Washer Mod

Gunzero

nice rims..

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Red__Zed

Rui Z

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hdskull

TongMan

Thanks. Pick either side. Blacked out or Subaru style. But on topic, why exhaust leak is dangerous and I think it's stupid to do it just to sound better:

Can an exhaust leak affect a car's performance?

"No, but it can kill the occupants of the car.

There is a good reason why tailpipes terminate past the rear bumper. Exhaust fumes can be sucked into the car by the partial vacuum created by the vehicle passing through the airstream. No car is completely sealed from the outside and that is why the trunk on a car has a double sealed rubber weatherstrip."

Rui Z

I would agree with you about the exhaust leak being bad if you were running HFC's or test pipes. But I believe the people who are doing the washer mod all have stock catalytic converters. All modern catalytic converters (our 370Z is a LEVII-ULEV cars which emit < 1.7 grams of CO/mile) convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide so efficiently that it will not kill you while driving if a portion of the fumes were to leak into the car. There have been a significant drop in carbon monoxide suicides from car fumes because of the more efficient cats.

People are not stupid for doing the washer mod on here. Just don't do it with HFC's, and especially not with test pipes.

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Gunzero

I like how you think!

I've had this mod for over a year and still kickin' haha
I did it purely for sound and modding the car really is the least of my priorities right now.
I gotta finish nursing school

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spechtz

So after weeks of looking at/listening to different exhaust clips I decided to see if anyone tried removing the muffler. I knew the forums wouldn't let me down! I was surprised how good it sounded in the videos. So I figured I had a half hour to kill on a Saturday why not try it out for myself...
What started as a stupid thing to do on a boring weekend turned into a mission. I have only had the car for 8 months and 2/4 nuts may as well have been welded in place. Nearly a month later and 2 exhaust nuts cut off I finally got the pipes apart.
I agree with all the naysayers on here that a real catback is the way to go, but for $1500 cheaper this produces a pretty b*tchin sound.
Cold start is very loud and there is absolutely no rasp. No drone either, cruising at 2500 rpm is nearly silent. Driving around is almost reminiscent of a V8 - it's that deep.
If you're bored one weekend and have deep 14mm sockets and a breaker bar handy (may as well hit it with some PB Blaster too) give it a try. Just take my advice and stop if you start stripping the bolts!

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MrJdmNismo

Post a video i haven't bought my Greddy yet I'm curious to hear the noise...

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YouTube=MrJdm350z
2011 #0093 NISMO 370z:OWN
2007 350z:SOLD

Gunzero

I think you should talk to the muscle car guys here in my town, not me. They run open headers or long tube headers that dumps right under the drivers seat.
A little thing called atmospheric diffusion is keeping me alive.
Anyways, what's more dangerous. Washer mod or removing your catalytic converters? What if you get rid of your cats and you sit in traffic and the wind carries the exhaust fumes into your car? I'd rather be stuck with the washer mod.

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TongMan

More info on exhaust leak from eHow

The exhaust system is an important part of your vehicle, because it expels burned engine gases from the car. The exhaust also controls emissions of your vehicle, and any damage or leaks to it can affect the performance of the car. Poisonous carbon monoxide can seep into the passenger area, which is why it is important to diagnose and repair exhaust leaks right away.

Physical Damage and Leaks
Perform a visual examination of the vehicle and its exhaust system for signs of physical damage or scrapes. Look for signs of black soot on the exhaust and tailpipe, which is a sign that there is carbon built up from a leak.

Scraping the bottom of the car while driving over a curb or speed bump is a common way to cause damage to the exhaust. Holes and scrapes can cause the exhaust to start leaking.

The oxygen sensor is in the exhaust system, and scraping the bottom of the vehicle can damage the oxygen sensor, which will cause exhaust leaks.

Check your vehicle's undercarriage for signs of rust. Older vehicles are vulnerable to rusting, and rust will eat metal, causing leaks in the exhaust pipe.

Welded joints are common spots for exhaust leaks. Check all joints on the exhaust and make sure there is no rust or damage.

Shaking and Noise
Vehicles with an exhaust leak will shake and rattle while idling at a red light. A different noise, such as a ticking or popping, is a common sign of an exhaust leak. A loud roaring noise that is different from the usual sounds your car makes is also a sign of an exhaust leak problem.

Have a friend gently accelerate the engine while you have the hood up and are listening outside the vehicle. Listen for a deep, throaty sound or loud sputtering that sounds different from what you are used to hearing from the car. ***I guess you're going for that sound***

Gas Smell
Smelling a gas while your car's windows are rolled up is a sign of an exhaust leak. This sign is often easier to notice in colder months when you drive with the windows up and the vents are opened for hot air. The odor may not be noticeable while you are outside the vehicle but is always present as you are driving.

TongMan

The problems associated with exhaust leaks vary by the size of the leak, its location and what type of fuel injection system your car has. Although most people think that exhaust leaks are little more than a source of irritating noise, the truth is that they can affect performance, fuel economy, emissions and present a danger to the car's occupants.

Noise
The level of noise associated with an exhaust leak varies with its location. In general, the noise emitted by a leaking exhaust will get louder and sharper with proximity to the engine. A leaking muffler will probably only produce a low grumble, a leaking mid-pipe in the catalytic converter will produce a loud drone at highway speeds, and an exhaust manifold leak will emit a pronounced rap that rises with RPM.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
The single most dangerous aspect of an exhaust leak is carbon monoxide poisoning. This colorless and odorless gas is a byproduct of combustion and, when inhaled, replaces oxygen-carrying hemoglobin in the blood. The immediate effects of carbon monoxide poisoning are nausea, headache and vomiting, followed by lethargy, unconsciousness and ultimately death. The EPA has concluded that one out of five vehicles involved in an accident may have elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the cabin, which ultimately caused the driver to become inattentive. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be recognized by a flushed complexion, and blood that is a bright red (almost orange) in color.

Performance
If your car was produced after 1995 and has an exhaust leak upstream from the catalytic converter, then the exhaust leak will almost certainly cause a reduction in performance. This can occur because the engine's oxygen sensors are not receiving correct information about the engine's air-fuel ratio, which will cause the engine to inject more or less fuel to compensate. This decreases engine performance, particularly in the low-RPM band.

Fuel Economy
The performance decrease caused by an overly-rich fuel condition will require the driver to use a heavier foot while driving, which will inevitably lead to a decrease in fuel economy.

Catalytic Converter Meltdown
Catalytic converters use a matrix of metal to transform un-burned fuel into less harmful compounds but can only cope with so much. Too much fuel in the exhaust stream will cause the converter's internal temperatures to rise over 500 degrees, melting and cracking its internal matrix. This condition is called "converter melt-down" and can be extremely dangerous. An overheated converter can easily flash-ignite any surrounding combustibles, such as oil, transmission fluid and grease.

TongMan

Lastly, you laugh at this???



I'm out!!

Red__Zed

Considering many here run without test pipes, and I ran an open header/no cat dump from GA to NOVA and survived, I'm sure they will be OK. Doesn't change my opinions of the mod itself, I'm just saying that "health risk" isn't high on my list of reasons why it is a bad mod.

Yes.





Finally,

fuct

^^needs drop

i like a lil exhaust smell first thing in the morning. mixes well with coffee