Can I paint an exhaust?...

[Swampy]

Alright, before you start laughing at me I genuinely don't know this one.

Van is a 1.6TD.

My exhaust cracked at the manifold end the other week & could only afford the JK version down pipe.

I was lucky enough to get a pro to fit it as I saw the previous owner used a mad combination of studs, bolts, possibly a couple of nails to bolt the old one to the turbo, which looked like one mangled rusting fist.

So now I've got an exhaust fitted with new studs & I have a fighting chance of removing it in the future. Good times.

Problem is, the tail pipe has a small hole & I'm concerned about the shade of rust on the silencer.

Therefore I have 2 questions for those with more of a clue than me:

A: Is there anything I can put over the bolts/manifold side of the exhaust to keep the rust away? It gets so hot I'd have thought any gunge would simply be burnt away or at least crisp up. I know that down pipe has a limited life & want to slow down rusting bolts as much as I can.

B: Once I've sorted any hole at the end of the exhaust (Pa-In-Law has some gungum knocking about) is it possible to hammerite the silencer & tail pipe or apply some other type of paint to slow down the rusting from the outside?

I've got some light grey Rustoleum in the shed & a 1/2 litre of Vactan.

Please tell me if I'm being stupid or dangerous.
I know it sounds mad, but I just thought I'd try and get a bit more life out of the current exhaust.

[Damien]

Copper grease on studs etc, can get exhaust paint from most motor factors. HAve you seen the silencers in machine 7 clearance if yours is bad for £55 might be worth a new un, there about half way down page

http://www.machine7.com/section.php?xSec=2844&xPage=4

[Swampy]

Right now £15 for the paint is easier for me than £55 for the part. I'll be honest the silencer's not too bad, just looking on the rusty side & wanted to stop it.

Was hoping to get away with some paint currently in the shed, but just noticed someone elsewhere mentioning enamel paint/hammerite & the like may just burn off & smell, so that's out the window.

Thanks for the copper grease tip. I'll look out for some of that.

[Willoughby]

last can of VHT paint I got was less than a fiver from my local motor factors.

No to shabby even if I say so myself, reminds me I will need to do a touch up.

Kev

[happy camper]

Wilkinsons do barbque paint for a fiver a tin, i painted my silencer last summer and its still on there lurvly and black

[Bowton Lad]

Swampy, your best bet is to do what Kev says & use VHT paint. Don't forget to remove the primer first!