06 LBZ Duramax 5 Inch Straight Pipe?

[Silveradomaniac]

Hey guys, this question has probably been asnwered so please forgive me. Ive got an 06 LBZ duramax that is bone stock. The truck is WAY too quiet for me. I want to get a 5 inch turbo back exhaust for it with no muffler. I dont want to block my egr or anything i just want the exhaust for sound and to lower exhaust temps a little. I may go with a programmer a little further down the road but thats the only other mod. Will i set any codes or check engine light just from the exhaust. My truck has the FE9 emmissions and ive read that the fe9 trucks wont set a code. Theres not any 02codes sensors in front of or behind the cat. Anyone know?

[squeaky3]

i have 4" straight pipe with no cat from the downpipe back

your truck wont set a code for the muffler or cat being gone, they arent monitored like a similar gas truck is

5" will cost you a bit more i believe, but im not sure, i love the sound of my full 4" straight pipe

and i would suggest blocking the egr, pcv reroute and such for the truck, it will help the motor run better w/o the egr and such clogging up

[Silveradomaniac]

i have 4" straight pipe with no cat from the downpipe back

your truck wont set a code for the muffler or cat being gone, they arent monitored like a similar gas truck is

5" will cost you a bit more i believe, but im not sure, i love the sound of my full 4" straight pipe

and i would suggest blocking the egr, pcv reroute and such for the truck, it will help the motor run better w/o the egr and such clogging up


Ok, will it hurt my truck any to go ahead and do the straight pipe without doing the egr block for a month or two until i get a programmer to block the code from the egr block plate or will it not throw a code with the blocker plare either?

[squeaky3]

with just a straight pipe you will be fine, all i have on my truck is straight pipe from downpipe back and banks intake

i dont have an egr blocker plate yet either, but i will get one this summer when i get my efi live tuning done, along with a few other things

a blocker plate will set a code for no egr flow, but you can get whats called a "fingerstick" which is wiring into the harness to keep the light off, or most canned tuners and efi live can keep the light off

[Jmac72]

Go for it.Check here for exhaust. www.performancetruckproducts.com
I would recommend the efi live too.Great stuff.

[Silveradomaniac]

Go for it.Check here for exhaust. www.performancetruckproducts.com
I would recommend the efi live too.Great stuff.
Ok thanks guys for the help, i would like efi but i dont want to do anything to my truck other than aan exhaust and maybe a mild tuner until my warranty is up at least. Ive narrowed my tuners down to either a PPE or a edge evo cs, not the race one. Ive read the PPE standard is the best canned tuner but the edge is nice because of the gauges and on the fly tunes. The only levels i would run would be an economy tune and a tow tune. Do you have to tap the manifold for the edge to have the exhaust temperature gauge work? Which of these two tuners would you guys recommend? Thanks

[Jmac72]

You can get efi live with a 5 position switch.Just read a bit here www.duramaxtuner.com

Of your choices I would go with the ppe.You might even look at the duramaximizer.

You did need to drill and tap the exhaust manifold for the egt sensor.Its not to big off a deal.

[Silveradomaniac]

You can get efi live with a 5 position switch.Just read a bit here www.duramaxtuner.com

Of your choices I would go with the ppe.You might even look at the duramaximizer.

You did need to drill and tap the exhaust manifold for the egt sensor.Its not to big off a deal.

Yeah, i think im gonna hold off on the efi live but i did look into the duramaximizer but i didnt know if it would be too much on a stock transmission and everything but i dont guess it would be. Its an actual ecm with a switch to change tunes isnt it? Would it be better than the PPE standard? Like i said, id basically only run the economy level and tow levels with the programmer.

[Jmac72]

Its basically just a pressure box.Ups the rail psi I believe.It just piggybacks onto the fuel psi sensor and regulator. I think its under a 100hp gain.100hp or less is pretty safe.I just wasn't sure if it was cheaper or not.Same with the efi live.Some of those tuners cost more than the efi live.
I used to run the ppe standard stacked with the duramaximizer.It ran pretty good never had any trouble with either piece.I have heard mixed reviews on the edge stuff,but the CS and CTS have a lot of nice features.

