Reliability/Build

[nu11eaf]

Originally Posted by Clan

volvo exhaust pipework is not magnetic , my inspection light won't stick to it , it does rust a bit so obviously not the best grade but good enough to last some decades .. I have not heard of any pipework failing , ever .

Thats very interesting. Must be the same chinese stainless steel as the cutlery set we once bought that got rusty every time they were put in the dishwasher. The surface rust rubbed off.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by nu11eaf

If they are as good as the original XC90 exhaust system they will last many years, I still read and contribute to the 02 - 14 xc90 forum and there has been threads on there about the original Volvo mild steel exhaust system and nobody so far has reported having to replace an exhaust due to corrosion.

I was suprised when I changed my 08 xc90 for a new 2011 model to see it had a stainless rear box and tail pipe thats when they increased engine output to 200 bhp, and thought it was in part to get more power and suprised again when I bought a 13 model to see it was back to mild steel.
But never worried about it. I had a 10 year old V90 that still had the original exhaust when I sold it, (wish I still had that car)

That is because volvo systems are stainless steel . some of the silencers are aluminumized and triple layer .

[nu11eaf]

Originally Posted by Clan

That is because volvo systems are stainless steel . some of the silencers are aluminumized and triple layer .

With my 2011 rear silencer and tailpipe staying really clean and looking new and so obvious stainless steel and my 2008 and 2013 xc90's looking rusty in spots (not corroded) I thought they were different, but may have been just the grade of the stainless steel.

I have never looked at my new XC90 exhaust yet.

[Quacker]

Originally Posted by Clan

volvo exhaust pipework is not magnetic , my inspection light won't stick to it , it does rust a bit so obviously not the best grade but good enough to last some decades .. I have not heard of any pipework failing , ever .

My 1998 Toyota Land Cruiser has a fully stainless exhaust that rusts just slightly in small areas. The original exhaust is still fitted with absolutely no replacement parts fitted in 20 years and 200,000 miles. Well, 190,000 to be more precise.
It did have a small crack welded on the back of the main box some years ago though. At the time the garage sourced a new non-genuine cheap and nasty box to replace the original, but thank goodness it was to fit an earlier model, so one of the lads got welding and put a small stainless gusset in to strengthen it. Great. No sign of needing any part of it since.

[gaby]

Originally Posted by Clan

That is because volvo systems are stainless steel . some of the silencers are aluminumized and triple layer .

Do you mean that the silencer of the XC90 isn't stainless but aluminium coated?
I wonder if triple layer is useful, I don't think that it will pass MOT if the outer layer becomes perforated (or worse).
Triple layer may help to damp the sound, but I don't think it will make it more durable.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by gaby

Do you mean that the silencer of the XC90 isn't stainless but aluminium coated?
I wonder if triple layer is useful, I don't think that it will pass MOT if the outer layer becomes perforated (or worse).
Triple layer may help to damp the sound, but I don't think it will make it more durable.

after about 10 years the outer layer gets a bit rough around the edges but a defect in that is not a reason for MOT failure , only an insecure mounting or a major leak is a reason for failure

[gaby]

Originally Posted by Clan

after about 10 years the outer layer gets a bit rough around the edges but a defect in that is not a reason for MOT failure , only an insecure mounting or a major leak is a reason for failure

I certainly hope you are right and it will keep intact for more than 10 years, although I think it may be hard
to confirm that right now since it probably hasn't reaches that lifespan yet.
Unfortunately, in Belgium a "damaged" exhaust system leads to a MOT remark, meaning that it must be
repaired by the time of the next test. It is a matter of interpretation by the person doing the test though.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by gaby

I certainly hope you are right and it will keep intact for more than 10 years, although I think it may be hard
to confirm that right now since it probably hasn't reaches that lifespan yet.
Unfortunately, in Belgium a "damaged" exhaust system leads to a MOT remark, meaning that it must be
repaired by the time of the next test. It is a matter of interpretation by the person doing the test though.

That is very similar to our MOT Test .. I have just realised that a 2008 is 10 years old ! how time flies , that is still fairly new to me … I will revise my estimate to 15 to 20 years before the layer peels off !