Driving with the Back Window down?

[jriley]

Hey Everyone;

I've attempted to drive with the back window down on a few occasions. Many of you who have tried have also realized that the fumes from the muffler come in through the back window especially when you hit the gas.

Raises a few questions:

- Toyota doesn't say, but is there any issues with driving with the window down other than fumes?

- Most trucks curve the muffler to the side (not straight out) for this exact reason.

- Has anyone successfully altered the muffler so that driving with the window down is possible?

Cheers!
John.

 

[loudog2]

a lot of people have changed the exhaust. You can go to any shop and get it angled to the side. Don't know how much it would cost. There are pics of this done with the trd/bora dual exhaust and without(just angling the normal exhaust).

 

[abin]

My opinion on this,
1. You can have side window or moon roof open to circulate the air and actually block the fumes from exhaust back to inside.
2. I have a car with side muffler. When I start the car in the garage, the fumes fill the garage in very short time. If you don't start your car in garage, it should be fine.
3. Given you have a side muffler, when the truck is moving with some speed, I wonder is there significant difference between these two.

 

[Larry]

You could figure out the air flow patterns. Just get a little pin wheel or similar device and have someone move around the back and try different places and speeds. Combine that with different open/closed window configurations. You'd get a lot better information that speculation. Before computers and access to wind tunnels, we use to do this kind of stuff with tufts of yarn for surface flow on race car bodies, both inside and outside. Maybe it's not PC to have someone moving about without a seat belt.

 

[ksneubec]

Somewhere along the line THERE IS a line in the manual advising you NOT to drive with the rear window down for this exact reason. I have found, however, just as abin suggested, that if you drive with the sunroof or windows open, I don't notice the problem. If it is warm enough for one window to be open . . . .

 

[4RNR4BB]

I used to not drive iwth the back window down. I tried it the other day and found that if the side windows are down, the air flows better with the rear window down. If the rear window is up, the air buffets me harder, and is annoying. If i put the back window down it's nice.

Like ksneubec said, if it's warm enough for one window...

Matt

 

[ksneubec]

I used to not drive iwth the back window down. I tried it the other day and found that if the side windows are down, the air flows better with the rear window down. If the rear window is up, the air buffets me harder, and is annoying. If i put the back window down it's nice.

Like ksneubec said, if it's warm enough for one window...

Matt

4RNR4BB gets to live in San Diego, I'm here in CT, who gets to drive with the rear window down more?

 

[4RNR4BB]

4RNR4BB gets to live in San Diego, I'm here in CT, who gets to drive with the rear window down more?

What? It was only like 73 today.

 

[Del34]

I have a 3rd gen where the exhaust is angled to the right side of the truck, but I still get a nice whiff of the exhaust if the back window is down.

 

[broncosi]

another little combination, if your sunroof were to be the only thing open, you would feel as if your hair was being sucked out but if you barely crack the windows then it will even the air flow and you dont feel the sunroof trying to suck your head out. Im 18 and i try stupid things i.e. driving down the highway doin about 70 with everything open, all windows, sunroof, and back window, all completly open, at 70 mph you dont feel anything at all, a slight draft maybe and you sure hear it but you dont get the 70 mph winds blasting you away. And as everyone else said, if you only have the back window down then the aerodynamics create a whirlpool and the exhaust is sucked back into the car, if you open the back window, try turning the air on(outside air, not re-circ.) and cracking the back 2 passenger window to vent out the fumes before they get to you. just an idea

 

[Gryphon]

On my '90, I have the rear deflector. It really seems to work well to keep the exhaust out when cruising with the window down.

I hauled a couple bales of hay last weekend, left the window down. No fumes.

In the hot tho, I run the side glass open too, even if just the wing windows. (I wonder why they did away with those? I love them!)

 

[jriley]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. Sound like adjusting the muffler out the side won't help, I'll just crack the back windows as everyone's suggesting.

Cheers!
John.

 

[abin]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. Sound like adjusting the muffler out the side won't help, I'll just crack the back windows as everyone's suggesting.

Cheers!
John.

Jriley,
Don't worry too much. It was just my experiences and comments.
One thing good on side muffler is, when you are loading stuff, you would not have to worry abut the hot exhaust. I have a vehicle with stock side muffler. Many other vehicles are with the same design based on the same reason.

 

[Outback Paul]

I'm going to have my exhaust moved due to having a hitch haul basket. Last year I hauled some stuff in it and it melted due to the hot exaust.

Is there any warranty implications that I should worry about?