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Toyota's new Tundra is powerful. It is a capable hauler and tower, and it's as fast as many sports cars. But does your new Tundra's exhaust need modification? For instance, do you want to hear that V8 rumble or are you trying to get more power? The new Tundra's factory exhaust system is pretty darn good. It features a unique 4-2-1 exhaust manifold, or four exhaust tubes (one from each cylinder) into a "y" junction, and then into one pipe. This manifold is made from stainless steel, so it's lighter than average and also corrosion resistant. Each of the exhaust tubes are also of equal lengths. All these features make the factory manifolds equivalent to expensive aftermarket headers. Changing them won't get you more power and is uncessary. After the manifold, the exhaust passes thru two (2) catalytic converters. Unless you intend to race this thing off-road, there’s no good reason to remove your catalytic converters. First of all, it’s illegal to do so. Second, it’s bad for the environment. Third, and most significantly, they really don’t result in that much of a hp loss. Today’s designs are fairly performance friendly. From the catalytic converters we come to the factory muffler. The factory muffler is good in terms of efficiency, but not good in terms of character. The factory system is quiet and the V8 can't be heard. While many will tell you that you'll get better performance changing the muffler, keep in mind it's going to be very small. Less than 10 hp or lb-ft of torque (at best). But, it will sound better and every hp counts. As luck would have it, there are literally hundreds of mufflers to choose from. Finding the right one is tricky, but here are some guidelines. Most people want to hear the exhaust rumble at idle and under acceleration, but not really while cruising on the highway. If you get the wrong muffler, you’ll end up hearing an annoying drone at highway speeds. The experts at the local muffler shop can help you choose the right muffer, as well as the websites www.tundraheadquarters.com and www.tundrasolutions.com. Second, in terms of noise, how much can you stand. If it's too loud, your neighbors will be awake when you start your truck. If it's too quite, you won't be able to hear your exhaust unless under hard acceleration. Most mufflers aren't too loud, but to make sure you avoid the loud mufflers, stay away from descriptions that mention "racing only" or "glasspack". You also need to decide if you want a single or dual exhaust? In terms of performance, you usually see the best increase by copying the factory system but upgrading the components. On the Tundra, that would be a single exhaust. But since you’re not going to see much of a performance difference either way, dual exhausts do look and sound better, and that would be my suggestion. Stainless steel or aluminized steel -- that's what you'll be asked when you're choosing your new muffler. While stainless looks cooler, that's not really a good reason to buy it. After all, how often is anyone going to be looking under your vehicle? The best reason to choose stainless is resistance to rust. If your local geography has salt water or high humidity, stainless steel is a good idea. Otherwise, save some coin and go with the less expenisive galavanized or aluminized steel.
By: Jason Lancaster.
Author Jason Lancaster has worked in the car business and with the Toyota Tundra for the better part of a decade. Get more Tundra Info at his website, www.tundraheadquarters.com. Get a unique version of this article from our tundra toyota muffler exhaust aftermarket automotive cars trucks article directory
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