The Lowdown on Aftermarket Nissan Patrol Exhausts

 

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 Nissan's Patrol has been one of the most ubiquitous all-terrain vehicles that the Australian Outback has seen. The Patrol may not be for everyone's taste when it comes to styling but it sure packs a punch when it comes to the engine and drivetrain.

With the Patrol, you're also getting a robust and reliable suspension system that can easily make you go over the most challenging terrains with no issue. Nissan has equipped the Patrol with all the latest safety tech like blind spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and so on. One thing that can be improved on is definitely the exhaust.

Types of Exhausts

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Cat-Back

The most popular type of Patrol exhaust you can get is a cat-back exhaust which allows you to replace components starting off from the catalytic converter to the tailpipes. With a cat-back Nissan Patrol exhaust, you can expect moderate performance and efficiency gains as well as a reasonable price tag.

Axle-Back

If you want to just get rid of the stock exhaust or part of it, to be more exact, you should consider going for an axle-back system. This is the most affordable and least performance-oriented solution you can get. That's because it replaces only a couple of components from the rear axle to the tailpipes.

Header-Back

If performance matters to you then you're definitely better off with a header-back exhaust. This type of system replaces every single exhaust component and it can make a big difference in how your Patrol behaves on and off the road when you hit the throttle pedal. A header-back Nissan Patrol exhaust system takes a lot of time and money to add to your Patrol.

Turbo-Back

You can go one step further with a turbo-back system if you want to get even quicker acceleration times be it from a standstill or while moving. While a turbocharged Patrol is on its way, you can add one yourself without having to wait. Turbocharging a V8 can be an expensive and difficult task but it can pay off if you want to get the most out of this large NA engine.

Materials

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Mild Steel

With a mild steel exhaust, you can expect everything you could from an axle-back system. This is a fairly affordable exhaust that won't last that long or be as durable as some of its heavier and more expensive counterparts.

Stainless Steel

When it comes to durability and strength in a package, stainless steel exhausts come to mind. They are not as heavy as you might think although they are quite tough, but stainless steel makes for some absurdly anti-corrosive systems,

Aluminised Steel

While a Nissan Patrol exhaust system made of aluminised steel can also survive through corrosive conditions quite well it's not as good as a stainless steel one. Aluminised steel is much lighter than stainless steel but it's also more malleable which can be both good and bad as it costs less but it's not as strong.

Titanium

The lightest, strongest and best anti-corrosive Nissan Patrol exhaust you'll come across is one made of titanium. Titanium is also a material that can withstand temperature fluctuations without an issue while being 100% recyclable. But all this comes at a high cost.

What to Consider

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Diameter

When choosing an aftermarket Patrol exhaust you should consider certain factors such as the diameter of the downpipe. The larger it is the better as it means that the fumes from the engine will travel through the exhaust more easily and they won't stress the engine as much. Remember though you shouldn't go too large either as such a downpipe can easily create too much backpressure which can do the exact opposite for your Patrol.

Bends

There are two types of bends you can have on a Nissan Patrol exhaust system and those are crush or mandrel bends. Crush bends make for a more affordable system but they are also good for performance as they put some restrictions on exhaust gasses. Crush bends are better for performance since they are smooth and don't put many restrictions on the flow of exhaust gasses but they do make for a costlier system.

Thickness

The thickness of the walls or the material of an exhaust matters as much as the material itself. The thicker the material the heavier the exhaust is but also the more durable it is and the less exhaust drone there is. Although thinner walls do make for a lighter exhaust they are not that good for long-term use and can make the whole driving experience more annoying.

Tips

You can put all kinds of tips on the back of your Patrol styled in the way you find it most appealing. This can make your SUV more appealing as you can have sporty tips that shine from a mile away in an endless number of configurations.