Exhaust Paint???

[qwk406]

OK, so while I've got my rear diff out I pulled out the exhaust and am considering painting it. It is alumacoated, but starting to show little rust "specks", plus from the seams leaking there's some carbon buildup. I'd like to put a coat of paint that will look good and last. The muffs are stainless, so only the pipes will be painted. Any help with prep and paint choice is appreciated.

[Jim Nilsen]

The high temp paint from duplicolor is holding up on my tubes so far. I used the aluminum color and it goes on with really good coverage. VHT is what I used to use but it is twice as expensive and I never had that good of results.

Time will tell if the duplicolor will do better.

[qwk406]

You've used this on your headers or pipes? I know that header paint never lasts on headers, always rusts or bakes off. Closer to the engine is hottest so I expect issues there, I'm more concerned with the tailpipes. I'll look into the duplicolor and let you know how it works out.
Thanks

[Yoda4561]

Tailpipes are easy. The factory tailpipe on my S10 was looking kinda nasty, so I just sanded it down a bit and sprayed some plastikote "bumper chrome" paint on it. Looks great, and seems to last well enough as long as it gets a coat of wax once in a while (waterspots from rain). For the hotter pipes nearer to the engine a high temp engine paint should hold up no problem.

[JRouche]

I have aluminized pipes. After I did all the welding I wanted to protect the welded areas so I used rust-oleums high temp paint. Its their "hard hat" industrial coating line. Color is aluminum, matches my exhaust perfectly. And no, I didnt use it past the collector flange. But I did use it on the flange and no probs. Stuff is tough.

They also sell a cold galvanizing paint. That should work too. JR

http://www.rustoleumdirect.com/aerosols.html

[Takid455]

I used VHT after sandblasting my headers. they look like crap again after about 1.5 yrs. I do know oil seems to stay on those ba$tard$ pretty good.