Aftermarket Exhausts for Your Ford Explorer ST

With close to 200000 cars sold in 2023, the Ford Explorer features high on the best-selling SUV list. An engaging drive, powerful turbocharged Ecoboost engines, comfy and spacious interior, and all the necessary safety and convenience tech come at a bargain price compared to direct rivals. Decent reliability and aftersales sales support additionally mean this is a safe buy, with low maintenance and running costs. 

Also compelling is the wide aftermarket options to customize your car. If higher top speeds and faster acceleration are priorities, then an Explorer ST exhaust meets your needs. This frees up the engine, adds more power, and blasts a meatier sound from the tips.

Why Aftermarket Exhausts are a Must?

Car makers cut corners to reduce end prices. The exhaust and parts that aren’t in open view often go under the radar in terms of overall quality and performance. Stock systems are made of crush-bent mild steel that is adequate for most driving scenarios, but can act up if you’re harder on the pedal. The material doesn’t handle the heat that comes at higher engine loads, such as on inclines or when towing, and the thin walls are susceptible to punctures from road imperfections and debris. Another common issue is rusting. 
Performance-wise, factory systems additionally need to meet strict emissions regulations. This means narrower tubing with multiple bends. The resulting airflow restrictions hurt performance, with backpressure or gases lingering in the exhaust pipes longer than needed. An aftermarket Ford Explorer is better built, uses  mandrel-bent stainless steel to ensure strength and durability and goes with wider diameters to let spent gases out faster. This translates to improved airflow, increased power and a car that’s more fun to drive.

How Performance Exhausts Benefit the Explorer

If you’re still holding onto your cash, consider what performance piping does for the turbocharged engines in your Explorer: 

• Increased power and torque – both the 2.3 and 3-liter mills get a substantial boost in overall power. The wider tubing enables faster combustion cycles and reduced engine stress, even in demanding conditions. The car is more responsive to driver input, gets to speed faster and makes everyday driving tasks, such as overtaking, effortless.
• Longevity – superior materials, advanced production process and more thought in layouts means parts that last longer. Stainless steel is miles ahead in overall strength, rust, heat and impact-resistance, and additionally protected with coatings and heat treatment process. Durable materials also retain their good looks longer. 
• Weight savings – the Explorer is a big car, but a full turbo-back exhaust systems sheds quite a few pounds. Lighter components help with acceleration and can also save you a few pennies at the pump. 
• Louder, raspier engine sound – The Ecoboost engines are hard-revving and high-output powerplants, but the factory exhaust doesn’t do them justice. To hear more of the engine rumble, and get a meatier sound, then aftermarket piping is the way to go. Sound can additionally be fine-tuned when mixing and matching different parts, including mufflers, resonators, valves and straight pipes. 
• Customization and looks – downpipes, high-flow catalytic converters, revised header and tip designs and muffler and resonator combos are just a few parts that can be mixed and matched. More attention to detail also means improved styling, especially in the tips. High quality TIG welds additionally provide smooth, appealing joints. Parts can be added to the factory tubing or come as a complete exhaust system. 

Buying Considerations 

To reap the rewards that a custom Explorer ST exhaust offers, take in account the key factors when buying.

Materials and Build 

High-grade T304 stainless steel is the go-to material that ensures the exhaust lasts and can handle power spikes. This is put though mandrel bending that provides structural integrity and uniform widths. Separate parts are TIG welded for seamless joints. Spend more on high-end materials like carbon-fiber in the tips or Inconel and titanium in the headers and mid-pipes for higher temperature resistance, improved strength and parts that hold their own against speed bumps and road debris.

Widths 

Performance systems produce up to 10 percent more power with wider diameters. 3″ is the standard size for the Ecoboost engines, and ensures a nice balance of backpressure needed for turbo-spooling and overall airflow. Contrary to popular belief, wider piping at 3.5″ doesn’t offer any benefits.

Layouts and Compatibility 

Complete systems are offered in three flavors. Axle-back exhausts are stylish additions that go with better looking tips, and revised mufflers and resonator combinations for better sound. While the cheapest option, they only add minimal performance gains. Upgrade to cat-back systems, some with cat -deletes or straight tubing, to increase exhaust velocity and help spent gases through the tips. The wider mid-pipes here also boost the exhaust sound with added substance. But since both engines are turbocharged, turbo-back systems with all-new parts from the headers to the tips help with scavenging, or the pulsating effect that draws gases out from the combustion chamber faster to significantly improve airflow, and thus performance. Here headers and downpipes play a major part. 
Exhaust builders make buying parts or complete systems easy. Each product matches your Explorer’s VIN number, so compatibility is a given.