Obtaining new information about the thermal and mechanical characteristics of stationary and pulsating gas flows in the exhaust system is an urgent task in the field of thermophysics and piston engine building. The article discusses the physical features of gas dynamics and heat transfer of flows along the length of the exhaust system of a piston engine. Experimental stands and methods of conducting experiments are described. An indirect method is proposed for determining the local heat transfer coefficient of gas flows in pipelines using a hot-wire anemometer of constant temperature. The patterns of change in the flow rate and the local heat transfer coefficient in time for stationary and pulsating gas flows in different elements of the exhaust system were obtained. The patterns of change in the turbulence intensity in the stationary and pulsating gas flow along the length of the exhaust system of a piston engine were established. It is shown that the turbulence intensity for a pulsating gas flow is 1.3-2.1 times greater than for a stationary flow. Patterns of change in the heat transfer coefficient along the length of the exhaust system for stationary and pulsating gas flows were determined. It was found that the heat transfer coefficient for a stationary flow is 1.05-1.4 times higher than for a pulsating flow. Empirical equations for determining the heat transfer coefficient along the length of the exhaust system for stationary and pulsating gas flow regimes were obtained. The possible directions of practical application of the obtained research results are described.