Stock Muffler Life
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From: Cloud USA
It really depends on where you live. If you live where it snows and they salt the roads. you may only get 5 or 6 years at most. I still have my factory muffler on my 93 F250. It was origionally from texas.
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Good point. The truck has been in Houston, Texas, its whole life and has 60K miles on it. I am getting an annoying buzzing from the muffler when accelerating and the revs pass 2500 RPMs. It sounds like a heat shield, which is what I origionally though it was, but it is coming from the muffler. I was just wondering if it should have failed this early.
-Jeff
-Jeff
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From: Wyoming
I've had the same noise come from my '92 Explorer's heat shield, but only at certain RPM's. Unless you are driving through dry wheat fields, you may not need it.
One thing that will rust a muffler out prematurely is constant short trips, where the exhaust system never heats up completely and dries out. Might not be as big a problem in the South as up north, but when I was only driving 2 miles to work every day my mufflers would go out in 2-3 years (in Northern Idaho).
One thing that will rust a muffler out prematurely is constant short trips, where the exhaust system never heats up completely and dries out. Might not be as big a problem in the South as up north, but when I was only driving 2 miles to work every day my mufflers would go out in 2-3 years (in Northern Idaho).
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True. This truck sees mostly freeway driving. I have a 45 mile commute. Although I am confident the muffler is at fault, I am going to pull the heat shield over the muffler off just to rule that out before I spring for a new muffler.
-Jeff
-Jeff
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Whitman MASS
try the joint where the y pipe is joined after the cats, i notices a leak there with the factory clamps getting loose, if it has factory clamps and you like the factory system have it welded. that helped in my 2001 F150. It is a much better sound now.
Brian
Brian
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From: Chicago Area
I think the OE muffler and pipes on your 2001 are stainless steel. If so, it is essentially permanent and certainly should last longer than 60K. Of course nothing is forever, but I live in the Chicago area, and vehicles with stainless exhaust have lasted over 10 years and 200,000 miles for me.
Maybe the original owner "upgraded" it, or maybe it has sustained some mechanical damage.
Maybe the original owner "upgraded" it, or maybe it has sustained some mechanical damage.
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From: Whitman MASS
i dont have a stainless exhaust on my 2001. if it was stainless it was pretty crappy metal.. I heard somewhere that the cats may be stainless, but mine are very rusty looking now so i dont know.
like MrBSS said nothing lasts forever.
Brian
like MrBSS said nothing lasts forever.
Brian
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From: Missouri
My 2003 with 46k on it has a bit of rust showing on the collector in the rear of the muffler and on all the seams.
Prolly won't last much longer. But that's what you get for living in the salt happy state of missouri.
Prolly won't last much longer. But that's what you get for living in the salt happy state of missouri.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
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From: BC, Canada
Lots of them look rusty on the outside but will still last a long time.
My mom drives a 1989 T-Bird with the original exhaust system still on it. It looks pretty rusty but is still quiet and has no holes.
And yes they salt the roads here too.
My mom drives a 1989 T-Bird with the original exhaust system still on it. It looks pretty rusty but is still quiet and has no holes.
And yes they salt the roads here too.
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Looks like the muffler is shot. I removed all the heat shields, except the one that the muffler hanger is attached to and narrowed the noise down to the muffler. Sounds like a baffle broke loose.
Is it okay to leave the heat shield off, and prevent future problems with them, or should I reinstall them?
-Jeff
Is it okay to leave the heat shield off, and prevent future problems with them, or should I reinstall them?
-Jeff
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From: Louisville,Ky.
It won't hurt unless you go into tall grassy areas or in the woods.
The stock system has stainless in it, but it isn't totally stainless. It will rust over time, but it will long outlive standard steel pipe.
My 88 5.0 Mustang still has the original tailpipes. The converter pipe is in great shape too, except I don't use it any more. I have an aluminized 2 1/2" Flowtech off-road pipe and Flowmasters on it. The tailpipes are still original and show no signs of rusting thru anywhere at 156,000 miles.
Jimmy
The stock system has stainless in it, but it isn't totally stainless. It will rust over time, but it will long outlive standard steel pipe.
My 88 5.0 Mustang still has the original tailpipes. The converter pipe is in great shape too, except I don't use it any more. I have an aluminized 2 1/2" Flowtech off-road pipe and Flowmasters on it. The tailpipes are still original and show no signs of rusting thru anywhere at 156,000 miles.
Jimmy
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I don't think the heat shields above the muffler would protect high grass. I am more concerned about heat damage to the underside of my truck. I think there is enough clearance between the top of the muffler and the frame, but I question why Ford would install these shields. It seems as though they'd be a prime target for a cost cutting if they were not necessary.
-Jeff
-Jeff
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Louisville,Ky.
Oh, I was thinking the the shield was under the muffler, sorry.
I would guess that they are there to protect the paint in the bed from blistering it it got too hot under there. I left mine on when I had my Flowmaster exhaust put on.
Jimmy
I would guess that they are there to protect the paint in the bed from blistering it it got too hot under there. I left mine on when I had my Flowmaster exhaust put on.
Jimmy
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