Rust on stainless downpipes

[tommyardin]

[quote author=slimwilly link=topic=8580.msg86200#msg86200 date=1373176426]
So it would seem your pipes are "chromed" and not "stainless steel" which should not rust, its good getting the rust off but if you go wild you will remove more chrome and expose more steel to go rusty, go careful.


Mine are discoloured, i think i will leave well alone,,but saying that i have wire wooled them.

Stainless steel can definitely get surface rust, i think a combination of heat, water and salt certainly helps things along!
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There are different grades of stainless steel, Marine Grade SAE 316 is the best as it hardly ever rust at all, although some pitting in sea water use can be detected on seams and joints/welds .
Stainless steel motorcycle down pipes are often SAE 303 or SAE 304 which is a lower grade S/Steel, 303 is softer and easier to machine so it is often used but the 304 is slightly better but harder to work. it's all to do with the proportion of carbon steel in the stainless steel.
Keep them clean from the start and Solvo Autosol will polish all the heat marks out and tar stains, WD40 for stubborn tar staining. shiny shiny  :lol


Ask me how I know all this ... Good old Google