jah_60025

Hi -- first post after a long time coming here for info. I recently replaced my intermediate pipe for the third time on my civic -- 165,000 miles, and the previous two lasted about 4 years each before rusting through (two at the resonator, once under a worm clamp holding the heat shield down). I can get the pipe, gaskets and bolts online for around $95 shipped, and it takes me a couple of hours to do the job -- so it's not the worst thing in the world. But I'm still wondering if there's an option that would let me avoid the work for a longer spell.

From Honda, the oem pipe runs about $350. I think, if I knew it's better quality could let me get 6-8 years out of it, I'd probably pay for it. Or if there was a high-quality after market option that wasn't geared towards making the car louder, I'd consider that. I've been warned that there are plenty of stainless steel options that are still garbage -- and I don't know how to tell the good from the bad. And ultimately I'd hate to spend $400 on any option and still see it rust out after 4-5 years.

Any advice, pointers to other discussions/threads, etc. would be welcome.

Diagram of the DX exhaust below:


Thanks!
Jeff

jah_60025

I'm checking out the comments here, too:
https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...xhaust+catback

Hopefully I didn't just start a "not another one of these" threads...

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Started a thread for nothing. Every single one of these "What exhaust?" threads are pretty much identical. This one will be the same.

Where do you live and what are the conditions there that your exhaust components only last a few years? That is the issue you need to concentrate on. Otherwise all you will be doing is replacing it in another few years if you manage to keep the car that long.

jah_60025

Chicago, 6 months of snow and salt -- if that's the best I can expect, so be it. But there aren't tons of options for my car -- most of the systems out there are for the EX/Si setup. So as far as I can tell the only real choice is oem v. walker/bosal/etc. aluminized steel (or modifying something, I guess, but that's beyond me). And if there isn't a real quality difference between those two choices then there's no real choice at all, and no reason to waste any more time looking.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Your research doesn't seem to be that thorough. You can swap in a system from the EX into your car thereby gaining you more options.

jah_60025

Looks like that would be "replace everything including the header" which, again, if that's the only option, so be it (and led me to some thorough guides elsewhere, which is nice to have). I was hoping there was something less extensive (and expensive).

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Maybe you need to buy a scooter.

shotoutacc0rd

You should look for a lifetime warrantee exhaust. Even if you need to do the whole catback, you never need to worry about paying for it again

my dad did that when his car was 7 years old. He still gets a new pipe every few years now, 20 years later.