Diesel Exhaust Systems

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Diesel Exhaust Systems for transport trucks carry exhaust gases and heat away from the engine and vent it into the atmosphere. Bolted to the exhaust manifold, the exhaust pipe runs horizontally via the engine room and turns vertically to run through the deck.

In many transport trucks (called lorries in England) the exhaust system is visible. The silencer on these trucks is often protected with perforated metal sheath to prevent people from getting burnt when touching the hot silencer by accident. This sheath is often chrome plated and serves as a display feature. A section of the pipe between the manifold and the silencer is often industrial flexible metal ducting.

The function of the large exhaust pipe is to blow the hot and noxious gas away from people. The end of this exhaust pipe almost always has a hinged metal flap that stops rainwater, birds and debris from falling inside it. Very often this exhaust pipe has a flex connector attached to it. This helps in minimizing the vibration from the engine to be transferred into the exhaust system.

Diesel exhaust systems may include, for example, a diesel particulate filter (DPFs) which's function is to remove soot and other particulates from the diesel exhaust. Where multiple DPFs are used, they are typically arranged in close proximity to each other and housed within a common enclosure.

Exhaust Systems for light trucks and cars have the same function, but obviously are not installed the same way as they are on transport trucks. They are also bolted to the exhaust manifold but they don't turn up like they do in transport trucks. Instead, they turn down and run along the bottom of the vehicle and come out the rear or in some cases out the side just behind the rear wheels.

There are some exceptions where in some trucks, the diesel exhaust systems might come out of the sides somewhere between the front and the rear wheels (usually towards the rear). These applications are almost always aftermarket modifications and usually include the application of runners that cover the exhaust pipes. It is typically done to make the truck "hot" looking so it makes people "turn heads".