[mamu]

your truck will throw a code with a 5'' straight pipe. it will say exh flow insufficent. if i remember correctly it will hold the rpm down to like 2200 or 2500. the best bet is to put your exhaust on, get a PPE standard and set it on about 120 or 160 level. becareful on 160 because it will limp a tranny if your not careful. but 120 you should be fine. BLOCK your egr!!!! its putting nasty sooty exhaust back into your engine!!! the PPE will block codes for the exh and egr. then all you have to do is enjoy!!! im in arkansas as well (bald Knob) and we work on these trucks daily. plus we run 4 of them in the family. so let me know if you need any more info! ill help ya all ya need!

[Silveradomaniac]

your truck will throw a code with a 5'' straight pipe. it will say exh flow insufficent. if i remember correctly it will hold the rpm down to like 2200 or 2500. the best bet is to put your exhaust on, get a PPE standard and set it on about 120 or 160 level. becareful on 160 because it will limp a tranny if your not careful. but 120 you should be fine. BLOCK your egr!!!! its putting nasty sooty exhaust back into your engine!!! the PPE will block codes for the exh and egr. then all you have to do is enjoy!!! im in arkansas as well (bald Knob) and we work on these trucks daily. plus we run 4 of them in the family. so let me know if you need any more info! ill help ya all ya need!
Alot of people have said since it has the fe9 emissions it wont throw a code from the exhaust.
Seems like about half say they will and half say they wont, i looked at my exhaust and it doesnt have any sensors on it, so i dont see how it would know if the cat and muffler were gone. I really wanted to do the exhaust now and get the
tuner a little later but if you say the exhaust without a tuner is gonna limp my truck then i guess i will hold out till i can get the exhaust and programmer together. I just dont know if i can wait much longer on the exhaust lol.

[Mark13]

your truck will throw a code with a 5'' straight pipe. it will say exh flow insufficent. if i remember correctly it will hold the rpm down to like 2200 or 2500. the best bet is to put your exhaust on, get a PPE standard and set it on about 120 or 160 level. becareful on 160 because it will limp a tranny if your not careful. but 120 you should be fine. BLOCK your egr!!!! its putting nasty sooty exhaust back into your engine!!! the PPE will block codes for the exh and egr. then all you have to do is enjoy!!! im in arkansas as well (bald Knob) and we work on these trucks daily. plus we run 4 of them in the family. so let me know if you need any more info! ill help ya all ya need!

For the money spent on a PPE he could get Efi-Live for the same price. Also there's no 120hp setting for an lbz with a standard like there is for the lb7 and lly.

[SlvrdoHDmax]

My FE9 emissions truck did not have a check engine light from from exhaust or using a blocker plate. I would highly suggest saving up the little extra for EFI Live. For less than or equal to the price of PPE, you can do EFI. I got 5 tunes, trans tuning, and installation for $450 out the door.

[Jmac72]

For the money spent on a PPE he could get Efi-Live for the same price. Also there's no 120hp setting for an lbz with a standard like there is for the lb7 and lly.


Thats kind of what I was thinking too.

[Silveradomaniac]

Thats kind of what I was thinking too.
Im starting to see that efi live is the way to go, can i run the efi live with my stock tranny and everything, like i said the only mods i will do are the 5 inch exhaust and theit egr block, other than a tune. Do most of you guys think i can go ahead and do the exhaust without a tune for now and not get a code and even if i do it shouldnt limp my truck right.

[Mark13]

Im starting to see that efi live is the way to go, can i run the efi live with my stock tranny and everything, like i said the only mods i will do are the 5 inch exhaust and theit egr block, other than a tune. Do most of you guys think i can go ahead and do the exhaust without a tune for now and not get a code and even if i do it shouldnt limp my truck right.

I've been running efi-live on a stock trans for 45k+ miles. I had a 4" straight pipe on my truck for a month or so before I went and got it tuned, no problems before or after the tuning.

