Unleashing the Power: Upgrading Your Toyota Hilux with High-Performance Exhaust Systems

With Toyota’s unbreakable Hilux faithfully wearing the banner of Oz’s most revered ute for half a century, there’s nothing that they haven’t already been called on to pull, carry, or climb. A dog may be a man’s best friend, but a Hilux is his favourite toy.

But while Hilux owners can easily tick off all the boxes on reliability and 4WD prowess, restrictive exhaust systems have always left them feeling somewhat underpowered. A 150+kW turbo diesel engine shouldn’t feel like it can’t breathe; and if that’s the impression you’re getting from your Hilux’s performance, you need to start looking at aftermarket exhausts.

What you don’t want to do though, is rush out to replace an exhaust system that Toyota has spent decades designing, with the biggest set of generic pipes you can find. You want an aftermarket exhaust that’s made locally, but you also want one that’s designed to get the most from your Hilux’s unique torque and power curve.

Get Top-Tier Performance With a New Low Restriction Hilux Exhaust

Here’s a fact: Australia’s no stranger when it comes when it comes to high-quality, low-restriction Hilux exhausts and components. Some of the toughest, and best-performing exhaust systems in the world are manufactured right here in Oz; and that’s because Australian exhaust designers understand how in order for an engine to draw in more power producing fuel and oxygen, it has to be twice as efficient at evacuating unwanted exhaust gases.

Warmer, less dense climates demand that every aspect of an engine’s performance be optimized, and top-tier Hilux performance exhaust systems are engineered specifically to achieve the following results:

• To scavenge as much hot, dense exhaust gas away from the engine as possible;
• To create as much flow velocity as possible to rapidly draw the exhaust through the system; and,
• To eliminate all causes of backpressure that would restrict exhaust gas movement.

These aren’t just arbitrary goals; the key to building an efficient Toyota Hilux exhaust is to remove any technical hurdles that would cause spent gases and dense, power-robbing heat to linger in the system. And make no mistake: it isn’t until after you’ve made a Toyota Hilux exhaust upgrade that you’ll realize just how much power and fuel economy you’ve been throwing away because of exhaust restrictions.

Here’s What Can You Expect With an Upgraded Exhaust System

Although it might seem like the easiest way to get a Toyota Hilux exhaust system to breathe better would be to slap on the biggest pipes that’ll fit, nothing could be more counterproductive. Every exhaust system has an optimal size to generate flow, and all bigger pipes do little more than give spent gases a place to linger. On the best aftermarket Toyota Hilux exhaust systems, solid design and engineering principles are employed to maximize exhaust flow, and to deliver a core of guaranteed performance benefits that include:

• A significant improvement in both throttle response and acceleration;
• Increases in both low-end torque and high RPM horsepower; and,
• Greater peak power on the top of the engine curve.

It’s important to remember too that, unlike generic “big-pipe” systems, every aftermarket Hilux exhaust for sale is built to match the exact engine and powertrain combination that was offered by Toyota. With top aftermarket manufacturers usually offering a wide range of options to accompany their exhausts, you can always be confident that the system and options you select are designed to fit your vehicle with OE precision.

Low Restriction Systems for Every Model, and for Every Purpose

High-performance exhaust systems are available for practically every Hilux model that’s ever been sold in Australia, with some of the best-engineered aftermarket Hilux exhaust systems being offered for:

• 1997 – 2005 3.0L LN147, LN167, and LN179 diesels;
• 1999 – 2005 3.0L KZN165 turbo diesels; and,
• 2015 – Present 4.0L GGN150 V6 petrol engines.

These mandrel bend, fully TIG welded Hilux exhaust offerings come in both 2.5” and 3.0” in variants, and are available in either full system, or cat-back configurations. The fact that they can increase your engine’s power by as much as 10% without affecting highly sensitive emission control systems makes them the perfect low-restriction option; and they can also be ordered with either high, medium, or low noise restriction mufflers to give your ute the perfect exhaust note.

You can also order extra-high-performance aftermarket Toyota Hilux exhausts for the following models:

• 2005 – 2015 3.0L KUN26R and KUN16R diesels; and,
• 2015 – Present 2.8L GUN126R and N80 turbo diesels.

These special 3.0” Toyota Hilux performance exhaust systems are designed strictly for off-road and race applications, and are available in turbo-, and DPF-back configurations, with or without a catalytic converter. These systems are designed to deliver the best balance of performance without sacrificing fuel economy, and can effortlessly pump out torque gains in excess of 30% with nothing more than an ECU recalibration.

Heat-Resistant Coatings Help Keep Hilux Exhausts and Engines Cool

Although materials are an easily overlooked component in the manufacture of aftermarket exhausts, they’re at the heart of how well-unwanted heat is dispersed and evacuated. Heavy-duty aluminized, and stainless steel stock are the hands-down preferences for Hilux exhaust system components because of their superior heat transfer properties, and a core of other material benefits that include:

• Increased resistance to fatigue or failure due to vibration or heat cycling;
• A decreased risk of corrosion due to exhaust gases and on-road exposure; and,
• A noticeable reduction of heat radiating through your floors and into your cabin.

Heat-resistant coatings also aid in locking heat inside the exhaust system and promote better scavenging and evacuation, helping to transform your Hilux exhaust upgrade into a cooling heat sink for your engine.

The Final Word

At the end of the day, it doesn’t take much for a Hilux’s performance to match its legendary reliability. The powerplant lineup, especially the latest, and most powerful turbo diesels, are more than up to the task, but they need the right exhaust systems. Fortunately, Aussies don’t have to look far to find exactly what they need.

Regardless of whether it’s for on or off-road action, high-quality, locally manufactured Hilux exhausts are the best on the market when it comes to getting rid of power-robbing heat and exhaust gases. You won’t find a better-engineered exhaust system anywhere, and it’s just as unbreakable as your Hilux.