Left vs. Right Exhaust Manifold: How to Match the OE Number

Two exhaust parts can fit the same model years and engine size while belonging on opposite sides of the engine. That is why a year-and-model match is only the beginning of a useful parts listing. The installation position and complete OE number help separate the assembly you need from a similar-looking alternative.

This guide uses the Cadillac SRX and STS 4.6L applications in Torqvo’s catalog to show how those details work together. The same reading method is useful when comparing other vehicle-specific exhaust listings.

What do “left” and “right” mean?

Read left and right from the perspective of someone seated in the vehicle facing forward. Do not reverse them because you are standing in front of the vehicle looking into the engine bay. On a left-hand-drive vehicle, left is the driver’s side; on a right-hand-drive vehicle, that shorthand changes. The catalog’s left/right position is the clearer reference.

Keep other position labels separate. A listing marked front or rear is not automatically interchangeable with one marked left or right. Use the position stated for that particular vehicle and assembly.

A real example: Cadillac SRX and STS 4.6L

The following two Torqvo manifold converters share the listed vehicle and engine coverage, but their positions and OE reference sets differ. Both are integrated catalytic converter and exhaust manifold assemblies.

These listings do not cover other engines just because the model name and year match. Both versions shown here are not CARB certified and are not for applications requiring a CARB-approved converter. Position, engine, and emissions specification each remain part of the selection.

OE numbers: small differences, different parts

• Left — TQ-EM-0931-KIT: 12567687, 12591065, 12607451, 12638981, 12638999.
• Right — TQ-EM-0930-KIT: 12567688, 12591066, 12607450, 12638982, 12638996.

Notice how similar 12567687 and 12567688 look. In this application, that last digit separates the listed left and right assemblies. This is an example of why the full number matters—not a general rule that odd numbers always mean left or even numbers always mean right.

An OE reference and a store part number serve different purposes. The OE reference points to the original-equipment application; the Torqvo number identifies the listing in this store. Several OE references can lead to one replacement listing, so the complete cross-reference list is more useful than just a single headline number.

Two simple ways to find the correct listing

Start with the vehicle when you know the application

Open Year / Make / Model search, select the make, model, and year, then use the engine and installation-position filters where available. For a 2009 Cadillac SRX, selecting Left narrows the listed 4.6L manifold-converter choices to TQ-EM-0931-KIT. Each result displays its matching application details.

Start with OE when you have the complete number

Enter the full reference in OE-number search. For this example, 12567687 leads to the left assembly, while 12567688 leads to the right assembly. Search ignores spaces and hyphens, but it does not ignore a different digit.

Read one complete fitment row

When a product lists multiple applications, keep the year, vehicle, engine/configuration, position, and notes together in the same row. Combining a year from one row with an engine from another can create a match the listing never intended. Production-date or emissions notes, where shown, further define that row’s coverage.

Do both sides need replacing together?

A catalog showing both sides does not itself mean both need replacement. The repair decision depends on the condition and diagnosis of each assembly. Ordering the correct side avoids treating a matching pair in the catalog as a required pair for every repair.

Find your next part with the details in view: browse by vehicle, search by OE number, or open the left and right Cadillac product pages for their full application tables and current prices.