Painting Exhaust
10-02-2012, 11:46 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Painting Exhaust
Hey guys I need some reassurance. I have bought all the pieces to put together a 4" cat-back exhaust on my truck. The piping is aluminized steel. My plan is to use some mineral spirits to clean the exhaust piping, then some medium scotch brite pads to rough up the piping and provide a good cleaning, then once again go over the piping with some mineral spirits. After it drys I will use some OER exhaust paint in silver aluminum color to spray the piping. My question is am I on the right track? Has anyone done this and had success or failure? And is this just stupid?
10-03-2012, 05:49 AM
#2
Senior Member
it will still rot from the inside, internal combustion engines produce H2O and it just sits in your pipes. i'd try to use as much stock stainless as you can from the stock kit
10-03-2012, 08:12 AM
#3
Senior Member
x2. Protecting the inside of the pipe is far more important than protecting the outside. Stainless is where it's at.
10-03-2012, 08:41 AM
#4
Senior Member
Ok, since they ignored the fact that you already have the piping. 
Yes that will work protect the outside, but I am pretty sure most aluminum piping has some protective coating on the outside, so I am not sure I would take all that off before painting... I would give it a wipe down and paint. Even if you have to touch it up once in while. Now, It can and will eventually go from the inside out, but that is minimized by making sure you don't start the truck drive 5 min and shut off often. JMHO
Yes that will work protect the outside, but I am pretty sure most aluminum piping has some protective coating on the outside, so I am not sure I would take all that off before painting... I would give it a wipe down and paint. Even if you have to touch it up once in while. Now, It can and will eventually go from the inside out, but that is minimized by making sure you don't start the truck drive 5 min and shut off often. JMHO
10-03-2012, 10:30 AM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
OK, I think I am just going to do it and see what happens. I am also going to bring it home after the kit is welded and spray the welds to help them from rusting also. We will see what happens
10-03-2012, 11:19 AM
#6
Keepin' the lights on!
You will be fine. I have ran aluminized exhaust on a few different vehicles over the years and have never had a problem. Here in NM I see a lot of salt in the winter but we don't have high humidity so I'm sure that helps in some way. I've actually seen some aftermarket exhausts that claim to be SS have more rusting issues than aluminized. I suppose some companies just use a cheaper SS.