[squeaky3]

Ive had a 4" downpipe back straight pipe for 5 months now with no probles...other than wanting more power....

[Silveradomaniac]

Ive had a 4" downpipe back straight pipe for 5 months now with no probles...other than wanting more power....
im pretty sure im gonna go with the straight pipe and no tuner for now, i just really dont want a cel or code but too many people say it wont throw a code so im gonna go for it. Does your 07 have the lbz motor with fe9 emissions?
i see your sig now squeaky3, is your truck an fe9 emissions though?

[Silveradomaniac]

Kind of off topic but what do you guys think about a 5truck inch cat back exhaust with no muffler? I know it wont be as loudd as a straight pipe but will it be any louder than stock? I mainly wanna here more turbo whistle. Thought i might go with a cat back now then get a tuner and cat delete later. More than likely gonna go no cat or muffler but wanted to see what you guys thought about the cat back.

[SlvrdoHDmax]

I would highly advise that you go with a full straight pipe. With a cat back, no muffler, you will get a little more turbo sound but there will be almost no rumble to it.

[mamu]

i agree with everyone that the efi is the way to go. but if you change tunes regularly like me. ppe is the way to go. but i also own the v2 for efi that i use at our shop. but if you want the diversity of a low tow tune and the 225 hp level out of a standard then its the way to go. most all the tuners that i buy tune from to put in trucks that are stock trans will not tune the engine hot enough to hurt the tranny. so after you spend that 4-5 grand on a tranny you get to go back and pay them to build you another tune. and you can say all you want that you wont build the tranny.....in due time you will want more from the truck. the diesel power is like crack, you cant get enough. get on diesel forums and buy a standard or a hot ppe program for a fraction of what they cost new. i run a hot+2 et set on the 350 hp tune every day. with a built tranny, head studs and my egr completely deleted. i spank a lb7 with a "race efi tune". he has a built tranny and lift pump as well. but it all in the owners hands. i can tell you first hand that a 4" will not throw a code (havent seen one yet) but a 5'' will....and i repeat WILL throw a code. i drove my truck from atlanta georgia to arkansas like that. it will still run pretty good, but its not at its full potential.

if you want to spend the money, buy the v2 from efi and set it up on your computer. i think its relatively cheap at about $800 and the dealer usually gives you acouple base tunes to play with. but let me know if i can be of any assistance!

[Jmac72]

The cat back is kind of a waste.You will be hard pressed to tell much difference than stock.(sound or performance)

You can have the efi live tailored to what ever you want.You can also get the 5position switch,with 5 different tunes.Lots of options.The PPe stuff is good too.The one big factor is that you can change the efi to do what ever you want.Just depends what you want to do.

[Silveradomaniac]

i agree with everyone that the efi is the way to go. but if you change tunes regularly like me. ppe is the way to go. but i also own the v2 for efi that i use at our shop. but if you want the diversity of a low tow tune and the 225 hp level out of a standard then its the way to go. most all the tuners that i buy tune from to put in trucks that are stock trans will not tune the engine hot enough to hurt the tranny. so after you spend that 4-5 grand on a tranny you get to go back and pay them to build you another tune. and you can say all you want that you wont build the tranny.....in due time you will want more from the truck. the diesel power is like crack, you cant get enough. get on diesel forums and buy a standard or a hot ppe program for a fraction of what they cost new. i run a hot+2 et set on the 350 hp tune every day. with a built tranny, head studs and my egr completely deleted. i spank a lb7 with a "race efi tune". he has a built tranny and lift pump as well. but it all in the owners hands. i can tell you first hand that a 4" will not throw a code (havent seen one yet) but a 5'' will....and i repeat WILL throw a code. i drove my truck from atlanta georgia to arkansas like that. it will still run pretty good, but its not at its full potential.

if you want to spend the money, buy the v2 from efi and set it up on your computer. i think its relatively cheap at about $800 and the dealer usually gives you acouple base tunes to play with. but let me know if i can be of any assistance!
thats weird that the 4 inch will not throw a code but the 5 inch will. Is it because of how much more the 5 inch flows?

