Actually...... Aluminized pipe is made for automotive use and lasts quite well if it is quality and thick enough pipe is used. Mild steel pipe with rust quickly and normally only lasts a few years. Aluminized steel is mild steel dipped in a hot tank of aluminum coating. Aluminized steel is quite durable......What does happen is that it can cook the coating off where it is welded and rust sooner near the welds. The thickness of the pipe used can also have an effect on how long a pipe lasts. Stainless pipe will eventually rust as well and rusts from the inside out from the corrosive exhaust gases. Also really poor grades of stainless exist and can rust rather rapidly especially if the material is very thin. Stainless is always thin when used in automotive use because stainless is much harder to bend and needs to be thin in order to be able to bend it. We have Labree build our exhaust systems and he is originally from Maine. Labree has been in the exhaust business for over 35 years and swears that quality 14 gauge aluminized pipe and quality 18 gauge stainless both last about 20 years on average. Thin mufflers that are not stainless will not last long and this is where most systems rust out. All the Labree systems come with stainless mufflers and tips. The pipe is an option of aluminized 14 gauge or stainless 18 gauge. Labree feels confident enough that the systems are lifetime guaranteed with aluminized or stainless pipe. Hope that helps!
01:00:26 03/24/05
