What to Look for in Aftermarket Toyota Landcruiser Exhaust System

Toyota bucked the trend of falling sales for outgoing models, with the 200 Series LandCruiser having its best year yet. Even second-hand variants have seen particular interest, spurring price hikes across the 4WD segment. The popularity of the model, now spanning over 70 years with the newly-released 300 series, owes much to Toyota’s unrivalled reliability, customer support and off-roading abilities. The Landcruiser is the go-to choice for anyone considering serious off-roading. It is also the most accessorised vehicle in the portfolio of Australia’s favourite car brand boasting over a quarter of all new car sales.

The car has been around for some time, and aftermarket options are plenty. These enhance performance, increase overall vehicle protection, and make the benchmark for off-roading even more capable in the bush. Here, an aftermarket Toyota land cruiser exhaust system is a buyer’s favourite. It ups the grunt in the big V6 and V8 diesels and petrols, while also adding more gargle in the exhaust sound.

Benefits of an Aftermarket Exhaust

Stock exhausts are built to a price point, even in 6-figure 4WDs like the Landcruiser. As such, cheaper materials and narrower tubing rob drivers of all the available horsepower and torque. Gas flow is restricted, meaning the engine is choked of new air it needs for combustion. There is also the tendency for increased backpressure, where exhaust gases make their way back into the cylinder.

Aftermarket exhausts are tailored for better performance, and for each vehicle and engine separately. They feature straighter, wider tubing that allows gases to be removed quickly. The end result is an increase in overall power, and an engine that is less stressed when reaching optimal output. This translates into less fuel consumption and better engine longevity. You’ll be saving money in the long run. And with the wider tubes come modifications to mufflers and inbuilt silencers so you can get the sweetest rumble from the exhaust tips.

Toyota Land Cruiser Exhaust System Types

Landcruisers fall in line within the more luxury and comfort-oriented 100, 200 and now 300 series, or the barebones, yet highly capable 70 series ute. Down the road, there have been different badges and series variants, coming in either torquey diesel engines, or petrols with more focus on total high-end power. Diesel-specific exhausts include upgraded DPF filters for better combustion of toxic particles. Petrols have uprated catalytic converters for the same purpose. Turbo variants of both engines have modified intake manifolds, along with extractors and dump pipes to expel the buildup of exhaust gases in higher revs with the turbo spooling.

Axle-back exhausts are the cheapest types of Landcruiser exhausts, that are more about improving exhaust sound than a significant performance boost. All the exhaust parts from the back axle to the exhaust tip are changed out for wider tubes, and there is often the choice of muffler for the sound you’re after. DPF-backs exhausts are found in diesels and swap out the stock filter for better burning variants, along with the extension tubing to the mufflers. Cat-back exhausts are petrol-only variants, that replace all parts from the catalytic converter. Lastly, a header or turbo-back Toyota Landcruiser exhaust system swaps out the entire stock exhaust, from the exhaust manifold to the exhaust tips. These are where the most performance gains are to be found.

What to Look for

Not all aftermarket exhausts are created equal. There are dozens of dodgy imports that need to be avoided. Better go for a locally built Aussie exhaust, to guarantee that it also passes ADR standards. These may be slightly dearer, but you know you’re getting quality engineering and materials designed specifically for your vehicle. Hand-built variants are built to a high standard, and each exhaust undergoes a series of quality controls before hitting the market.

When buying, there’s a choice of different materials. High-grade stainless steel is the way to go to avoid dents or corrosion from water or road spray. These are also rated to last longer. Enamel coatings provide an additional layer of protection, and you can opt for aluminised mufflers for the same result. Look for bolt-on tubes that fit within the underbody recesses of the stock exhaust. These allow for easy integration of exhaust gas and boost gauge sensors for monitoring the level of heat and pressure when pushing the Landcruiser to the limit. It also means there won’t be any additional work like drilling, and the provided metal mounting brackets in most exhaust kits allow for quick and easy installation.

Lastly, get the exhaust system that fits the engine in your Landcruiser. For diesels there are DPF, header and turbo-back systems, depending on whether the engine is turbocharged. For the 6 and 8 cylinder petrols, header-back exhausts with extractors give the best performance upgrades.

Final Word

An exhaust upgrade is one of the cheapest performance modifications. In the Landcruiser, it releases a few more ponies and is particularly useful in tackling steep technical terrain. Gas flow is improved, with the engine breathing easier and in a sweeter, deeper voice. Compatible systems are quality, hand-built offerings available for all Landcruiser variants.