Aluminized and stainless exhuast systems. What are the pro's and con's of each? What do we have on our trucks from the factory? I want a 4" system from the turbo back. Also do they offer a 4" elbow that bolts to the turbo that will work with the exhuast systems availible? Any and all info appreciated. Thanks Buyan

 

T304 stainless is the best you can get. CON: Expensive. Aluminized is fine, but if you live in an area with lots of rain/slow/salt on the roads, save up for stainless.

 

Not trying to rock the boat here but DON'T waste the money on stainless steel. It will pit rust and look like ####!!!! I have MBRP SS and it is pathetic how bad it looks and the rep would not back his product up. On the other hand, the MBRP does sounds the best.

 

Go alum I have never had a prob with the over 10 MBRP kits I have put on for others. The factory is cheep SS ( SS dosent mean that it wont look like crap in just a few days it looks like all the other unless its polished) thats why it wont cut well with a torch so you have to just melt it apart slowly or use a saw zaw.

 

I've had an aluminized 5 inch system on my truck for close to 5 or 6 years now. The only visible discoloration is where it was welded on installation. I wouldn't waste the money on stainless myself.

 

We replace any ferrous exhaust on all of our vehicles with stainless steel (usually 304, though the OEM 409 is fine for anti-corrosion) when they're new.

If you intend to keep the vehicle indefinitely, it's just a matter of time until the exhaust system rusts out, so I prefer to swap it out for SS while it's still easy to work on.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but 304 is an austenitic stainless steel which is upwards of 75% ferrous, and 409 is a a ferritic stainless which is upwards of 85% ferrous.

Both offer good anti-corrosion properties, but I would still consider them ferrous.

 

Good question!

Both are an alloy based on steel - as is every stainless steel alloy, whether they are martensitic, austenitic, ferritic (magnetic), precipitation-hardened or duplex - but for simplicity's sake ferrous is usually superseded by magnetic in the vernacular. It would certainly be unusual to describe 304 as ferrous, even though obviously it's base stock is ferrite.

Some 400 series stainless steels are ferritic, although they're typically comprised of 10-30% chromium, and additionally alloyed with molybdenum (I believe chromoly tubing is a good example of this - or is that one of the martensitic series? ).

409 stains rather easily in comparison to 304, but the oxide acts as a sacrificial layer that prevents further corrosive intrusion into the alloy... durable, but not pretty.

 

Interesting take. If memory servers me correct there is a continuing debate amongst metallurgists and recyclers on the proper classifications. Thanks for your post.

 

"I have no recollection of that"

 

Aluminized is fine, Budget Kits are available that are "Okay" and by no means am i complaining about them but there just that ...Budget Exhaust.... MBRP will last longer even both being aluminized!

 

What XLR8 said..

I wish I could spout metallurgy like that! I shoulda studied something else in school....

jh

 

I have a Pinnacle Power on mine. Aluminized with a lifetime (of the truck) warranty. Best of both worlds, inexepensive, and will last forever (as long as I don't mind bolting a new one on when this one rusts out).

 

In Texas go with Alum unless you drive on the beach a whole lot. I have had more problems with stainless than alum and sold about 10 to 1 alum.

 

Like mentioned I have aluminized in Missouri where they use salt and I have no rust on mine and it's been on the truck for 5 or 6 years. I paid 330.00 for it.