[Mark13]

i agree with everyone that the efi is the way to go. but if you change tunes regularly like me. ppe is the way to go. but i also own the v2 for efi that i use at our shop. but if you want the diversity of a low tow tune and the 225 hp level out of a standard then its the way to go. most all the tuners that i buy tune from to put in trucks that are stock trans will not tune the engine hot enough to hurt the tranny. so after you spend that 4-5 grand on a tranny you get to go back and pay them to build you another tune. and you can say all you want that you wont build the tranny.....in due time you will want more from the truck. the diesel power is like crack, you cant get enough. get on diesel forums and buy a standard or a hot ppe program for a fraction of what they cost new. i run a hot+2 et set on the 350 hp tune every day. with a built tranny, head studs and my egr completely deleted. i spank a lb7 with a "race efi tune". he has a built tranny and lift pump as well. but it all in the owners hands. i can tell you first hand that a 4" will not throw a code (havent seen one yet) but a 5'' will....and i repeat WILL throw a code. i drove my truck from atlanta georgia to arkansas like that. it will still run pretty good, but its not at its full potential.

if you want to spend the money, buy the v2 from efi and set it up on your computer. i think its relatively cheap at about $800 and the dealer usually gives you acouple base tunes to play with. but let me know if i can be of any assistance!

How would PPE change tunes easier then Efi-Live and a DSP switch? No need to plug anything in or carry the little tuner around with you.

[mamu]

if the truck is stock everywhere else then his tunes will be limited. the top tune will only be roughly 120hp over stock. so yes you can change from stock to 120 very easy with a dsp switch. but if you are wanting more than 120 i dont believe many tuners are going to build you a tune that they know will demolish a stock tranny. but the ppe will let you go from stock to 225, or which ever box you buy.

but i guess the 5'' will flow alot more air than a 4'' i ran my 5 and it threw a code as soon as i would get on it. but now i can run it stock with my 4'' cool duals and it never throws a code. again, you can get into a box tuner quite a bit cheaper. you also need to see about how your going to load the tune, does someone around you own a v2? or are you looking to buy it? just a few things to think about. but no matter what you do, i would recommend blocking the egr. it deff needs that done.

[Silveradomaniac]

[Qid UOTE=mamu;5608415]if the truck is stock everywhere else then his tunes will be limited. the top tune will only be roughly 120hp over stock. so yes you can change from stock to 120 very easy with a dsp switch. but if you are wanting more than 120 i dont believe many tuners are going to build you a tune that they know will demolish a stock tranny. but the ppe will let you go from stock to 225, or which ever box you buy.

but i guess the 5'' will flow alot more air than a 4'' i ran my 5 and it threw a code as soon as i would get on it. but now i can run it stock with my 4'' cool duals and it never throws a code. again, you can get into a box tuner quite a bit cheaper. you also need to see about how your going to load the tune, does someone around you own a v2? or are you looking to buy it? just a few things to think about. but no matter what you do, i would recommend blocking the egr. it deff needs that done.[/QUOTE]
Id love to go with efi but i just dont think i will ever need anything that advanced. All i use my truck for is daily driving and pulling trailers, i see that efi is the best but i dont think i will go that route. I will block the egr and do an exhaust. I can across a hypertech max energy tuner that a budy of mine has on his 05 lly hes wanting to sell for 100the bucks. Is this a good tuner for the price and will it work on my lbz? Will it block codes from my egr and straight pipe or will i have to plug it in to clear them? Thank you all for the help.

[mamu]

i dont think the hypertech will block them. but im not 100% sure. it will make the truck run alot better if it is for the lbz. look on the back of it for a part number, should tell you what it works with. but for the money its a good place to start. i enjoyed my 5'' exhaust because everyone was like wow thats a huge tip an pipe!!! but i like the 4'' better for the sound. i like the deeper sound with some whistle over that jet airplane mine had with the 5''. but i will check tomorrow and see about the hypertech and post back.

