Maintaining your car exhaust system is a crucial step to ensure its performance is not compromised. The exhaust system is prone to a bunch of problems including smoke, leakages, noisy engine and clogged mufflers. Though there’s nothing more problematic than having a rusty exhaust system. If the rusting is not taken care of it could result in your exhaust being completely corroded.
So, in this article, we will talk about some foolproof ways to prevent your exhaust system from rusting. Moreover, we will also cover what are some of the best exhaust systems that you can safely invest in to amp up your car performance.
What Causes Your Exhaust to Get Rusted?
Before we begin discussing the tips to prevent your exhaust from rusting its important to learn what’s causing it. Moisture is the single, most important cause of rusting. Little particles of water get trapped inside the muffler which corrodes the exhaust from inside and out by speeding up the oxidation process. This results in rust build-up on the exhaust which could cause considerable damage if not treated in time.
Give Your Car a Long-Distance Ride
Cars which don’t travel over long distances can often have a rusty exhaust system. This is because the moisture that gets trapped inside the exhaust system isn’t dried off due to the engine not being sufficiently heated up. So, one of the easiest ways to prevent your exhaust from rusting is to take your car on a long drive. As a result, the exhaust will get heated up and all the moisture inside the muffler will be evaporated.
Wash Your Undercarriage Every Two Weeks
Another foolproof method of preventing your exhaust from rusting is simply spraying the bottom of your car every two weeks. Dirt particles and road debris can build-up on your exhaust and the moisture inside them can speed up the oxidation process. So, thoroughly rinsing the undercarriage especially the exhaust will wash away the dust build-up thus preventing rust and corrosion.
Invest in Undercoating and Waxing
Another tried and tested way to prevent your exhaust from rusting is by spraying the undercarriage with a protective covering. You can also get the underside of your car painted especially the exhaust. Both of these techniques will prevent the accumulation of the dust and dirt particles and keep off the moisture from rusting the metal. But you would need to get your undercarriage painted by a professional to get the best results. Also, invest in a good quality paint that doesn’t easily burn off under high temperatures.
Moreover, you can also wax your car's exhaust system to prevent it from rusting. Waxing will form a layer between the debris and the exhaust so that there’s no moisture trapped inside the muffler. Hence, no oxidation takes place. One downside of waxing is that it quickly wears off and the process has to be repeated regularly for the exhaust maintenance.
Invest in A Good Quality Exhaust System
The metal which is used inside the exhaust system is highly prone to rusting and can result in permanent damage if the exhaust is not properly maintained. So, it’s a good idea to invest in a stainless steel exhaust. The stainless steel slows down the rusting process and maintains the health of your exhaust system. But the stainless steel exhaust is expensive to install and might hike up your maintenance costs.
