6 Best Exhaust Manifolds For 5.9 Cummins Reviews

Installing an exhaust will help clean up the waste gases while also improving horsepower and torque and with some exhausts, also creating a desirable sound.

Buying the reliable exhaust will help your car’s engine eliminate the waste gases most efficiently and beneficially possible.

Today, I have compiled a list of the best exhaust manifolds for your 5.9 Cummins. All of these are suitable for heavy-duty applications and are –pretty reliable.

However, it is important to consider before you purchase that whichever product you choose is best suited to your needs; for example, the exhaust sound is the one you’d prefer.

6 Top Rated 5.9 Cummins Exhaust Manifolds Comparisons

IMAGE	PRODUCT	EDITOR'S RATING	PRICE
TOP PICK	BD Diesel Performance 1045987 Pulse Exhaust Manifold	9.7	CHECK ON AMAZON
	aFe 46-40012 BladeRunner Ductile Iron Exhaust Manifold	9.5	CHECK ON AMAZON
BEST BUDGET	Dorman 674-602 Exhaust Manifold	9.1	CHECK ON AMAZON
	RDP Polished Stainless Steel Exhaust Manifold	8.8	CHECK ON AMAZON
	BD Diesel 1045989 Pulse Exhaust Manifold	8.6	CHECK ON AMAZON
	JJ Original AK6BTPM24 5.9L Exhaust Manifold	8.2	CHECK ON AMAZON

1. BD Diesel Performance 1045987 Pulse Exhaust Manifold

The most recommended product on my list today for the 5.9 Cummins is the BD Diesel Performance 1045987 Pulse Exhaust Manifold.

This is a great product to improve the overall performance of your engine.

This product minimizes the backpressure, helping the engine run smoothly. In addition, it also boosts the turbo spool up, therefore a power-driven application.

Moreover, the horsepower and the efficiency of your engine are greatly improved after installing this exhaust.

Thanks to the distributed pulse manifold design, this product is unique and stands out from all the others.

Not only this, it is even built to withstand different climatic conditions. Therefore it will last you in every weather.

It is also resistant to vibrations. This makes it so reliable you can drive it wherever you want in even the extreme seasons without fear of it failing.

The build is made of premium materials. These are ductile iron which is made of high silicon.

These make the exhaust very reliable and usable over the long term. It has a pre-drilled construction for a pyrometer analysis.

The remote sensing technology in this exhaust helps to measure the temperature of even objects far away from it.

The heavy-duty application ensures maximum performance. With this, the EGTs will be reduced.

In addition, its construction is full-bodied engineering. It weighs 1.56 pounds and can resist very high temperatures, up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit, making it reliable.

This way, people who drive in extremely hot climates will find this post helpful.

Overall, this exhaust is great for people who wish to drive in extreme climatic conditions as it will not fail in such situations, unlike other ones.

2. aFe 46-40012 BladeRunner Ductile Iron Exhaust Manifold

The aFe 46-40012 BladeRunner Ductile Iron Exhaust Manifold is a great product with a single-piece construction.

This is a Blade Runner ductile iron exhaust manifold with amazing quality, and therefore is the best replacement you can get for your stock exhaust.

With this, the spool uptime of your 5.9 Cummins will decrease greatly. In addition, it has double auxiliary ports.

These ports are made in such a way that they improve the performance of the stock manifold. In addition, when using this, the back pressure inside the engine will decrease.

Moreover, the installation process for this exhaust is not very complicated. It is simple and easy without any hassle.

All the instructions are in the manual, and it is easy to understand. Because of this, you won’t have to go to a professional and spend extra money on just the installation.

If you want an aggressive sound for your car exhaust, then this is the one for you.

Compared to the stock exhaust, this exhaust will give a very aggressive sound when the engine is turned on.

Such a sound will make everyone turn their heads when you pass by. In addition, the throttle response is also improved, making the running of the engine more powerful.

Not only this, this is a very durable product, especially in the long term.

Therefore, you can be sure that it will last you even when exposed to harsh environments. Its piece build-up is constructed from ductile iron.

This material can resist harsh situations while maintaining performance perfectly. The fitting of this exhaust is perfect and precise for your 5.9 Cummins, helping it work smoothly.

This is a great quality product if you want something reliable in all conditions and gives a very aggressive sound.

3. Dorman 674-602 Exhaust Manifold

The Dorman 674-602 Exhaust Manifold is made using high precision engineering, ensuring the perfect fit for your 5.9 Cummins.

It weighs 15.02 pounds and measures 28.88, 12.63, and 7.88 inches. This product is well known for how reliable it is.

The durable construction makes sure that it will withstand any external environments and last you as long as possible so that you don’t have to go for a replacement now and then because your exhaust stopped working properly.

It will give the best performance no matter how long you use it. This is because the materials it is made from are resistant to leaking, warping, and cracking.