[SlvrdoHDmax]

I don't think that will block codes from an egr block or exhaust, but that's if you even have codes come up. Some tuners are different with what years they cover. I used to have a superchips flashpaq before EFI and it covered 01-07 trucks. I would wait to see if you even have codes come up, neither mine or my friends truck had codes after blocking the egr and doing 4"/5" exhaust.

[Silveradomaniac]

i dont think the hypertech will block them. but im not 100% sure. it will make the truck run alot better if it is for the lbz. look on the back of it for a part number, should tell you what it works with. but for the money its a good place to start. i enjoyed my 5'' exhaust because everyone was like wow thats a huge tip an pipe!!! but i like the 4'' better for the sound. i like the deeper sound with some whistle over that jet airplane mine had with the 5''. but i will check tomorrow and see about the hypertech and post back.

ok thanks for looking into it. I went to hypertech website and the part number for the 05 lly is 32500 and the 06 lbz part number is 32501 so im assuming it wont work. The horsepower levels for the lly are lower than for the lbz. So much for that idea.

[Silveradomaniac]

Ive decided to go with the edge evo cs. Let me ask yall this, im not gonna buy thhe tuner andd the exhaausst at the same time so which should i go with first?

[SlvrdoHDmax]

I would go with exhaust first, you will need a free flowing exhaust to keep egts down with tuning.

[mamu]

id do the tuner first. i see alot of stock trucks running a tuner and thats it. your not going to overheat your exhaust with the edge. if its going to be a while before the exhaust gets bought then take it to a muffler shop and have them cut the muff and cat out and straight pipe it that way. it saves money and buys you some time. i didnt see anything about the hypertech blocking codes....but i hope your getting a smoking deal on the edge.

[Silveradomaniac]

id do the tuner first. i see alot of stock trucks running a tuner and thats it. your not going to overheat your exhaust with the edge. if its going to be a while before the exhaust gets bought then take it to a muffler shop and have them cut the muff and cat out and straight pipe it that way. it saves money and buys you some time. i didnt see anything about the hypertech blocking codes....but i hope your getting a smoking deal on the edge.

I can get the edge evo cs for 450 new or a edge evo race for 550 new. I know im bouncing all over with all these questions so i appreciate yalls help. So heres anothe question. If i do a 5 inch cat back with a muffler delete will i get more turbo whistle than i do now with my stock setup? Thats what im after is the turbo whistle but for some reason im not really wanting to go with a turbo back exhaust right now lol. So would the cat back give me more turbo whistle? Thanks

[Jmac72]

No.

[QUOTE=Jmac72;5608032]The cat back is kind of a waste.You will be hard pressed to tell much difference than stock.(sound or performance)

[SlvrdoHDmax]

when I cut the muffler out of mine and kept the cat, I personally noticed more turbo whistle. the problem is that the cat is pretty much a spot trap on a diesel truck, and isn't going to flow well.

[Silveradomaniac]

when I cut the muffler out of mine and kept the cat, I personally noticed more turbo whistle. the problem is that the cat is pretty much a spot trap on a diesel truck, and isn't going to flow well.

Did you cut the muffler out of your stock system, ive considered this because i can get it done at a local muffler shop for 15the bucks. Would doing this be basically the same as buying a cat back system other than not having the good look of the 5 inch pipe? I know its not gonna be as loud as a turbo back, but getting rid of that big stock muffler has to make it a little louder, hopefully a little more turbo whistle. Id like to do this now then go with the turbo back and programmer in about a month for my bday lol.

[SlvrdoHDmax]

For $15 I'd go for it. That would be roughly the same as having a cat back aftermarket exhaust. A few months after that, I bought a 4" down pipe back and the sound difference is incredible when you lose the cat.

[Silveradomaniac]

For $15 I'd go for it. That would be roughly the same as having a cat back aftermarket exhaust. A few months after that, I bought a 4" down pipe back and the sound difference is incredible when you lose the cat.

Thats what im gonna do for now then, hopefully it will give a little more sound and satisfy me for about a month then i will open it up with a full turbo back.

