Colorado drivers know that winter storm tread is rough on cars. Snowy driving, salty roads, steep hills, and the all-too-frequent winter white out. But how about exhaust systems? Motorists in this state living on the edge of elevation should be equipped with TIG welded stainless steel systems to stand up to the elements.
WHY?
1. Road Salt Is a Killer for Exhausts
During the winter, heavy applications of salt, brine, and magnesium chloride are used by road crews in Colorado to keep the roads clear. The traction they provide is great for drivers — but they are damaging to the road's undercarriage. Components made of mild steel, aluminum, or even aluminized stainless steel are especially vulnerable to what some might call the road salt's four fatal flaws:
- They corrode, both from the inside and out.
- They corrode too fast — a couple of seasons and mild steel may already be flaking, cracking, or developing rust holes.
- The welds corrode first, and then they fail under the kind of stress that road components are supposed to endure.
- Finally, if they don't corrode fast enough, they just rust — slowly but surely — and then flake, crack, and fail.
304-grade stainless steel doesn't do any of that.
2. Altitude = Thinner Air = More Heat
Engines function more efficiently and produce more power at high elevation. If you're increasing power by running a turbo or supercharger on your car up here, the combination of altitude and added boost can push components to their limits. We manufacture our exhaust systems out of rugged 304 stainless steel. The TIG-welded, han- dcrafted nature of our production guarantees a decent amount of strength in each system. But combining that with overall flow structure (as in, not restrictive) gives us not only a safe system but also a kind of insurance, if you will — a warranty against the risk of total failure up in the thin air of Colorado. In this respect, that's how we do it.
3. Durability for Off-Road, Daily, or Track Use
Colorado encompasses everything—mountain passes, dirt trails, highway commutes, and track days. You need an exhaust system that can take a licking from every angle. Stainless steel remains the go-to material for not only off-road and daily driver situations but also for weekend warrior track cars:
- It offers superior impact resistance compared to other materials, making it ideal for the kind of exhaust system that sees a lot of rough treatment.
- It has an extremely long service life and a low risk of problems that might require you to replace or repair the system before the vehicle is retired.
- It doesn’t rot internally or develop seam leaks.
4. TIG-Welded = No Weak Points
At DarkLight Fabrication, we make sure every joint is joined with TIG welding — no MIG, no pulling the wool over your eyes. TIG welding makes: Cleaner, stronger welds; Better heat tolerance; A tighter, more precise fit. Now, pair TIG welding with premium, 304 stainless steel, and you’ve got an exhaust system that not only performs but also endures. In the extreme range, even.
5. Looks Matter, Too
Let's speak frankly here — a stainless system simply looks superior. 304 stainless, over time, develops a clean, golden patina instead of oxidation or flaking. Whether you're working with an underbody setup or a visible side-exit exhaust, there's nothing that delivers the high-end, race-ready aesthetic quite like stainless steel.
Colorado Built. Colorado Tough.
Every exhaust system we make is built in Colorado, for the same roads and weather you have to deal with every day. No kits. No crush bends. Just fully custom systems that handle the turbo setups, the durable daily drivers, and the truly one-of-a-kind exhausts. If you want to satisfy your goals with an exhaust system, we make it happen.
Let’s Build Your Stainless System
Prepared to step up to a system that executes, endures, and presents itself better—even in the most rigorous conditions Colorado can dish out? Reach out for a personalized quote or check out our Instagram to see some of our recent work.