I recall when replacing a muffler or section of exhaust system was an expected maintenance item. My 16 year old Burb still has its original exhaust system. It got so bad that Midas Muffler had to morph into a tire store. Anyone else finding that? 
Life of exhaust systems
- Thread starter Snagglefoot
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All I know is if you leave well enough alone (I cannot) you do not have to suffer the consequences of your own actions.
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Absolutely. I remember as a kid Midas actually stocked exhaust parts so the customer could be in and out and back in 18 mos when the replacement failed. Today they would get them from a supplier, so the customer should get a ride and come back. Then, the replacement parts would also fail in 18 mos or less. The whole business model was predicated upon the muffler being warranted for life, not the labor, not the other parts like hangers, resonators, spouts, etc.
I don't even think exhaust is available for my 2006 car (I've looked online for fun--yeah need new hobbies). Yet, I really don't expect it to fail. Here's where fake dual exhaust really bites the car owner in the a**. Like with that Subaru Forester, look at all of them with a cheap Midas left muffler that cost well over $1,200.
Maybe a lot of newer exhaust is semi stainless not sure.
I don't even think exhaust is available for my 2006 car (I've looked online for fun--yeah need new hobbies). Yet, I really don't expect it to fail. Here's where fake dual exhaust really bites the car owner in the a**. Like with that Subaru Forester, look at all of them with a cheap Midas left muffler that cost well over $1,200.
Maybe a lot of newer exhaust is semi stainless not sure.
The exhausts are of much better quality and material than they used to be. Likely because the catalytic converters need to be warranted for so long. So the rest of the exhaust is also made to last.
My 07 am has 226k on the original exhaust and still looks good and sounds good . My 05 Yukon has original exhaust with 216K and is still working good. Our 2012 Mazda 5 still is original and working good. I think many are now using metal that holds up to the heat of the catalytic convertor.
They sure do last longer. But not forever. Although I wrecked our '11 Camry 2 years ago, I recall looking at the exhaust joints and realizing that, if anything ever has to be touched, it likely all needs replacing. They can and do rot, it's just that by that time, it's past 10yr and/or 200k and likely onto the final owner. Just no longer a routine repair.
It's a nice perk. Is it because of the warranty on the cat (EPA), less fuel (and moisture) through the system (CAFE), or the OEM's wanting to make our lives easier (fairy tale)? no idea.
It's a nice perk. Is it because of the warranty on the cat (EPA), less fuel (and moisture) through the system (CAFE), or the OEM's wanting to make our lives easier (fairy tale)? no idea.
A muffler shop representative told me he couldn't believe people with Corvettes etc. would remove a perfectly good stainless steel exhaust system and throw it in the garbage to be replaced by another expensive aftermarket product. My 2012 Civic still has the original exhaust but I did replace the muffler a couple years ago because it rusted at one small spot that was a problem area on that model.
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folks did this too with brand new BMW N54's, where there was a true dual setup. Mufflers alone are $1k ea. I think they thought they could do better than the mfg. and save weight. At the time, I enjoyed seeing pics of the entire system removed and on the ground.
Depends no if they salt the roads where you live.
I live in a road salt area. The worst I had to do is get the flex pipe replaced, but YMMV obviously
My 1993 Nissan (built in mid 92) went to its grave with its original exhaust system intact, 30 years old and over 400k miles. That car saw all sorts of salt over the years. All the cars I owned when I started driving in the early 80's had multiple exhausts over their lifetimes.
Many more exhausts lasting longer than they did in decades past, I think we can probably attribute a lot of that not only to more OEM's using stainless pipes and mufflers, but also to only having unleaded fuels now, as well as the decrease in sulfur in todays gas. Leaded fuels had perchloroethylene, bromine, and whatever else to help prevent lead deposits, but those same additives had a nasty habit of combining with the water in the exhaust to produce acids and the pipes got eaten from the inside out.
Many more exhausts lasting longer than they did in decades past, I think we can probably attribute a lot of that not only to more OEM's using stainless pipes and mufflers, but also to only having unleaded fuels now, as well as the decrease in sulfur in todays gas. Leaded fuels had perchloroethylene, bromine, and whatever else to help prevent lead deposits, but those same additives had a nasty habit of combining with the water in the exhaust to produce acids and the pipes got eaten from the inside out.
JHZR2
Staff member
On my old Mercedes’ and dodge diesels the flex section is the only part I’ve ever had to deal with. The rest just lasts. I think they’re some form of stainless.
As I recall all Midas mufflers were also gold annodized......LOL.
It's not uncommon for flex joints to rot out on 4-5/yr old, ~100K mile vehicles in the rust belt. I've seen videos where these flex joints are on indefinite back-order for vehicles as common as Ford Explorers, etc. You have to find a shop willing to fab in an aftermarket flex joint.
On some cheap vehicles like my 2015 Nissan Versa sedan, I am on cat-back system number 3 and it's only got 80K miles on it. The pipe rots off flush on the inlet to the rear muffler with no way to weld repair it. Sometimes you can just replace the rear section, but the mid section w/ resonator is usually rough by that point and isn't that much more expensive. No flex joint on these which I believe makes the pipes break earlier than they should. Just a spring bolt joint.
On some cheap vehicles like my 2015 Nissan Versa sedan, I am on cat-back system number 3 and it's only got 80K miles on it. The pipe rots off flush on the inlet to the rear muffler with no way to weld repair it. Sometimes you can just replace the rear section, but the mid section w/ resonator is usually rough by that point and isn't that much more expensive. No flex joint on these which I believe makes the pipes break earlier than they should. Just a spring bolt joint.
Yes sir! Exhaust systems in the past were made of the least expensive carbon steel. Guaranteed to rust out in 12,000 miles or less if you did a lot of short trips. Today they are made of some type of corrosion resistant steels. Cost more but in many cases last the life of the car.
2003 chevy astro van 250k original. Not even a hanger.
