So I just went to autozone and my 3rd cat threw a code. I was wondering if I straight pipe my 2008 TL Base from that location is it worth it? Or should I just delete all 3 and just straight pipe the entire exhaust?


Also will I require a j pipe? I’m kinda at a lost and don’t want to spend a lot of cash.

 

Please don't eliminate the cats, the rest of us need to breath the air.

 

-There are a few different options when deleting the 3rd cat (located under car). You could purchase a test pipe, race pipe which are nice because most are removable and attached by flanges and bolts. Or you can take it to a muffler shop get the 3rd cat cut out and replaced with a welded in straight pipe (not removable) and not recommended but essentially the same thing. Do not remove your 2 precats (coming off the blocks) it won’t sound good trust me but a nice J pipe+ test pipe combo from a trusted brand like ATLP/Xlerate will produce a nice exhaust note paired with the cat-back or exhaust stage mods of your choice. But a J pipe is not required, test or race pipes should bolt up to your oem j pipe

 

-It’s also not possible to straight pipe your two cats coming off the block heads. They do make aftermarket versions but removal and replacement is both time consuming and expensive. The type s precats have a slightly lower cell count equating to better exhaust flow but the base TL cats are good units aswell.

 

- deleting that 3rd cat at a muffler shop (if they’ll perform the mod, some shops are touchy on removing cats without proper replacement)should run you 50-60$. A proper test pipe or race pipe can cost that or more but than just has to be bolted on in replace of your 3rd cat

 

what about a res delete?

 

You can delete it or more appropriately replace it with a welded on dynomax resonator for a deeper more throaty exhaust note with less rasp than your standard straight delete would create

 

Your 3rd cat isn't a monitored cat, the issue would be with the two main catalytic converters. 5.5 gen Maximas were notorious for the cats going bad. I ended up getting some low mileage ones from someone who put headers on their car. Only paid $85 for the pair. If you want to go new, there are high flow cats available for our cars. Or aftermarket OEM replacements which may or may not flow as well as OEM.