I live the S.F. Bay area and spend at best 10-15 days per year in the snow. What kind of life expectancy can I expect to get out of an aluminized exhaust vs. a stainless exhaust.

Thanks,
Louie :?:

Given your Location, and If you can afford it, the SS is the Best option and longest lasting exhaust material you can purchase. :wink:

SS is not the best in all cases.

Stainless steel is subject to stress cracking in piping that is hot and exposed to salt.

Washington State Ferries had to replace firemain piping because it rotted out from prolonged exposure to saltwater. Ships use salt water for fire fighting not freash water.

Want to destroy a stainless steel thermos? Clean it with household bleach, which is nothing more than concentrated salt solution. Will eat the liner out.

Aluminized steel is better choice in areas where roads are salted, its cheaper, weighs less and who really wants to look under their truck to see shiny stainless exhaust. It just gets dirty too.

Hey this is Tony. Spending only 10-12 days in the snow really won't hurt an aluminized exhaust if it is hosed off when you get back from the snow. An aluminized exhaust should last 3-4 years before things start happening.

I live in Denver and I learned the hard way that aluminized was a bad choice for my exhaust. The pics are of an exhaust on my 2000 Cougar at 2 years old. Also, I am very particular about washing my car AT LEAST once a month.

Most parts of Colorado do not use salt on the roads, they use sand and gravel. So, given that your near an area prone to salt water rust, I don't know the answer for you, but my answer is definitely SS.

I have the alum. steel and feel confident it will last for many years here in So Cal. My mod budget was also a deciding factor. Besides, it can't look any worse than that rusty steel drive shaft beneath my truck.

Regardless of snow vs. warm, unless you live in thedesert SS is worth the money