Dr L-88

Is there any way to prevent a stock exhaust system from rusting? Car is stored in a climate controlled garage and never driven in bad weather. I would like to maintain the factory carbon steel look of the pipes and mufflers. Eastwood offers a hi temp silver but silver doesn't look like the carbon steel. Any suggestions? I know SOMEONE on here must have mastered this.

Well now I see that VHT offers a Hi Temp clear, aprt #SP115. Has anyone used this and if so, how did you like it?


Thanks,
Rex

wmf62

I guess I wasn't aware that OEM exhaust systems are 'rust colored', current exhaust materials are zinc or galvanized coated and almost never rust.

these pipes are over 10 years old and many 1000s of miles

Bill

Chambered

If the pipes are mild steel, they are ALUMINIZED, not zinc or galvanized. If you ever try to weld anything galvanized or zinc, do it outdoors & DO NOT breathe the smoke! Aluminized coating on exhaust pipes is not harmful as I understand it - I weld it all the time.

Personally, to preserve clean pipes, I would first spray them with an etching primer, then use a high-temp silver or aluminum-finish paint - something like an engine paint or silver gas grill paint.

wmf62

you're right about the 'aluminized', I was having a senior moment and drew a blank....


Bill

fwiw: when we had to weld galvanized pipe we would make the welders drink chocolate milk...

ILBMF

You can buy header or exhaust paint. It's usually good to 1500 degrees rather than engine paint which seems to average around 500 degrees

SWCDuke

Armor-All, manifolds too.

Duke

W Guy

Rex,

I tried the clear VHT on a new set of pipes and this is what happened after many miles and heat cycles.



Verne

DansYellow66

I don't get my old cars out in bad weather but the 20 year old aluminized side pipes on my Corvette and the 15 year old aluminized exhaust system on my GTX look the same today as they did when first installed. I don't think you have to do anything if the system is aluminized.

roberts427

Hi Duke, everytime I start up my 63 FI car I think of you. Thanks for all the help. Armour ALL ??
Robert out in CT.

tuxnharley

Seriously? That stuff evaporates/out gasses on my dash panels just from the heat of the sun. How can it last on manifolds and exhaust pies with their kind of heat?

J.Moore

Same here with aluminized on the 65. Exhaust system installed 20 years ago and looks like the day I installed it. Car is stored inside heated garage.

SWCDuke

Seriously! I'm not sure why it works, but I think Armor-All is silicone based, and silicone does not oxidize. It will eventually evaporate and does tend to wash away with water. It's easy to apply by spraying on and wiping with a rag and using an old paint brush to get into the nooks and crannies. Give it a try.

BTW, you should never use Armor-All in the interior. It leaves a too shiny, slippery, and slimy film. Use Pledge furniture polish - the original non-scented type. It contains carnumba wax that will seal up the surface and reduce the rate of outgassing, which will make the dash pads last a lot longer before they shrink to the point of cracking. You can also use it on the door panels, seats and any other vinyl trim.

Duke