It can also be used for heavy-duty applications. The installation kit makes the process so much easier.

This is because it comes with the necessary gaskets and downpipe basic hardware, so you don’t have to run to purchase the right ones.

Thanks to these, you can easily fit the exhaust in your car without needing any professional help at all. This will save you some money and the hassle.

The process is also pretty simple and easy, and you probably won’t be confused over it. The easy and perfect fit makes the whole process a lot easier.

The exteriors of this exhaust are painted. It is made of premium quality steel. This makes the product more robust.

In addition, to ensure the perfect quality for your 5.9 Cummins, this exhaust goes through several different quality checks to ensure that all the products are up to the mark, so you will rarely ever come across a defective one.

This is the perfect exhaust to last you a few years after purchasing it, so if you’re not looking forward to replacing your engine components now and then, then this is the one for you, as it will deliver the highest performance even after extensive usage.

4. RDP Polished Stainless Steel Exhaust Manifold

This RDP Polished Stainless Steel Exhaust Manifold is made of a 304 stainless steel construction.

This makes the product very durable; therefore, the exhaust will give great performance after much usage.

The surface of the 304 stainless is polished. This makes the product very stylish and great to look at, enhancing the look of your engine overall.

It has a thick wall design, which helps make it strong. With this, you will get a much better exhaust flow and the removal of waste gases.

In addition, it fastens the turbo spooling up. Along with this, after using it, the reduced EGTs are pretty noticeable.

This makes the output very powerful, therefore enhancing engine efficiency.

The superior grade stainless steel construction makes sure that the exterior of the exhaust can withstand any environment, making it very durable.

There will be no rust, scratches, corrosion, or breakage. This exhaust has dual EGT probe ports. These make sure that the product is functioning properly and efficiently.

In addition, the kit also includes port plugs and various brackets inside it. Also, this product will work great even in extreme weather conditions.

Therefore, if you’re planning to go to a very hot climate, for example, you don’t have to worry about it affecting the engine’s exhaust. This is all thanks to the sturdy and robust build-up.

Lastly, the installation process is also pretty simple and easy, and you won’t have to spend too much time trying to figure it out or have to go to a professional for that.

Easy to Install, durable and resistant, this is a very convenient product to consider.

5. BD Diesel 1045989 Pulse Exhaust Manifold

The 1045989 is Another Exhaust by BD Diesel. This has a very simple and easy installation process.

You can easily do it by yourself at home and not worry about understanding the instructions or not.

In addition, as you will not be going to a professional and doing everything by yourself, you can save some money.

The experience is without any hassle. Of all the products on my list today, this one has the easiest installation for the 5.9 Cummins.

In addition, you’ll get a really good performance, with it increasing your horsepower and torque considerably.

The exhaust gases will flow out as smoothly as possible. Moreover, this is a very durable product and will last you quite a few years.

This is a great deal as some exhausts do not last that long and need to be replaced frequently, but you won’t face this issue with this product.

The installation kit has all of the necessary gaskets and loose bolts for the installation; therefore, you won’t be looking for those items here and there just for a simple installation.

Some other exhausts do not have the proper installation kit in them, but this one does. However, the unique selling point of this product is the really fast spool ups and the low EGTs.

Because of the fuel efficiency, you won’t have to spend a huge amount on buying fuel, and wastage will be reduced.

This is the easiest one to install, and this is a great performing product if you want the least hassle for yourself or are a beginner.

6. JJ Original AK6BTPM24 5.9L Exhaust Manifold

The last one on my list for the 5.9 Cummins is the JJ Original AK6BTPM24 5.9L Exhaust Manifold. This weighs 27 pounds, and the dimensions are 10.5, 10.5, and 6.5 inches.

Keeping in mind that stock exhausts only have a one-piece design, this product is much better than those, as it has a three-piece design.

This improves the emissions flowing out of the exhaust system. With this, the performance will improve greatly.

In addition, the backpressure will be reduced, and you’ll get lower EGTs. This is a low-budget exhaust if you’re looking to replace your stock exhaust.

Furthermore, this is also a great fit and will fit your 5.9 Cummins engine perfectly without any hassle during installation. The perfect fit also ensures the best performance.

It has a Moly Bendum Ductile Iron Cast. This makes the product very reliable and durable, making it last longer than the stock option. T3 Flanges are also included.

Lastly, this product is built to resist any cracking or leaking at all. This is also very resistant to heat and will work fine even at harsh temperatures, making it durable.

This model will fit any 5.9 Cummins from 1999 to 2002.

If you’re looking for really high-performance exhaust, then this is not the one. This product is just a better replacement for the stock exhaust at a low budget; however, it is great quality.

What To Look For When Buying An Exhaust For Your 5.9 Cummins

Cummins’ 5.9 series is entirely diesel oriented and quite common in busses and pickup trucks.

