driving with no exhaust pipe...AT ALL!!

[jayfrigginjones]

If i had to drive a few (say 10) miles with absolutly no exhaust pipe after the turbo, would the turbo/engine survive...be damaged...reduce life-span?

 

[oldpoopie]

I did it when I installed my vnt20... Had to drive it with the downpipe disconnected to get it to the muffler shop. Damn it sounded BAD!

 

[osomphane]

you might get pulled over for noise

 

[burpod]

nah, you'll be fine. i inadvertently drove around like that for a month... when my dp became disconnected from the turbo... it's loud unless you're just cruising at highway speeds. just don't drive around town too much oh, and set your vents for re-circ.. hehhe

 

[sweatmachine]

man I've love to hear that!

 

[jayfrigginjones]

Well, if oldpoopie did it, i guess i can try it. I just hope nothing finds it way into the turbine blades!

 

[drkblujetta]

We've done it too.......No worries

 

[unL33T]

You'll be fine. I had my exhaust busted off right after the cat for about 4 months and it was ok.

 

[oldpoopie]

Trust me, you'll actually like the sound... LOL

 

[TdiRacing]

Be carful not to get water splashed up there. The water on the hot exhaust blades can damage them. PLus, be careful with wires and such, may hurt them.

 

[burpod]

Trust me, you'll actually like the sound... LOL

heehee, yah, it whistles pretty loud. definitely like a mini-semi..... especially at low rpms

 

[car54]

other than caking the entire engine compartment in soot, its unlikely to hurt anything.

Several people have driven cars (especially older passats) with rusted out downpipes, some with the downpipe busted off the turbo flange, with no negative effects on the car.

and yes, it will be like music to your ears. they sound great wide open.

 

[bioduse]

what about the safety inspection in your home town,
will one pass a safety inspection withOUT a muffler?

 

[thermopylaetech]

My only caution is if you do have to drive it, do so conservativly and do a generous engine run down when you get to where you are going. Thermal shock will shorten the life if the unit and with no pipe at all, the risk exposure is pretty HUGE. Other than that have fun pretending to be a baby R10

 

[jayfrigginjones]

the exhaust is only off temporarily; however, to answer your question, in new mexico one only needs to get an initial inspection for the car (diesel) to be exempt from further inspections. not very eco-conscience.

 

[bioduse]

jfj, you gonna put in a stright pipe or a cat-back, etc ?
thanks

 

[jayfrigginjones]

I would like to have a cat, but mine was damaged and they are pretty pricey to replace. I'ts going to be a straight pipe for now!

 

[mikeyF]

are there big gains from just a turbo back exhaust...no cat, no muffler? i ditched my muffler a while back...just looking for a little bit more at this point

 

[jayfrigginjones]

I initially chopped my muffler and left the cat in place for a few thousand miles. Later i removed my flexpipe/cat in order to inspect the turbine wheel an inadvertantly boogered up my cat. I had a straight pipe temporarily welded inplace and drove that way for another thousand or so. I couldn't any difference at all in performance with or without the cat. The noise was louder without and you get that loud baboon sound after shifting, but thats all.

You will however, get some gains from an increased diameter turbo-back exhaust according to several members on here (Drkblujetta?)

 

[thermopylaetech]

Loud baboon sound? I shudder to think that that is...