I want to start this guide off with a disclaimer, because anything involving fire and fuel is dangerous. And that disclaimer is this; I have never set my truck up to shoot flames from the exhaust, it’s not something I would ever want to do, and it’s not something that I recommend you try to manufacture.
But, people are asking the question on Google about how to make a truck shoot flames, so given this website is all about trucks, I thought I’d do some research and answer that for you… and here’s a very quick answer, followed up with more detail.
To try and get your truck’s exhaust to shoot flames you will need push hard on the gas with a wide-open throttle, then slide your foot off the accelerator to quickly shut off the throttle.
Whether you can do that or not, is up to you as to whether you want to test it out, but that’s essentially how you can shoot flames from a truck.
But, if you do really want to make more of this, then there are some other ways in which you can make your truck shoot flames, so let’s take a closer look at some of the methods.
What Causes Flames from an Exhaust?
A truck’s engine needs oxygen to burn the gasoline. When you are at full throttle, the airflow valve is completely open and your trucks’ fuel injection system pumps more gas in.
When you then take your foot off the gas, some unburnt fuel can be left in the cylinders, which will then ignite and come out of the exhaust as flames.
5 Ways You Can Flames from Your Truck’s Exhaust
And here some methods, none of which I recommend you try, and I take zero responsibility if you wreck your truck.
#1: The Easiest Way to Shoot Exhaust Flames
If you really do want your truck to look like some kind of mean and aggressive drag racer, then one thing you can try is to take out the catalytic converter.
That will let a more unburnt fuel being dumped, and for best results combine it with a straight-through exhaust system.
Use a richer fuel mix as the more you can dump into the exhaust, the bigger flames you could get.
To get fired up, accelerate hard, slide your foot off the gas really quickly, and you might then get flames coming from the exhaust as the fuel catches light on the hot pipes.
#2: Fit a Spark Plug at the End of the Exhaust
If option 1 doesn’t work, then why not try something ingenious… or don’t. Either way, it will work despite how ridiculous it sounds.
All you do is fit a spark plug towards the end of your exhaust. About half a foot from the end should do.
Get it wired up to an ignition button in the cab, and then give it a press every time you want to shoot flames like a badass as the wasted fuel is ignited.
#3: Cut Fuel in the High Rev Range
This is something a little more advanced but should give you spectacular fiery results. It’s not going to be something that everyone can do, as you will need to know how to mess with your truck’s engine management system.
If you are adept at that kind of thing, get your truck to not close the throttle and cut fuel when in the high revs range.
Your truck will continue to pump fuel into the engine, but when it’s not ignited in the truck’s engine, it will instead come out of the hot exhaust as large flames.
#4: Use a Two-Step System
A two-step system means your truck will have two limiters rather than one. By setting the RPM lower limit on one to the point where you get the best tyre hook-up from launch, and then setting the second at a higher limit for the red line, you’re going to get flames.
Once you have done that set-up, any unburnt fuel will come into the exhaust, and ignite as it shoots out.
Why?
It’s because when holding the truck’s lower limit, gas will still be pumped into the engine, but the two-step system means it won’t always ignite and combust. And all that unburned fuel only has one way to escape.
#5: Use an Anti-Lag System
An anti-lag system combusts fuel before the turbo and after the engine. By doing so it will keep the turbo in a spin when there isn’t enough exhaust gas to do so.
The result will be a reduction in turbo lag, but you will get flames shooting from your truck as all that unused fuel can only escape and then ignite via the exhaust.