Clear coat for exhaust

[James Russels]

Hey there, I thought this would have been discussed somewhere but couldn't find anything. I'll be getting a stainless steel exhaust soon and would like to keep it looking new for as long as possible. I was thinking of hitting it with a high-temp clear coat before installing, but I wanted to check with others whether it is a good idea, or necessary. I was thinking of getting something like this. Can anyone speak to whether there is a downside to doing this?

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by James Russels

Hey there, I thought this would have been discussed somewhere but couldn't find anything. I'll be getting a stainless steel exhaust soon and would like to keep it looking new for as long as possible. I was thinking of hitting it with a high-temp clear coat before installing, but I wanted to check with others whether it is a good idea, or necessary. I was thinking of getting something like this. Can anyone speak to whether there is a downside to doing this?

Well, now, James Russels, you do realize that the exhaust system is on the underside of the car? Unless you have mirrors on your garage floor, or it's going to be a show car or you're trying to impress the guy under a hoist, I would have to say you would be wasting your time and money.

Besides, the product is stainless steel - it don't rust.

If you "paint" the exhaust system, there is a chance the paint will not adhere well to the stainless steel and peel off in spots, making it look bad.


But, hey, I'm old and lazy - so, don't pay me much mind -


humfrz

[Mr.ac]

Oh gee man, that's some special dedication for shiny tips.

One might even think to check out the local auto parts store and.. I don't know ask someone there for some stainless steel polish?

Maybe just wash the car every weekend?

Eh.

[James Russels]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Well, now, James Russels, you do realize that the exhaust system is on the underside of the car? Unless you have mirrors on your garage floor, or it's going to be a show car or you're trying to impress the guy under a hoist, I would have to say you would be wasting your time and money.

Besides, the product is stainless steel - it don't rust.

If you "paint" the exhaust system, there is a chance the paint will not adhere well to the stainless steel and peel off in spots, making it look bad.
humfrz

Thanks for the reply - hadn't thought of the peeling and I can see how that would be a headache and probably not worth the protection I would get from it. As unlikely as it may be that these parts will be seen, I figured it might be worth a $10 can of paint to protect a $1400 exhaust system. Plus I have no idea if I'll ever want to sell any of these parts somewhere down the line. Just trying to think ahead.

Originally Posted by Mr.ac

Oh gee man, that's some special dedication for shiny tips.

One might even think to check out the local auto parts store and.. I don't know ask someone there for some stainless steel polish?

Maybe just wash the car every weekend?

Eh.

Washing it will work in the summer but I wouldn't be able to as often in the winter. And I can't be going under the car every time I wash it to polish the exhaust, but that's a good idea for the tips.

[new2subaru]

Originally Posted by James Russels

Thanks for the reply - hadn't thought of the peeling and I can see how that would be a headache and probably not worth the protection I would get from it. As unlikely as it may be that these parts will be seen, I figured it might be worth a $10 can of paint to protect a $1400 exhaust system. Plus I have no idea if I'll ever want to sell any of these parts somewhere down the line. Just trying to think ahead.



Washing it will work in the summer but I wouldn't be able to as often in the winter. And I can't be going under the car every time I wash it to polish the exhaust, but that's a good idea for the tips.

If you're driving the car in the winter months forget about keeping the undercarriage immaculate. Run in through a car wash with an underbody spray.

Just keep the body, wheels, glass, interior and exhaust tips in check.

[DarkPira7e]

Do what I do - drop the catback and buzz it with a wire wheel. All the surface rust goes into your lungs and you can bolt it back on. Almost good as new, and you'll feel like you're being productive!

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by James Russels

Thanks for the reply - hadn't thought of the peeling and I can see how that would be a headache and probably not worth the protection I would get from it. As unlikely as it may be that these parts will be seen, I figured it might be worth a $10 can of paint to protect a $1400 exhaust system. Plus I have no idea if I'll ever want to sell any of these parts somewhere down the line. Just trying to think ahead.

Thinking ahead is good -

If your new exhaust system is made of high quality stainless steel, it won't need any protection. Even if you do decide to sell it on down the line, you can spiff it up with some stainless steel polish before the sale.

Even though I'm old and lazy, sometimes I will wipe the tips off my SS exhaust, before I take a drive. Why? Because, after I park and look back at my car, if it has shiny exhaust tips, I think the car is clean -


humfrz

[8RZ]

Or, just keep them clean and polished.

[RToyo86]

I used a wash pass with a touchless wash for winter use.
You can wash it daily with a pass like that.

It kept my tips mostly clean except for carbon build up. Just clean it with wheel cleaner safe for stainless every now and then.

[Leonardo]

I polish my stock exhaust with Mothers once a year.

[Tcoat]

The whole principle behind stainless is that stuff doesn't stick as easily. This applies to coatings as well as anything else. Like said just polish it up once in a while.
If the exhaust isn't stainless then putting a coating on the outside won't help since it will just rust from the inside out anyway.

[Dr. BRZ]

Lol

[Hawk77FT]

What in the haberdasheries and hemoglobin is going on here?

Just ceramic coat your exhaust with the silver shiny coating and you're done. And I am talking about proper ceramic coating not the fake ass $10/can spray!
I have done that to most parts of my exhaust and they look like new couple of years later!

You got to pay to play, playa'!

[m.box.design]

Originally Posted by Leonardo

I polish my stock exhaust with Mothers once a year.

My horrible immature mind went somewhere else with this for a second.