Mufflers rusting out

[PhilinPA]

So the good news here is I have a lifetime warranty on my exhaust system. The bad news is I have to get the tailpipe and muffler replaced every 3 or 4 years. The muffler shop hates me. It seems like the muffler is rusting out from the inside. does that mean I have a cracked head and coolant is getting into the exhaust? I do add coolant every 250 - 500 miles. I put 2 - 3K miles on it a year and this has been going on for the last 10 years plus. Should I just live with it and keep returning to the muffler shop? Any idea how long this engine will last?
I keep it under 5K per year since I would have to get an emissions inspection if I didn't and that would require a dyno.

 

[slater50]

you live in PA, its the road salt eating your truck alive....
how do you know its from inside out....
My guess, it is not....
Coolant would not cause your muffler to rust....
You have lots of condensation / water going through your muffler as a result of normal combustion process....
What brand muffler are they installing?
Theyre using cheap parts, regardless of lifetime warranty...
Road salt is the devil & dont wish that upon anyone!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

If I plan on keeping a vehicle and I can scrape up the money, I go full stainless on the exhaust. That’s the only way to get it to last in PA. 3-4 years is about what an aluminized exhaust lasts, between moisture from the combustion process and road salt. Stainless lasts considerably longer, like over 10 years longer.

Engine can last awhile. Hard to really say. I just replace the engine when it goes, lol.

How much coolant do you have to add each time?

 

[sgtsandman]

I concure with the others, you get what you pay for when it comes to exhausts. If you go with anything other than stainless, you are only going to get about 3-4 years out of them. It's a pay it now all at once or pay it over time in replacements over the same time period. I prefer "one and done" usually.

 

[19Walt93]

If you do a lot of short trips moisture will condense in the muffler and rot it from the inside out, during cold weather it will condense even more. That's why most mufflers have a small drain hole in the case. Most places that offer a lifetime warranty on exhaust assume you'll replace the vehicle before they have to replace the exhaust again.

 

[Shran]

^ what Walt said...

Might see what the shop is using for tubing. There is thin wall tubing...and thick wall tubing. Thin wall is junk but much cheaper.