How long does Mild steel last?

[Kieran263]

I've been searching for a while but can't find a clear cut answer.
I know stainless lasts longer but how long does a mild steel exhaust actually last?
2 years? 5 years? 10 years?
Thanks in advance.

[Boonz]

depends... most mild steel exhausts last about 4 years, some less

[ari666]

if you leave it in water itll last about 2 months.

if its clean, well prepared, painted and stored in a cool dry room itll last for 100's of years.

im guessing yours will be somewhere in between the two.

[dijm8]

i guess it depends on how you drive your car aswell??? im assuming longer drives wher as the exhuast gets to heat up properly and dispose of all the condensation in the zorst that gets built up. heats up n goes...but if u wher to do alot of short trips that wouldnt happen hence making it rust from the inside cause holes etc n turning to shit?? just my thoughts on how i thought it works lol

[Darren_L]

yeah lots of short trips will kill a mild steel exhaust - not enough heat to evaporate the moisture. The moisture condenses and sits in the mufflers etc, eventually rusts them out.

having said that, my mild steel exhaust system has lasted 7 years so far and no sign of it rusting out yet.
I've heard there's a lot of problems with stainless steel exhausts cracking. It's too brittle if it grounds out. I know a guy with a VE who has replaced/repaired his cracked stainless steel system twice now and is planning on going back to mild steel

[Kieran263]

Thanks guys, my driving is mainly 50:50 long highway trips to short drives.
I'll just have to cruise around for a bit longer when I make my short trips

[Z2TT]

I got a brand new Supercat mild on my VS Wagon, it's began rusting already after 1 week. For some odd reason out of one of the seems on the mufflers (not where pipe welds on), it seeps water out.

[VT-565]

As mentioned, if you are letting the system heat up, then the water in the emissions will not get a chance to condense in the system.
Mild steel will last as long as you want it to, treat it right.

[Kieran263]

1 week ... that's bad luck man.