Underside of exhaust is black

[stingerwanter]

Hi all. Still somewhat new to cars. Got an MBRP installed about five months ago, the cheaper Alumized Steel one. Looked under my car and noticed both of the exhausts had black stuff all over the bottom of them but seemingly nowhere else on the car. Wondering if this is normal? It doesn’t really rub off, I mean it makes your fingers black but won’t come off. It wasn’t like this on the stock exhaust which was installed much much much longer.

 

[Baluchitherium4]

That looks like an exhaust leak to me.

 

[NS_Stinger]

100% an exhaust leak, apparently pretty common with MBRP exhaust connecters.

 

[stingerwanter]

@NS_Stinger @Baluchitherium4 Is there anything I can do about it or should I call the guys I had install it? It was like 5 months ago.

 

[Baluchitherium4]

@NS_Stinger @Baluchitherium4 Is there anything I can do about it or should I call the guys I had install it? It was like 5 months ago.

You can either buy better clamps or really crank down the ones that MBRP provides with the exhaust. The ones that come with the exhaust aren't the best.

 

[stingerwanter]

You can either buy better clamps or really crank down the ones that MBRP provides with the exhaust. The ones that come with the exhaust aren't the best.

Thanks. What do you think my level of concern or urgency should be with getting this fixed?

 

[stingerwanter]

You can either buy better clamps or really crank down the ones that MBRP provides with the exhaust. The ones that come with the exhaust aren't the best.

Thanks. What do you think my level of concern or urgency should be with getting this fixed?

 

[Rodtheviking]

Thanks. What do you think my level of concern or urgency should be with getting this fixed?

Mild concern, just get some better clamps and crank them down.

I went with these and was able to get them nice and tight.

https://www.amazon.com/EVIL-ENERGY-Exhaust-Manifold-Stainless/dp/B08HW8ZF4Z/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2U59FVYMJZGFD&keywords=2.5+inch+exhaust+band+clamps&qid=1671469655&sprefix=2.5+inch+exhaust+band+clamps%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-5

 

[Snicklefritz]

the same black soot is evident on the lower lip of every Stinger exhaust stub that isn't routinely cleaned. previous owner had never bothered to clean the soot as far as appearances indicated and I took water and steel wool to the grime and it came right off, also the steel polished up and 99% of the discoloration was eliminated by just water and steel wool. this is just in case you want to clean that icky looking black crap off.

 

[stingerwanter]

So just got my car serviced because they were fixing the seatbelt lol. Not only did they drive the car about 10 miles (at least according to the odometer..), but look at this.


I LOLed. Makes me not trust the report because they must have not looked under the car.

 

[Snicklefritz]

or they see too many black exhaust systems and thought it was normal.

 

[ChaneRZ]

Kia is ish.

 

[rpoffen]

Hi all. Still somewhat new to cars. Got an MBRP installed about five months ago, the cheaper Alumized Steel one. Looked under my car and noticed both of the exhausts had black stuff all over the bottom of them but seemingly nowhere else on the car. Wondering if this is normal? It doesn’t really rub off, I mean it makes your fingers black but won’t come off. It wasn’t like this on the stock exhaust which was installed much much much longer.

When installing my MBRP (the SS one), I found that the stock clamps aren't the best, and even with upgraded ones I got on Amazon, when I thought they were tight, I tightened them down more, really a lot to prevent leaks.

 

[stingerwanter]

The guy at the exhaust shop assured me that no matter the clamp I put it on there, it will leak, and that I should just weld it for $80