Many vehicles nowadays even workhorses that are used and abused daily come with 4-cylinder engines. The same number of cylinders are found in an Isuzu D-Max which is a ute rated for towing up to 3,500kg of weight. The D-Max's diesel powerplant produces 176Nm of torque and 78 HP by a 2.5-litre with a fuel tank capacity of 55 litres.
With a ground clearance of 220 mm, the D-max is a great all-rounder since it also comes with a boot space of 1495 litres if you go for the two-seater single cab version. All in all, it's a great tradie vehicle but it could do with some improvements in regards to how it sounds and pulls and that can be solved with a proper aftermarket exhaust.
Types of Exhausts
Axle-Back
The least expensive but also the least satisfying exhaust you can go for is an axle-back Dmax exhaust system. This is the epitome of only going with something marginally better than what the stock system offers. It's not a bad choice but it's definitely an Isuzu D-Max exhaust that will just freshen up the way your Japanese ute works and nothing else.
Header-Back
With a header-back system, you get the complete opposite of what an axle-back exhaust offers. Header-back exhausts replace the whole system from the manifold to the exhaust tailpipe instead of just a handful of components. Therefore it will make your D-Max sound much better and experience a lot more punch when giving it the full pedal treatment. But this type of Isuzu Dmax performance exhaust costs more and it's considerably more difficult to install.
Turbo-Back
A turbo-back system is even more difficult to install than a header-back system since it replaces one additional component, the turbo. Turbo's are not that easy to install and they often require a tune afterwards, depending on the type you've gone for. But they are so worth it as they can introduce way more HP (and wheelspin), than what a header-back Isuzu Dmax performance exhaust can. Of course, going with a turbo-back system is even more expensive than just replacing the exhaust.
Cat-Back
Cat-back exhausts are the most popular for a good reason. They are moderate in the performance gains they provide and they don't cost a ridiculous amount of money nor do they take a dreadful amount of time to install. They are simply put, a reasonable improvement over the stock Dmax exhaust system as they only replace half of it, and granted they won't make your D-Max as powerful as you would expect but they can help make a notable difference in acceleration.
Important Factors of Exhausts
Diameter
Exhausts are made of pipes and those pipes have a certain diameter to them which affects the flow of gasses coming from the engine. The larger this diameter is the better the airflow and thus the more power you get from the engine as it's not suffocating on them. But be aware that you can get an exhaust that has too large of a diameter to it which can create more backpressure than you need and cause issues.
Material
There are different of materials you can get an exhaust to be made of with mild and aluminised steel being the more affordable ones while stainless steel and titanium exhausts are the more performance-oriented options.
Mild steel is affordable but therefore malleable and with a short lifespan. Aluminised steel has a longer lifespan than mild steel and better corrosion protection but it's not strong enough. Stainless steel is the sweet spot as it's strong and light while being corrosion resistant and thus longer lasting than aluminised steel. Titanium makes for the lightest, strongest, most heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant exhausts you'll come across but they are the most expensive.
Thickness
Thicker materials make for more durable exhausts and also ones that are heavier. Remember though that thicker is always better as it makes the system more durable and it also helps reduce annoying frequencies in the form of exhaust drone.
Benefits of a New Exhaust
Performance
The biggest difference you'll notice with an aftermarket exhaust is the acceleration at different speeds. Your ute will feel like it's gained a lot more HP than it actually did once you install a proper D-Max exhaust.
Efficiency
Believe it or not, an aftermarket Dmax exhaust system can also help make your D-Max more efficient. This comes in the form of better fuel use but not to the point where you save a fortune when filling up. It only contributes in the long run as the effect helps make for a longer-lasting engine.
Sound
You can easily make your Isuzu sound the way you want to with a new exhaust of any kind, just don't expect an axle-back system to make for a great exhaust note. If you go for a custom exhaust you can make it sound like a performance vehicle, if that's what puts a smile on your face.
