How to tell if its Stainless?
- Thread starter Guest
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Guest
New member
...and finally, the heat exchangers don't look half bad either. They need a good clean - you can see where I had a bit of weepy oil (rustproofing!) but they are really in surprisingly good nick.
Of course the whole lot is for sale! Complete exhaust less pre-muffler. Make me an offer.
RB
Of course the whole lot is for sale! Complete exhaust less pre-muffler. Make me an offer.
RB
raypollock
New member
The bits came up well , to tell if its stainless get a magnet...stainless is not magnetic. Just tried my tail pipe out of interest and its stainless[
][] had no idea till i read your question.
][] had no idea till i read your question.
raypollock
New member
just a thought , how easy was it to remove those parts...did you have access to a pit and any specialist tools?
ClubSport 911
New member
raypollock
New member
ah interesting so maybe my exhaust is a non magnetic mild steel rather than a stainless one, oh well never mind.
Guest
New member
So I tried the magnet trick. Using one of the rear speakers I removed recently (does anyone keep magnets in the house these days?) I diligently tested the muffler and compared with the known stainless crossover pipe. I also compared with the flanges - that one assumes are mild steel - and I have to conclude that the test is almost entirely inconclusive.
The magnet seems to stick to everything more or less the same amount.
One clue may be that the muffler doesn't appear to be painted - in the middle section is the most obvious. It was shiny metal in parts before I started to clean it. I assume that mild steel mufflers come painted and stainless unpainted. Is this correct? Is it just wishful thinking on my part?
RB
The magnet seems to stick to everything more or less the same amount.
One clue may be that the muffler doesn't appear to be painted - in the middle section is the most obvious. It was shiny metal in parts before I started to clean it. I assume that mild steel mufflers come painted and stainless unpainted. Is this correct? Is it just wishful thinking on my part?
RB
carreracat
New member
Hi Richard,
The easiest way we have found to test steel is if you can find a bit that you can afford to put on a grinding wheel (so probably not suitable if you wanted to use the exhaust again!).
If the sparks are orange it's a hi carbon steel.
If the sparks are light yellow it's mild steel.
If there are hardly any sparks and the grinding wheel gets clogged easily it's stainless.
Alternatively you could try and accelerate oxidation by putting the metal in vinegar or suspending it above and old unsealed car battery so the sulphuric vapour can get to it. Both of these will quickly produce a film of oxidisation if it's mild stell.
The easiest way we have found to test steel is if you can find a bit that you can afford to put on a grinding wheel (so probably not suitable if you wanted to use the exhaust again!).
If the sparks are orange it's a hi carbon steel.
If the sparks are light yellow it's mild steel.
If there are hardly any sparks and the grinding wheel gets clogged easily it's stainless.
Alternatively you could try and accelerate oxidation by putting the metal in vinegar or suspending it above and old unsealed car battery so the sulphuric vapour can get to it. Both of these will quickly produce a film of oxidisation if it's mild stell.
Guest
New member
Thanks Mark - I got the same advice re the grinding wheel from Pelican and was told the sparks would also be shorter with stainless. Using a wire wheel to clean things up a bit the sparks are very much short and yellow - the same as the stainless X-over pipe.
At the end of the day its really a case of buyer beware. I want to get rid of it and it will be priced reasonably when the ad appears in 911World. Whoever buys it will get a number of years of good service.
RB
At the end of the day its really a case of buyer beware. I want to get rid of it and it will be priced reasonably when the ad appears in 911World. Whoever buys it will get a number of years of good service.
RB
Most of the exhaust makers use mild steel flanges. The magnets sticking to the part is down to the percentage of stainless used more stainless more brittle and louder.
Good stainless does last longer and look much better though. The question is how long you plan on keeping the car and what you want to spend? and can get away with!
Baz
Good stainless does last longer and look much better though. The question is how long you plan on keeping the car and what you want to spend? and can get away with!
Baz
adamtsobek
New member
For info, there are three main types of Stainless steel; ferritic which is magnetic, austenitic which is non-magnetic in the fully softened condition but variably magnetic after work hardening by the manufacturing process and finally, duplex which is a mixture of both types hence magnetic. For run of the mill after market exhaust systems, ferritic stainless is used but I am not sure if austenitic is used by the more exotic exhaust manufacturers. Steel is made stainless by the addition of at least 13% of chromium.
The best way of determining if an exhaust is stainless is to have a piece analised by a laboratory.
Sorry for the techy nature of the reply but i hope it helps
Regards
Adam
The best way of determining if an exhaust is stainless is to have a piece analised by a laboratory.
Sorry for the techy nature of the reply but i hope it helps
Regards
Adam
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