Pathfinder L/H engine pipe failure

It sounds like it is a cast section probably made of cheap cast iron and might have had a porous defect in it, but steel pipe can also suffer stress cracks and fractures. If it is still under warranty you can gat it replaced with a genuine part or it means you have now got a good excuse to get a decent set of headers fitted.

The failure was most likely caused by excessive vibration in the exhaust pipe combined with the thermal stress from the expansion and contraction of the system, if you are getting any exhaust work done it would be worthwhile getting a flex-joint installed to take out some of the problems. Don't know if this helps you at all...Brad

Graham,
Interesting, may have been a casting defect as mentioned when you look at the crack is it all fresh breaks or is there evidence that the pipe was leaking prior to the failure, could be thermal shock if you did any water crossings, this could of started the crack off, if the pipe has been bent somewhere else this could of put a preload on the pipe. Castings bleep ter, piping tends to crack and then bend with a lot of noise evident before the pipe actually breaks off, I've found. Could of been a lot of things, I haven't experience of this particular model just general metaly bits. Keep the shiny side up

gday graham.
ive got 3lt gq 350000ks i bought it at 300000ks and had never been of road a while ago i did a river crossing and the engine pipe cracked big time just after thatjamieson wild cat