Stainless steel vs mild steel o2 housing

[clipto]

Was looking at the the ss o2 housing and the mild steel o2 housing from punishement racing.Was looking at some metal sites but not exactly the info I was looking for.Does anyone have a depth of what I should purchase, eather the stainless steel or the mild steel o2 housing.Price does not matter.

 

[Gysgt Guy]

Both are reasonable options. SS will be more durable and technically last longer in most scenarios. But I see no reason why the mild steel won't do it's job, it's the one i bought!

 

[clipto]

Just want the mild steel to last a good time if I choose that path, I drive it daily well alot and wondering if the ss option would be better then the mild steel unless it will hold it's end up.

 

[bastarddsm]

As long as it's fairly thick, and your not running lots of boost it should last forever. Heat cycles fatigue mild steel. The hotter you get it the shorter the life span, also, the thinner it is the shorter its life span.

I made a turbo header out of some 16ga u bends, and 1 peice of 18ga, all of it mild steel. The 16ga held up pretty decent, but as soon as the boost got cranked to 30, and I was making some serious exhaust heat, the 18ga kept cracking.

Also, thin 304 stainless will do the same thing. Its only for like 1000*f service temps. For it to truely be 100% durable, it needs to be 321stainless. Somthing tells me that 316 is ok too, but I'm not positive.

 

[99gst_racer]

I've used mild and probably won't ever do it again. There's lots of moisture in the exhaust system. Stainless steels corrosion resistant properties keep the finished product in excellent shape for much longer, and that makes it worth the extra coin to me.

 

[bastarddsm]

I've used mild and probably won't ever do it again. There's lots of moisture in the exhaust system. Stainless steels corrosion resistant properties keep the finished product in excellent shape for much longer, and that makes it worth the extra coin to me.

Your right on that. Even cheap 409 would be better.

 

[clipto]

Leaning towards the ss for a longer life span, better results then the mild steel thus far.

 

[bastarddsm]

I didn't realize price was no matter. I'd defiantly get the stainless version.

 

[Jkorny169]

i'd opt for stainless steel. whenever i purchase mild steel it tends to get crusty after a season.