade even more expensive than it already is.

Single Exit

The most commonly found exhaust pipe is the single exit which is a system with only one exhaust pipe at the back. This pipe is usually positioned on the passenger side of the vehicle and it doesn’t offer a lot of improvement.

Dual Rear Exit

A dual rear exit exhaust system can make your Navara look and sound sportier. These exhaust pipes are placed on both sides of the vehicle and usually provide a deeper exhaust note.

Dual Side

This system is similar to the dual rear exit system as it too has two exhaust pipes. But here they are placed on one side of the vehicle next to each other. Again, these do offer a deeper exhaust note but also an increase in performance.

Opposite Dual

Dual exhaust pipe systems are very common but with the opposite dual you get something you can’t find on other dual exhaust systems. This system wraps around the wheel and it uses the bend to add to the filtering process. Opposite dual systems are great if you are towing large loads as they disperse the gasses away from the load and they are more efficient in these circumstance too.

High-Performance

With a high-performance Nissan Navara exhaust you get the best when it comes to aftermarket upgrades. They usually have wider pipes which help reduce pressure and increase engine performance.

Does Changing Exhaust Improve Performance?

While changing the exhaust system won’t add any extra power, it will certainly improve the performance of your vehicle. The level of improvement depends on the number of exhuast components you change.

How Do I Know If My Exhaust Needs Replacing?

There are multiple indicators that can tell you when you need to replace yours vehicle’s exhaust system, the first one being noise. This occurs when there is wear and tear in the muffler which is usually the first part to go down. This issue can form pools of corrosive acid inside the system.

Next, vibrations. These often occur in the form of a loud metallic vibrating sound which means that there is something touching the exhaust pipe. This may also mean that a bracket or a clamp has become loose. Chugging sounds indicate that there is blockage in the exhaust system while hissing noises may indicate a crack.

This crack can occur in the manifold or in the exhaust pipe but hissing noises may indicate that you have a leaking gasket too. When you hear roaring noises, it usually means that there is something wrong with the muffler. Banging and clanging are clear indicators that some part of the exhaust has become loose and it needs to be tightened up.