Stainless steel exhaust?

[mars6484]

Hey guyz

Just a real quick question. Is the stock exhausts on commodores all stainless steel?
Would it depend on the model? Mines a vy V8 Berlina.
THanks!

[VYMAD]

No, oh how I wish, but no.

[Drewie]

They actually originally did have Stainless Steel systems on them, I still have the stock system I took off the VX SS I bought new and it is Stainless Steel, I just checked the sales brochures I have on the VT2 and VX and they have the exhaust listed as 'Long life Stainless Steel' across the range, so I would imagine that if the VT2/VX had stainless the later models would as well. How good the quality of the Stainless is well I doubt it would be top quality, though the system off my VX still appears to be in good nick, I took it off at around 30,000km and hung it up in the garage. The funny thing is the dual Stainless HM system that I put on the VX SS was of doubtful quality, the rear muffler has rusted out inside and blown all the fibre glass out, so much for the after market quality, the inner part of the muffler must have been mild steel not stainless, I have to think about a replacement rear muffler for it, or chuck the stock system back on.

Update: I just found the original sales brochure on the VY2 and it has the exhaust listed as 'Long life Stainless Steel' across the range as well.

[VYMAD]

Interesting. My VY V6 has surface rust over the exhaust system so I would have bet my left aggert that it was not s/steel. Can any one shed some light on whether the V6 series 2 had stainless exhaust system then. I would be surprised to hear they do, but hey, I like surprises.

[Surfwagon]

Interesting. My VY V6 has surface rust over the exhaust system so I would have bet my left aggert that it was not s/steel. Can any one shed some light on whether the V6 series 2 had stainless exhaust system then. I would be surprised to hear they do, but hey, I like surprises.

Factory only use 408 grade (its a 400# I know that much for sure ) which will get surface rust but won't decay away like normal steel.
Unless specified most exhaust shops use 408 as well.
Some of the polished systems around use 300# grade stainless which doesn't tarnish as much and if they use the Marine grade 300# stainless then it will stay shiny indefinitely.
But as for the factory using stainless it has been that way since the VS ecotec was introduced.

[mars6484]

Thanks guyz for your help once again. I had a feeling it would be stainless steel since mild steel rusts easier.I suppose a car under 5 year warranty would be highly likely needing new exhaust if it was made with mild steel so its probably cheaper for car companies to make it out of stainless?

I just thought I'd ask because I want an exhaust on my car and stainless steel ones are like 2.5 times the cost of mild steel! hehehe

[VYMAD]

Factory only use 408 grade (its a 400# I know that much for sure ) which will get surface rust but won't decay away like normal steel.
Unless specified most exhaust shops use 408 as well.
Some of the polished systems around use 300# grade stainless which doesn't tarnish as much and if they use the Marine grade 300# stainless then it will stay shiny indefinitely.
But as for the factory using stainless it has been that way since the VS ecotec was introduced.

AAH k interesting, well thank you Surfwagon, I've learnt something new today.

[Sean880]

Interesting. My VY V6 has surface rust over the exhaust system so I would have bet my left aggert that it was not s/steel. Can any one shed some light on whether the V6 series 2 had stainless exhaust system then. I would be surprised to hear they do, but hey, I like surprises.

My 2004 VY V6 supercharged (series 2) has all stainless factory exhaust system. I was under the rear of the car yesterday and the system is looking fine with no sign of corrosion. Up front is also good as it gets a look over at every oil change.

I don't live near the ocean and the car is garaged and rarely left in the open when not being driven. It's also only run 40000 kms since new.

The V8's used in the VYs surely would have a similar standard stainless exhaust system.

From what I have seen there are significant variations in the quality of SS used in different products and the low grades will corrode sooner than you might think. The VY exhaust is looking good though.

[Surfwagon]

From what I have seen there are significant variations in the quality of SS used in different products and the low grades will corrode sooner than you might think. The VY exhaust is looking good though.

I think "corrode" is the wrong word to use when talking factory SS exhausts as they don't reall corrode (which basically means to wear away) but they aren't true "stainless" either as this is what they do.
They just seam to get a rusty stain all over them.
I looked at a few 300,000+ VS exhausts at the wreckers (hell I bought one for my nephews car when it got defected for too loud) and with a little cleaning off of road grime they all look perfect and the one we fitted on the car had no leaks and passed the defect notice easily.

[Sean880]

So there you go MARS. All your queries answered.

You have a nice factory stainless system on your V8 Berlina.

[whitey66]

Every Commodore from and including VT onwards had a stainless exhaust standard from factory.

[whitey66]

But as for the factory using stainless it has been that way since the VS ecotec was introduced.

That's not right,I think you'll find the engine pipes - Catalytic converter was stainless on all models of VS,the rest was aluminised steel.
Some rear mufflers had a stainless case with aluminised pipe and baffles.

[Surfwagon]

That's not right,I think you'll find the engine pipes - Catalytic converter was stainless on all models of VS,the rest was aluminised steel.
Some rear mufflers had a stainless case with aluminised pipe and baffles.

It is very possible they may have changed towards the end of the VS because the 3 factory catback exhausts systems I had to choose from at my local wreckers were all stainless.
VS series 2 had rear brake hose that were different to VN-VS1 it had one end same as earlier and the other the same as VT as I had to send my braide hose back twice before we realised the change
All the exhausts were quite rusty but once you run over it with a stiff brush they looked fine and still sounded quiet.