I've got a question... I think I know what it is... but not totally sure if it is actually normal or not.

When I am driving, I will be in 5th gear doing about 40 to 50 mph and I am going up a steep incline, while I am giving it gas, the exhaust makes weird popping noises (or loud clicks)... I can really hear it with the windows closed.

I am not getting any misfires, pinging or abnormal engine functions.

It has been doing this since around 2k miles and it seems to get worse.

This next section might sound creepy but...... I have never accelerated beyond 2,500 rpms since I bought it, and I have never pushed it. Would it be because my exhaust has never reached high temperatures?

My dealer says that is it normal. But I just want to double check. I was going to ask this sooner... but I decided to ask now.

 

Sounds to me like the engine is lugging and you need to down shift it.

 

When I downshift, it seems to make the popping noises faster. It's almost like someone pelting my exhaust with small rocks.