David P Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 (edited) I fitted this "stainless-steel" mid-pipe new just over 2 years ago, I'm sure it was a 'Blitz', it was all shiny and bright when new and has been thermal wrapped so hadn't noticed it was rusting away. The exhaust was blowing and thought it just needed a new gasket but on closer inspection there was a crack almost all the way around near the front flange. I have repaired it, but it wont last much longer, the metal remaining is very thin. Anyone else had this issue? What manufacturer uses good quality stainless-steel for these? The job looked a goodun. Thermal wrapping removed and it doesn't look very stainless. Pitted badly and cracked almost all the way around, where it hasn't been quite as hot the last of the stainless can be seen returning to ferrous Edited March 24, 2012 by David P (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 That's bad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Looking at the join on the day one picture, it looks like it was mild steel in the first place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 No custom/specialist exhaust places near you David? I got a stainless centre section fabricated by a place in Belfast (obviously not much use to you), it wasn't expensive and still looks great after a few years now. From memory it cost me around 80quid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David P Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 It was shiny and bright when new and sold as stainless steel, it certainly looked like it but I don't want to get caught again. Custom build is an option, but there are plenty of plug&play pipes available, there must be some good uns among em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubersonic Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 "Stainless steel" isn't immune to rusting its just less susceptible than normal steel, the are different grades i.e 304, 316, the more chromium the more resistant to rust iirc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David P Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 I have found this link with stainless steel specs and qualities, maybe the heat wrap pushed the steel beyond it's limit. http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=1175 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Yup, heat wrapping will do it no favours at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David P Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 I think I should check the manifold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen G Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 I fitted one of them ebay trd style exhaust and decat when i got the car and its still like new 5 years on, no rust at all, ok its wasnt wrapped but its had to believe that a well know turning company would sell exhaust made of poorer quality metal than a ebay cheapie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2soops Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 If you buy something in 316 stainless it wont rust and it wont be magnetic, so an easy test. Its the same stuff they use for cutlery, surgical tools and marine applications etc. From memory i think 304 is slightly magnetic (not anywhere near as much as mild steel though) and will be prone to rusting, albeit taking a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soopra Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 I think I should check the manifold. http://www.roflcat.com/images/cats/mechanic.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulley Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 My decat pipe and system are non magnetic stainless and apart from having to grind out and re weld a dodgy weld it's not rusted at all, I just do the magnet check if I'm buying stainless and am unsure of the grade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David P Posted March 24, 2012 Author Share Posted March 24, 2012 (edited) http://www.roflcat.com/images/cats/mechanic.jpg Maybe the cooking fat knows that 304 is the grade of stainless declared by all who mention it in their exhaust pipe publicity and with the thermal wrapping the metal has exceeded it's maximum service temperature which has unstainlessed the steel and made it brittle. http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=1175 Copied from the above link. Grade Intermittent (°C) Continuous (°C) 304 870°C 925°C 309 980°C 1095°C 310 1035°C 1150°C 316 870°C 925°C 321 870°C 925°C 410 815°C 705°C 416 760°C 675°C 420 735°C 620°C 430 870°C 815°C 2111HTR 1150°C 1150°C I will replace the mid-pipe without thermal wrapping and make a sturdy bracket for the front flange to support the manifold. Edited March 24, 2012 by David P (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Crap, no way that was stainless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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