Straight Pipes

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by camaro68, Apr 14, 2012.

  1. camaro68

    camaro68 Medium Load Member

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    Just wondering, when a truck has the straight pipes. Not curved back at the top. When it rains and the truck is sitting. Does the muffler have a drain somewhere to let the water out? Seems like the straight pipe would be susceptible to rusting out quicker.
     
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  3. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    I've wondered about this myself. I'd say that it's prone to rusting out quicker if the truck's not being driven regularly, but the exhaust gases and high temps are far more corrosive than water that sits in the pipe during your 10 hour break, IMO.

    Older trucks had the 'rain caps', but I never see them anymore.
     
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  4. Largecar359

    Largecar359 Road Train Member

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    They do rust quicker at the elbows and Y pipe after the muffler, which is why you need to cover them if the truck is not running when it's raining
     
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  5. camaro68

    camaro68 Medium Load Member

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    I see, that makes sense. How many miles usually can you go before having to replace a muffler?
     
  6. Largecar359

    Largecar359 Road Train Member

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    I mean if you don't cover them all the time it's cool but when the truck sits it is important to cover them.
     
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  7. camaro68

    camaro68 Medium Load Member

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    There is a certain Peterbilt model(forget the number) that comes with the straight pipe. Which made me wonder about how efficient it would be to buy a truck with straight pipes.
     
  8. Largecar359

    Largecar359 Road Train Member

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    The muffler usually is fine it's always the lowest point of the exhaust which is normally the Y pipe coming out the muffler that rusts through. Rust time approx two to four yrs. Amount of rain obviously is major factor
     
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  9. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    All the older trucks that I've looked at have had the majority of the rust on the downstream side of elbows, suggesting that the exhaust heat is the major contributor to corrosion.

    My opinion is that if you're going to sit for a week or two at a time in a rainy environment, then take precautions to keep water out. Otherwise it shouldn't be a factor.
     
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  10. camaro68

    camaro68 Medium Load Member

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    I wonder why truck manufacturers stopped using the caps they used to put on them? I remember the nice chrome caps. They really looked good going down the road.
     
  11. Largecar359

    Largecar359 Road Train Member

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    Yea I always liked them but ppl were complaining because when the truck would idle the chatter up and down making a decently loud noise which customers and other sleeping truckers hated lol
     
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