Exhaust system replacement questions

cfabes

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No aftermarket exhaust system, by itself, is going to increase mpg or HP. Especially not mpg which was the Holy Grail that all of Detroit worked on to wring every possible mpg out of their products due to the ever increasing demands of the EPA. The days of easy mpg gains are long-gone.

The O2 sensors can't be deleted as they are used by the computer to calculate the air/fuel mixture. They are a key part to the engine running properly no matter the altitude or temperature.

The main catalytic converter on older TJs can be deleted but it requires an aftermarket "fake O2 sensor" be screwed into it to keep the computer happy, or at least prevent it from generating a continuous bad catalytic converter code.

The pre-catalytic converters on newer TJs might be deletable but that'd require the PCM to be reprogrammed or you'd see a constant Check Engine light. Maybe Mark @Wranglerfix at www.wranglerfix.com might be able to help on that.

having a cat is a bonus to keeping the noxious fumes down when in traffic or on the trail with the top down too.
Theres definitely some nostalgia to the stink from my 70 k20 with no cats,but it can give you a headache.

Cats help make your rig quieter too.

Been a quiet reader on this forum for years. Jerry, you and the rest of the TJ community have provided so much great info! Thanks. Time for the exhaust to be replaced on my 97’ 2.5l. Manifold was done a while back due to crack. O2 sensors are new and PO deleted catalytic converter instead of getting cat converter recall work done…..actually still is listed as incomplete with Jeep dealer. Doubt they would replace the cat when its not even there anymore…..real question is….do i replace down pipe and back with walker everything including Cat? Or do i leave the cat out, replace with a straight pipe, and use o2 sensor bung spacer (just on sensor after cat)?? My tj is bone stock and i love it that way. Since replacing the o2 sensors, CEL (o2 sensor code) was gone and then came back within 20-40 miles now with P0420 for the cat. MPG has always been around 15 or so but now has dropped horribly to under 10. Just looking to get back to the 15 mpg and most importantly, do the best thing for the engine and longevity.
 
Been a quiet reader on this forum for years. Jerry, you and the rest of the TJ community have provided so much great info! Thanks. Time for the exhaust to be replaced on my 97’ 2.5l. Manifold was done a while back due to crack. O2 sensors are new and PO deleted catalytic converter instead of getting cat converter recall work done…..actually still is listed as incomplete with Jeep dealer. Doubt they would replace the cat when its not even there anymore…..real question is….do i replace down pipe and back with walker everything including Cat? Or do i leave the cat out, replace with a straight pipe, and use o2 sensor bung spacer (just on sensor after cat)?? My tj is bone stock and i love it that way. Since replacing the o2 sensors, CEL (o2 sensor code) was gone and then came back within 20-40 miles now with P0420 for the cat. MPG has always been around 15 or so but now has dropped horribly to under 10. Just looking to get back to the 15 mpg and most importantly, do the best thing for the engine and longevity.

Welcome to the forum. I don't want to hijack the OP's thread, so @Chris maybe we should make a new one for @cfabes.

In case it's helpful, you may benefit from the either the 97 thread or the SE thread in my signature line.

See also my build thread for notes on my recent job of replacing the entire exhaust system on my 97 SE.
 
Just sending a quick reply to maybe "bump this".....anyone got an opinion or experience that they'd like to enlighten me with?
 
If it was mine I would put on a cat and use a stock replacement muffler (Walker Quietflow SS seems to be popular). It can't sound/smell good with the cat deleted.
 
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If it was mine I would put on a cat and use a stock replacement muffler (Walker Quietflow SS seems to be popular). It can't sound/smell good with the cat deleted.

Agree, a 4.0 without a catalytic converter smells like a 1950s carburetor V8. I've also never seen a noticeable gain in Torque or HP, but a yes to mpg drop, my suspected cause with that would be less back pressure, incorrect O2 measuring.
 
If it was mine I would put on a cat and use a stock replacement muffler (Walker Quietflow SS seems to be popular). It can't sound/smell good with the cat deleted.

Hahaha…..I dont know any different since its been that way since i have owned it. But i have always thought it was loud and fumey…..walker quiet flow muffler and the rest of their system is what i was thinkin of installing
 
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Agree, a 4.0 without a catalytic converter smells like a 1950s carburetor V8. I've also never seen a noticeable gain in Torque or HP, but a yes to mpg drop, my suspected cause with that would be less back pressure, incorrect O2 measuring.

Thanks for the input. I cant imagine their would be any power gain or similair ‘performance gains’ when my lawnmower has more horsepower than the 2.5l i have….hahaha
 
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Hahaha…..I dont know any different since its been that way since i have owned it. But i have always thought it was loud and fumey…..walker quiet flow muffler and the rest of their system is what i was thinkin of installing

Yeah you really can't go wrong with that. I've put a few of their systems on Jeeps over the years and for the price they bolt up and fit nicely. Painting it with a little high heat paint before install can also make them last a bit longer.
 
Yeah you really can't go wrong with that. I've put a few of their systems on Jeeps over the years and for the price they bolt up and fit nicely. Painting it with a little high heat paint before install can also make them last a bit longer.

Good to know! I appreciate it!
 
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Hahaha…..I dont know any different since its been that way since i have owned it. But i have always thought it was loud and fumey…..walker quiet flow muffler and the rest of their system is what i was thinkin of installing

Was not been happy with the Walker SS on my 2.5, had 2 of them disintegrate rather quickly and I will not install another one. Seems the SS designation is internals only. This is what I installed almost 4 years ago (12/19) and it's really SS and it's also available with the flange for the oem Cat arrangement.


https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/EXH21337?impressionRank=5
 
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Was not been happy with the Walker SS on my 2.5, had 2 of them disintegrate rather quickly and I will not install another one. Seems the SS designation is internals only. This is what I installed almost 4 years ago (12/19) and it's really SS and it's also available with the flange for the oem Cat arrangement.


https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/EXH21337?impressionRank=5

Is the link to just the muffler or does Napa have the rest of the system available too?
 
You will continue to throw the P0420 Cat efficiency code until you install a catalytic converter. What were you fuel trims at prior to replacing you O2 sensors vs. what they are reading now?
Being that you replaced the O2's, you can perform a global reset, Just disconnect the +/- battery cables from, the battery and hold them together for 30 seconds. This will drain all the power from the capacitors in the ecm basically causing the system to relearn everything.