keeping exhaust pipes from rusting out too quickly

INCase · Aug 16, 2010

Has anyone had any luck trying different paints/cold galvanizing to help keep exhaust pipes from rusting out so quickly.

StainlessSteel is not an option due to cost for the pipe I need ($125 versus $10 with nothing in between). replacing The $10 pipe isn't the issue its the time and hassel that I'm trying to avoid changing them.

Thanks.

bjb in TX from Ne · Aug 16, 2010

Galvanizing the outside might not help much. Part of the problem could be water inside the system. One of the by products from burning hydro carbons is water. Perhaps a few small holes in the areas that rust out normally? Also what is vehicle/application you keep having to replace?

GregCO · Aug 16, 2010

Tell the exhaust shop that you want aluminized pipe. Works great.

Greg

rustyfarmall · Aug 16, 2010

(quoted from post at 10:30:10 08/16/10) Tell the exhaust shop that you want aluminized pipe. Works great.

Greg

The exhaust shops like that aluminized pipe because it is very easy to bend. I never could get more than about two years of use from it before it needed replaced.

INCase · Aug 16, 2010

I would but the car is old enough they won't bend it. I do my own anyway. The Napa ones don't last long (1-1/2 years maybe). Can't buy lifetime mufflers anymore for that car either. Little old lady car. 20 years old still only has 85000 and I put almost 30000 of it.

Thanks for the help.

Mike M · Aug 16, 2010

Get stainlees steel pipe. It doesn't have to be the fancy stuff that looks like chrome. We always had ours replaced with stainless steel as needed and it didn't cost that much more. About all the newer cars and trucks come with it from the factory.

buickanddeere · Aug 16, 2010

Leave the engine running instead of shutting if off if you only going to be away from the vehicle a couple of minutes.
Is the mixture as lean as possible?
Is the coolant stat 195?
Walk instead of taking short trips.
In freezing temps, use a block heater even if the engine starts without pre-heating.
If the exhaust system isn't hot enough to push and boil moisture out. it's going to rot in short order.
Old lady driving shortens exhaust life. Heat and exhaust velocity from a high reving engine under heavy load pushes the moisture out.

Mark - IN. · Aug 16, 2010

I used to get my headers to last longer by filling them with motor oil, making sure it got the runners good, then hung them out to dry. That was in the days before ceramic or stainless steel. I don't recall where I got the idea, but I bolted a piece of wood at the head mounting, and one at the collector flange after dumping a couple of quarts in them, and then flipping them around like a batton to make sure the oil coated the insides real well. Then I opened and dumped the oil, and hung them. The deal is that the exhaust heat crystalized the oil in the metal's pores on the first good drive. Seemed to help make them last longer. That takes care of the insides. On the outside, after cleaning up, some quality high heat paint.

Word of caution, until the oil burns off or crystalizes, you will go down the road putting out a real, quality James Bond type smoke screen. Back in the day, no problem. These days they might call a EPA swat team on you.

Good luck.

Mark

msb · Aug 16, 2010

Biggest contributor to premature rusting out are short trips that don't allow all the condesation to get burned or dried out.Then the condensation forms an acid which eats out the exhaust system.

INCase · Aug 17, 2010

basically like seasoning an iron skillet..... hmmm.

keeping exhaust pipes from rusting out too quickly

INCase

Well-known Member

bjb in TX from Ne

Member

GregCO

Member

rustyfarmall

Well-known Member

INCase

Well-known Member

Mike M

Well-known Member

buickanddeere

Well-known Member

Mark - IN.

Well-known Member

msb

Well-known Member

INCase

Well-known Member

Similar threads