Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Dean on 07 May 2007, 15:01:14
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As some will know (if you have read my EXHAUST QUOTE thread) I am about to have a CHEAP! replacement back box fitted to my omega..
I was wondering if there are any paintable coatings that can be applied to exhaust systems to stop them corroding as quick as they do???
Done a quick search of the net but nothing obvious.
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Yes, there are hi-temp paints in aerosol cans made for exhausts, I used to paint it regularly on an Astra I previously owned.
But keep in mind that this only prevents exterior rusting - in many cases the exhausts corrode from within (especially the welded joints) so while not a bad idea by itself, painting the exhaust is not a guarantee against rusting.
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That's the sort of thing you're looking for:
(http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/4053/hycotehn2.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
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See also:
http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&from=R10&satitle=hycote&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D3&sadis=200&fpos=Postcode&ga10244=10425&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1&fsoo=1
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Thanks, I was thinking a painting it before i get it installed.. because it will be easier. Do you know if that stuff needs curing? ie:with the heat of the exhaust or should i be OK doing it before its installed?
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Not sure its worth it, as exhausts rust inside out. Only real solution is decent quality exhaust, either genuine or stainless, but neither suitable for you for cost reasons...
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As some will know (if you have read my EXHAUST QUOTE thread) I am about to have a CHEAP! replacement back box fitted to my omega..
I was wondering if there are any paintable coatings that can be applied to exhaust systems to stop them corroding as quick as they do???
Done a quick search of the net but nothing obvious.
I'd say not to bother... I cant see it making an appreciable difference to its life in all honesty. As others have said, these parts tend to rust from the inside out.
Spending some time doing something to keep that pipe join clean, rust free and dismantleable may have a bigger payoff... Im looking at the photos and thinking that those centre pipes may well need doing in the not too distant future. Just a thought.
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to be honest, any high temp coating will help with longevity to a point. however, theboy is right in that it'll generally rust from within, the price we pay for cats, imho using the car for longer journeys is far more preferable to just using it to pop to the shop when you can walk as this is more likely to kill off you exhaust due to the pipe not getting to temp and getting rid of any condensation. ::)
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Think i might just protect the joints... might make it easier to remove them next time????
Thanks for the advice! (what a pain exhausts are)!!
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As said above...
I used to pant my tubular exhaust manifold and the pipes and boxes regularly on the Astra mainly for aesthetic reasons - a shiny engine with nickel-plated K&N filters looks a mess if the pipes are rusty brown.... matt black look much more professional (I couldn't afford stainless steel ones at the time...).
Not sure if it will actually have any effect on longativity so I don't bother with the Omega. My first Omega was sold at 4y / 60k and this one has 5.5y / 50k and in both cases the exhaust seem to hold - so I thing it is worth investing in an original Vx unit if the car is to be kept for the long run.
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Best thing to keep an exhaust system rust free is heat.
Speak to your garage foreman regarding the company cars and I would bet that he could count on the thumbs of one hand how many systems he has to replace in working cars, but gaffer sometime runabouts excluded!
Systems rust from inside out, not the other way, unfortunately. HiTemp paint only slows the process slightly. Systems will still turn to crud quickish, unless the steel is a little thicker which only slows the process.
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Consider the new ceramic coatings. They are applied inside and out to seal the pipes from this damage. The coating improves the thermal efficiency of the exhaust system, helping the cylinder scavenging for a modest performance boost. The coatings come in different colors and finishes. A few friends here have had the pipes on their bikes coated. These links are American but I'm sure you can find the same for the UK.
http://www.performancecoatings.com/headercoatings.html
http://www.jet-hot.com/
http://www.hpcoatings.com/default.aspx
http://www.zircotec.com/dir/11.php