Exhaust System Replacement: Improve the Performance of Your Nissan Patrol

It’s been almost half a century since the first car, a Nissan Patrol, crossed the entire length of the Simpson desert. These are some of the most inhospitable terrains there are, with the largest sand dunes in the world. Since then, a lot of tech has made its made into 4WDs, with Nissan being one of the pioneers. The current Patrol with its huge 5.6-litre petrol V8, is an Aussie favourite, built on the heritage of a model spanning over 70 seventy years. This is the car you want in serious off-roading. It’s 400 bhp glides on paved urban surfaces, and makes easy work in the bush.

The Y62 may rely only on petrol power, but previous model lines also included gutsy diesels. To move the three tons of off-roading metal, you’ll need heaps of torque, and no engines fall short. But you can do better. Modifications, like an aftermarket Nissan Patrol exhaust system, will bring more air into the large 6 and 8 cylinder engines and lets them breathe. With the added grunt, you’ll even be embarrassing some sports cars.

Freeing up untapped power is the whole point of a modified exhaust. Stock exhausts are hindered by overall vehicle cost, and this is the first area engineers see as potential cost-cutting. Materials may be adequate, but designs are limited by emissions regulations. By replacing the stock exhaust on your Nissan Patrol, you’ll be doing the car and yourself a favour.

Benefits of Replacement Exhausts

The narrower and thinner tubing in stock exhausts causes gas flow restriction. Exhaust gases exit the vehicle slower, and exert unwanted pressure along the entire length of the exhaust. There’s even the risk of elevated backpressure, with gasses making their way back to the cylinders. Effectively, the engine is choking. By installing straighter and wider tubes, there’s more space and an easier path for the gases to escape. And more gas flow means higher speeds. The engine works easier and achieves better power and torque figures. You’ll need this in steep technical climbing, and towing heavy caravans and boats, something inherent in the genes of the Nissan Patrol.

Types of Exhaust Systems

Investing in an aftermarket exhaust is investing in the longevity of your engine. The big Nissan diesels and petrols are known for their reliability, but you can extend this further, while also getting more performance. Different exhausts can bring subtle improvements to the Patrol, or something that you can really feel and hear.

Axle-back Exhausts

This is the cheapest performance upgrade you can make on your 4WD. Stock exhaust parts up to the rear axle are all replaced. Mufflers, tailpipe extensions and the tailpipe, as well as the exhaust tip, introduce a few more horses to the engine. The benefit is in the types of mufflers. If your car is extremely loud, a silencer can quieten things down. Or you can add some more rumble. On the huge 5.6 litres, this will scare any surrounding cars into submission.

Cat-back Exhausts

A cat-back Nissan Patrol exhaust system adds a mid-pipe extension tube from the catalytic converter in addition to the parts of an axle-back setup. This allows for freer airflow, meaning bigger performance gains. The added horsepower can also be muffled or made louder depending on the type of muffler you choose. Cat-back exhausts come in a bit dearer than axle-backs, but the performance is certainly there.

DPF-back Exhausts

These are fitted to the 2.8, 3 and 4.2-litre diesels in the Y61 and Y62 Nissan Patrols. They’re diesel-specific exhausts with stock exhaust parts replaced up to the Diesel Particle Filter, or what nulls the poisonous particles emitted during the combustion of diesel fuel. Here there is an included dump pipe to relieve the engine of back pressure, essentially ‘dumping’ excess gas. This is installed in between the DPF and catalytic converter. Aftermarket DPF exhausts do a better job in reducing overall emissions, and better burn remaining toxic gases. With the wider tubes, they also free up clogging and help with the work of the turbos.

Header and Turbo-back Exhausts

If you want the biggest performance gains get a header or turbo-back exhaust. These replace your whole exhaust tubing from the exhaust manifold to the exhaust tip. Header backs are good in the naturally aspirated petrols, and turbo-backs for the turbo diesels. For the best performance, consider getting kits with exhaust extractors. Diesel units also have uprated DPF filters, while petrols have better converters, which all translates to increased gas flow, better emissions, lower fuel consumption and more speed.

Buying Considerations

An aftermarket Nissan Patrol exhaust system is made of more durable and higher-grade stainless steel that better copes with the higher temperatures and increased exhaust flow. The tubes are also thicker and have an exterior coating to avoid corrosion and distortion due to heat. Besides the power gain, you get a better sound coming out of the exhaust tip. Aftermarket exhausts are designed for each vehicle separately so you won’t have trouble fitting them yourself. Most are simple bolt-on systems that fit your Patrol perfectly without the need for additional work. Kits include supplied mounting brackets, bolts and nuts and high-quality flange plates.