You will want to improve your car’s airflow by upgrading your exhaust system. This will help your engine reach new heights.

It can be difficult to figure out what to look for in an exhaust system.

Luckily I have written a few features below that you should aim to include in your purchase.

These are:

• Lack Of Drone
• Made Of High-Quality Steel
• Compatibility And Fitment With Your Car
• Exhaust Pipe Diameters

If you do not understand why these features have been given priority, then keep reading this guide to find out!

Lack Of Drone

The drone is the loud sound you typically get inside the cabin while driving. This sound will be the loudest you have ever heard, thanks to the engine’s power.

You will want an exhaust that can mitigate, if not eliminate, this sound entirely. This will make your driving experience a lot of fun and comfortable.

Better brands typically have a lesser drone.

Made Of High-Quality Steel

The exhaust itself can get pretty hot. This is almost guaranteed if you drive an engine as powerful as the 5.9 Cummins.

This is why you should invest in an exhaust of high-quality stainless steel. This will prevent the exhaust from rusting and ensure it can withstand the high temperatures it will rise to.

Compatibility And Fitment With Your Car

You should always make sure that the exhaust is compatible with your car. Additionally, ensure that the particular exhaust can also fit onto the car.

There should be no conflicts between the exhaust system and your 5.9 Cummins engine. Make sure to check all of this before the purchase.

Exhaust Pipe Diameters

The diameter of the exhaust will also have a major impact on the air flow. The pipe diameter must be perfect for getting the most out of your engine and the exhaust.

If it is too wide, you will lose the back pressure of the engine. If it is too narrow, then you will restrict the airflow.

The 5.9 Cummins is a great pick for an engine. Since it can give out high amounts of torque, it deserves a good exhaust.

Hopefully, you can find yourself one using the features listed above. This will ensure that you can ride your car to its full potential.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is It Bad To Straight Pipe A 5.9 Cummins?

Straight piping can hurt your 5.9 Cummins engine pretty badly. This is because with a straight pipe, the car’s gas velocity increases.

Because of this, the engine performance will drop low, to under 2,000 to 2,500 RPM. Because of this, your vehicle will be slower to launch from a stoplight.

However, there are some benefits to straight piping, such as better overall engine performance.

The horsepower and torque will increase, and the pressure on the engine from exhaust gases will decrease.

Q2. Do I Need A Tune If My Straight Pipe A Diesel?

To straight pipe your exhaust design, tuning is important if you wish to change it.

This is because the design is very specific. Even if the pipe size is a little bit small, a lot of power will be lost in your low-end torque.

In addition, a lot of work will have to be done in your engine to make sure that the airflow and resistance are least affected by the straight pipe.

Q3. How Can I Make My Exhaust Sound Deeper For 5.9 Cummins?

You might have to go to a 5″ TBE or even a 6″ behind the downpipe to make the exhaust sound deep.

For the deepest sound, you’ll have to do an exhaust dump over the rear axle with a giant tip.

However, this sound will be so deep that you won’t be able to hear anything literally inside the truck when driving.

Q4. Does A Bigger Exhaust Tip Make It Louder For 5.9 Cummins?

The size of the exhaust tip doesn’t have much effect on the vehicle’s sound unless, for example, the diameter of the tip is way too big or small.

Diameter tips that are way too small will restrict the engine and slow down the exhaust stream, therefore minimizing sound.

On the other hand, a larger diameter tip will only make the sound louder if the one used before restricts the engine.

Q5. How Much HP Can My 5.9 Cummins Make?

If you have the 24-valve version of the 5.9 Cummins, you can expect around 235 hp. Automatic versions of the engine have slightly lower hp and output close to 215 hp.

Recent 2900 RPM versions of the engine can reach high power outputs of up to 325 hp.

Typically you should find your engine anywhere between the 235 to 325 hp range based on its make and manufacture date.

Q6. How Can I Get More Horsepower Out Of My 5.9 Cummins?

I have already talked extensively about how improvements to the exhaust can lead to an increase in horsepower.

Additional installations, such as that of a cold air intake and turbocharger, can also lead to a bump in hp.

Moreover, the 5.9 Cummins thrives due to its massive fuel intake. By making sure you are supplying it with quality fuel, you can ensure that the engine outputs more power.

Conclusion

Installing a new exhaust might sound like you’ve installed an entirely new engine, which might be exciting.

Finding the best exhaust manifolds for 5.9 Cummins depends on what you prefer yourself.

All the products on this list are high quality and have received great customer feedback.

When purchasing, it is important to buy one that improves engine performance and is compatible with your vehicle.

Keeping that in mind, the number on the recommended product of today is the BD Diesel Performance 1045987 Pulse Exhaust Manifold.

This is because of the reliability, great customer feedback, and heavy-duty construction.