Exhausts

[Carson]

Has anyone installed an aftermarket exhaust on their fusion preferably a earlier model v6 I am debating on adding one to my car.

[Big Jim]

There has been a lot posted about exhausts on 2006 to 2012 V6 Fusions. I haven't changed my exhaust but I'm familiar with it.

 

First of all, be aware that changing to an aftermarket cat back exhaust will do nothing for performance. The biggest exhaust restriction is still there, the cats. Many people refer to the aftermarket cat back systems as noisemakers, as that is about all you accomplish, that is to add tone and noise to the exhaust system.

 

Second, the factory exhaust isn't too bad. You can accomplish as much good with just changing mufflers. Magnaflows seem to have received a lot of love in the past.

 

Third, some of those that installed an aftermarket exhaust were sorry they did, as it was louder than they expected. One guy went back to the muffler shop within 15 minutes to have the stock mufflers re-installed.

 

I'm one of the people that would like a bit more sound from my exhaust, but found the Borla, Magnaflow, and others louder than my taste. You should be able to decide for yourself. There are many who like the sound. Many have posted sound clips to help you see what you are getting into, but be aware that the clips give you an idea of tone but can't really show you just how loud it is.

[lx_2nv]

I put the magnaflow kit on my 06 3.0. Easiest exhaust I have ever put on - Start to finish about 45 minutes. The longest part was getting the old exhaust out of the hanger. I loved the sound of the magnaflow - but like Jim said, no real performance change. May have gotten a teeny bit better mpg.

[Fusionpursuit]

I got 1 mpg better on my Magnaflow system and 2 mpg better on my Steeda CAI/tune.

 

I am hitting 33-34 avg mpg on long flat road trips now.

 

My magnaflow system was destroyed (mufflers bent and tips ruined) when I got rear ended, the repair shop did some custom repair to them and got some specialized parts from magnaflow directly... for some reason, it has a more mellow sound now, and the tips are more polished and straight piped. I think they look better and more factory now.

[Waʊnd Sterling]

Aftermarket Exhaust is a mixed bag, aesthetics and aural impression seem to be the draw.

All engines need back-pressure however - some engines will actually perform more-poorly when things such as this are introduced. My previous performance Ford, the 1999 v8SHO Taurus, this was proven to perform less-efficient w/ things like extrude honing the intake and exhaust tracts, and exhaust made no real gains.

Just gave a spike-ie powerband instead of a smooth butter-churn one.