Part of Japan's three biggest car manufacturers, Nissan has positioned itself as a brand with reasonably priced vehicles that follow all the latest safety standards. The same can be said for the Patrol, Nissan's stylish yet off-road capable SUV. With 428 HP and 5,552 cc of displacement, this 8-seater comes with 260 mm of ground clearance.
The smoothness of the V8 is accompanied by loads of space both inside the cabin and in the boot. You also get a comfortable ride thanks to Nissan's own hydraulic body motion control suspension system that helps the car settle through any bump on or off the road.
Benefits of an Aftermarket Exhaust
Affordable
The biggest reason why you should consider getting an aftermarket Patrol exhaust system is its price. Aftermarket parts and accessories are generally speaking much more affordable than OEM ones. The same goes for a new Patrol exhaust which is often one of the most cost-effective performance aftermarket upgrades.
Efficient
A new exhaust system on your Patrol be it aftermarket or not will definitely make for a more efficient vehicle. While this won't translate into a drastic difference in fuel consumption, it will contribute to improved emissions filtering and more conservative fuel use.
Longevity
The fact that you will improve the efficiency of your Patrol as a whole means that you will make for a longer-lasting vehicle overall. More importantly, an aftermarket exhaust will make for a longer-lasting engine, even if you just replace parts of your current exhaust.
Customisability
With an aftermarket upgrade, you can choose how much you want to change. With exhaust systems, you can choose to replace a part or two or the whole Nissan exhaust system, exactly the way you want with the exact specs and components. This level of customisability just isn't the case with OEM parts.
Exhaust Features
Material
The most determining factor when it comes to the durability, strength and weight of a Patrol exhaust system is the material it comes made of. This can be mild, aluminised and stainless steel.
Mild steel exhausts are the most affordable you'll come across but they're also the most malleable. They won't withstand temperature fluctuations or corrosion like some other exhausts.
Aluminised steel exhausts are a big step up from mild steel ones. The former are much stronger and have better corrosion resistance while being able to withstand temperature changes much better.
Stainless steel exhausts are the best since they are not only the strongest of the three but they can withstand the highest of temperatures and have superior corrosion-resistance. This also makes them the most expensive option.
Downpipe
The downpipe is the middle part of the exhaust and its diameter is what you should consider. The larger its diameter the easier it is for exhaust gasses and fumes to move through and exit out of the system.
You should be careful though not to get an exhaust with a downpipe diameter that is too large. This can create what is known as exhaust backpressure which can easily make things go bad. Too small of a diameter can be too but you shouldn't go anything smaller than what your Patrol's stock system has.
Tips
The tailpipes or exhaust tips can affect both the rear styling of your Patrol as well as its exhaust note. The more there are the more sporty the back of your Patrol will look. Also the thicker the exhaust tips are the more of a growl that your Patrol will make when you press down on the accelerator pedal.
Crush vs Mandrel Bent
There are two types of ways an exhaust can be bent into a desired shape by crush or mandrel bending it. Crush bending, although it makes for more affordable exhausts, it actually causes a lot of restrictions for engine fumes. Mandrel bending may be a more expensive process but it makes for smooth bends and it doesn't cause any restrictions whatsoever.
Types of Upgrades
Axle-Back
The least time-consuming and least expensive Nissan Patrol exhaust system you can go for is an axle-back system. An axle-back exhaust is best if you want to get a little bit of difference in performance without breaking the bank or fiddling around underneath your Patrol much.
Cat-Back
When an axle-back exhaust doesn't do it for your V8-powered all-terrain 4x4 vehicle then you should consider going for a cat-back exhaust. Cat-back systems are able to replace components from the catalytic converter to the exhaust tip(s). This makes them a substantially better upgrade than an axle-back Patrol exhaust system in terms of performance.
Header-Back
The ultimate Nissan Patrol exhaust system replacement you can make for your Patrol is with a header-back exhaust. With it, you are replacing every single exhaust component which allows you to introduce a larger diameter downpipe, different materials and larger exhaust tips. It may cost you the most amount of time and money but it will definitely be worth it as it provides the biggest performance boost. You can even control the sound of the exhaust as you drive with it.