[Silveradomaniac]

Went to my local muffler shop today and he talked me into cutting the cat and muffler out and straight piping my factory pipe for about 60a bucks. He is ordering the pipe tomorrow so i have to wait till tuesday to get it done. I know it aint gonna sound as good a a 5little inch system but is this gonna give me some rumble and turbo whistle or is it still gonna be pretty quiet?

[SlvrdoHDmax]

it will be completely different sounding. the larger diameter tubing just gives it a deeper tone and more flow. 4" is all you need flow wise though.

[Jmac72]

it will be completely different sounding. the larger diameter tubing just gives it a deeper tone and more flow. 4" is all you need flow wise though.

I agree.

[Silveradomaniac]

it will be completely different sounding. the larger diameter tubing just gives it a deeper tone and more flow. 4" is all you need flow wise though.

Ok good, i was hoping it was gonna sound different, louder and more turbo. Im just doing this now for a cheap way to get a little more sound and use the money i wouldve spent on a 5 inch for a programmer. But if you think 4i inch will flow just as well as the 5 inch then i will just get a 4 inchh kit and save the money when i get ready to buy one.

[tomloew]

Nice one...

[ZF6LLY]

how did you guys not have a check engine light 10 miles after taking my cat off I had a insufficient egr flow code i forget the number from the lack of back pressure same code u get when blocking the egr which im even more surprise didn't throw a code for you guys....

anyways a fingerstick is a cheap easy way to fix that mines in my center console im to lazy to wire it in haha

for a cheap exhaust do what i did

the muffler was already gone just a straight piece of 3.5 inch pipe welded in place i didnt even notice at first it was still so quite

then i just got a used lb7 front pipe from my buddy cause lb7s don't have cats its loud when I'm on it but very quite when cruising my dad didn't even believe me it was straight piped...

[Silveradomaniac]

I dropped my truck off at the muffler shop this morning and went to pick it up after work. I got in my truck, started it up and it was as quiet as it was before maybe just a little more rumble. When i got home i crawled under the truck and the guy at the muffler shop only did the muffler delete but didnt cut the cat out. Taking it back thursday to get the cat delete done and hopefully then the sound will be there. Just from the muffler delete I went from 16.9 mpg to 17.9 mpg according to my truck so I'm pretty happy with that. Hopefully when the cat comes off my mpg will go up a little more.

[Jmac72]

A lot of places around here will not remove the cat,for legal reasons.

If you get them to,be sure to keep it.Just in case laws or things change,it would be pricey to replace one.

[Silveradomaniac]

I got the cat cut off last thursday for 30 bucks and im vey pleased, of course it could be a little louder but it sounds much better. No check engine light. At idle the truck has a light haze of smoke coming from the pipe. Is this normal? Now i just need to get a good tip to get rid of the stock look. Is the edge evo cs gonna be my best bet for towing besides efi?

[SlvrdoHDmax]

Smoke haze at idle typically shows an injector problem.
The CS will probably do you good, being that there will be gauges to monitor things such as the exhaust gas temps, and you will be able to switch tunes on the fly if things get hot, or you want more power.

[Mark13]

I've been around several dmax's (my own included) that in direct sunlight have a haze at idle and no known injector problems.

[SlvrdoHDmax]

I guess it depends on how much. I only notice it from mine in winter on a cold start.

[Silveradomaniac]

I guess it depends on how much. I only notice it from mine in winter on a cold start.

I only noticed it one time, it was in direct sunlight and a very small amount, almost not even noticeable but i was at the back of my truck looking lol and it hasnt done it since so i think im good. Does the edge evo have an exhaust brake on its tow setting?

[ZF6LLY]

mine smokes at idle blue black white all sorts of smoke nothing heavy unless its winter time which most duris do especially if the cats off
one winter morning I started it then went inside to see my whole driveway full of smoke
truck runs great no injector problems
my buddys lbz straight piped dump truck smokes at idle too

[squeaky3]

ive noticed a few times my truck smokes at idle too, depends on the temp too, but i have seen some gray/white smoke even when the air temp is warm but the truck is cold