Y Pipe (FAQ)

From Nissan 350Z & 370Z Wiki

Contents 1 GENERAL 1.1 What is a Y pipe? 1.2 What is it made of? 1.3 What else are they called? 2 BRANDS AND DIFFERENCES 2.1 Who makes them for the 350Z/G35? 2.2 Does it matter which brand I buy? 2.3 Which is the best Y pipe? 2.4 I see that different diameters are available, which should I choose? 3 PERFORMANCE GAINS 3.1 Potential weight savings? 3.2 Is there an alternative to a Y pipe? 3.3 Y Pipe vs Dual Exhaust 4 INSTALLATION 4.1 How much does it cost to install? 4.2 Is it hard to install myself? 4.3 Can I install them with my stock exhaust? 5 SOUND 5.1 Will my stock exhaust be louder? 5.2 Raspiness? What causes it? Will i have rasp if....? 5.3 Will my (insert brand here) exhaust have rasp with a Y pipe?

GENERAL

What is a Y pipe?

A y-pipe is an exhaust component that brings together the exhaust gases from both sides of a "V" type engine into a single pipe. The Y designation implies 2 exhaust inlets going into a single outlet.

There are also reverse Y pipes. These are used primarily with a single turbo setup with only 1 exhaust outlet from the turbo. The reverse Y splits the single exhaust stream into two separate pipes for a dual exhaust configuration.

The 350Z and G35 come standard with a y-pipe, but it is very heavy and restrictive. (SEE OEM Y PIPE)

What is it made of?

Y pipes come in various materials: steel, stainless steel, and titanium are the favorite flavors. Plain steel is the cheapest, but over the long term is susceptible to rusting. It is also the cheapest. Stainless steel is the most popular. You get a pretty shine, no rust problems, and it lasts a very long time. Pricing on stainless is very good compared to titanium. For the top end consumer, there is the option of titanium y pipes. These are very expensive (~$1000), but are extremely light. For the weight conscious Z owner, this opportunity cannot be passed up.

What else are they called?

Sometimes they are referred to as mid-pipes or down-pipes. Also you will sometimes see reverse y-pipes mentioned when talking about single turbo kits working with a dual exhaust system.

BRANDS AND DIFFERENCES

Who makes them for the 350Z/G35?

See the Y-Pipe page in the wiki for the currently available brands.

Does it matter which brand I buy?

Brand does not so much make a difference as overall design and quality. Although brand is often associated with various levels of quality.

Which is the best Y pipe?

I see that different diameters are available, which should I choose?

It is ideal to match diameters fo all exhaust components. For instance you do not want a 2.5" test pipe dumping into a 2" y-pipe. It would severely restrict the exhaust flow and cause unnecessary turbulence. You should look for a y-pipe that will match the catalytic converters at the inlet, and your y-back exhaust at the outlet.

PERFORMANCE GAINS

Potential weight savings?

As with most OEM components, there is a potential weight reduction in the Y-pipe. The OEM pipe is thick, heavy steel and even includes additional shielding for heat and sound dampening. The stock 350Z y-pipe weights approximately 16 to 18 pounds. Most of the after market y-pipes weight much less than this, and for the few owners really bent on putting their Z on a diet, there are a few titanium y-pipes available that are under 5lbs.

You can't shave off a ton here, but in the bigger picture, a few pounds off each section of the car starts to add up. See our weight reduction guide for more ways to reduce the weight of your 350Z.

Is there an alternative to a Y pipe?

Yes. Most exhausts are cat-back. This means they replace everything from the catalytic converters back to the tail pipes. If you plan on buying this type of exhaust system, then you should not be looking at y-pipes.

Also, the single turbo systems on the market replace the y-pipe with their own "down pipe".

Y Pipe vs Dual Exhaust

There are various theories on which is better, but really no concrete evidence exhists. The truth is, a Y-Pipe exhaust will sound very different from a True Dual exhaust.

INSTALLATION

How much does it cost to install?

The cost to install a Y-pipe should be very low. It can be done in under 30 minutes for an experienced mechanic. If they are charging you more then $100, then walk away and find another shop.

Is it hard to install myself?

The Y pipe installation is fairly easy. Using basic hand tools and a floor jack you can have the stock pipe changed out in under 1 hour.

Can I install them with my stock exhaust?

Yes. You can simply replace the OEM Y-Pipe with an aftermarket one. Take care in choosing one that matches the diameters of the OEM exhaust system.

SOUND

Will my stock exhaust be louder?

Most likely yes. The stock y-pipe is very restrictive and has additional shielding that can assist in the sound dampening.

Raspiness? What causes it? Will i have rasp if....?

Some Y-Pipes have caused raspy sound when coupled with the OEM exhaust system. This is most likely due to non-matching diameters and overall pipe design.===

Will my (insert brand here) exhaust have rasp with a Y pipe?

There are too many variables to that question. The best way to find an answer is to ask in the Forums.