DON’T EXHAUST YOURSELF
QI was thinking of painting my Cortina’s exhaust. Do you think this is a worthwhile exercise?
Charles Mcpheat, Hull
AExhausts tend to rot from the inside out – so the best thing you can do is treat the car to a long, fast run from time-to-time to purge it of festering moisture. Painting the outside will temporarily keep the elements off it, but the coating won’t last long unless the steel’s completely rust-free first. There’s often little consistency between the steel used in the different sections of the system. Some bits are immortal, while others shed huge flakes in no time at all. If you’ve got a rotter, just let it go – you’re wasting time trying to save it.