A mild steel system is just a consumable item, like brakes, bulbs, batteries and tyres. They rust mostly from the inside outwards so painting them is a waste of time and money. To prolong the lifespan, you should avoid using the car for short journeys which never allow the exhaust to get hot enough to drive out the water vapour which condenses inside from the exhaust gases. Fitting genuine parts from the manufacturer also helps as they're much thicker and better quality steel than the usual cheap thin items typically fitted by fast fit exhaust centres to ensure a cheap price. Fast fit versions typically have half the life of originals.
As a compromise, you can fit a part-stainless system. That uses mild steel for the parts which naturally rust the slowest and stainless for the bits which rust fastest.
Exhaust systems come in a variety of quality materials. I have a 2001 vehicle with an absolutely perfectly working exhaust that is original. That is the product of quality material and of proper care such as car washes that clean the underside of the car. Just like a proper education would have indicated that your name is to be capitalized, proper knowledge of car components leads to a lower cost of service and maintenance. Any consultation in your city with an auto expert could render to you information as to the exhaust system components, materials and options, possible for the Astra. Astra is the proper name of a model of a van produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. Why do American kids do not capitalize their own names, the names of cars or pretty much anything? Are schools that bad as to grammar?
60,000 for an exhaust pipe. either buy stainless steel or don't take the car out in the rain, ice and snow. And whatever you do don't let any hot engine gases get inside it. Get a bog standard pipe and it will probably last as long as the car.
Yep, buy a stainless steel exhaust for much longer exhaust life .
I just had a hole welded up in my original factory stainless steel exhaust on my 2001 Hyundai, gotta love that stainless steel
High temp paint will slow rust on exhaust components. Rust is bad in new England here, and mufflers and resonators can be sprayed with black high temp enamel before installation to protect from salt eating them. Make sure you dissassemble, sand the surface rust off and respray every year before winter and use antiseize on bolt threads, you will be surprised how long it will last.
Exhaust pipes come in two options. Std steel and Stainless. The latter is much more expensive but will last longer. Nothing can be done about rusting Std steel, sorry.
Buy stainless steel pipes and mufflers. They will last for the life of the car.
I bought my 2006 astra in March this year at 49000 miles and its at 60000 miles now and the exhaust is blowing and full of holes. when I first had the car it was in better condition and is possibly the original exhaust. What can I do to make the replacement last longer? I would hope the new one would last till the end of the cars days.
Thanks
