Tried searching and probably a stupid question but what the heck,

Does it need a muffler replacement etc..after a certain amount of time? And if so what part is it? What kind of life span does an exhaust system like this have?

And does black soot on tail pipes and back of the Z, normal? and would getting headers etc.. make more soot?

 

A stainless steel exhaust should last the life of the car. The problem with OEM exhaust is corrosion. Corrosion eats holes in the exhaust, and parts must be replaced. Corrosion is more predominate in areas where it rains often and humidity is high. In Arizona for example, the OEM exhaust might last 10 years.

All exhaust pipes get dirty.

The catalytic converter is designed to limit hazardous emissions: not dirt or smoke.

 

Thanks davidv, for the info.

 

I have the ******* soot too. Mechanic told me tha car was just running rich because it was winter. Riiiiight, sounds like bs to me but we'll see what a compression test says when I change the plugs.

 

I have intake, headers, and a Nismo Exhaust System and it looks just as good now as it did a year ago( actully, the exhaust changed color closer to the engine). I just changed my oil on Sunday, so i checked it out. My mesh bends are fraying though from bottoming out( it sits lower then the factory piece). My exhaust also gets a little black after about two weeks but i think it's normal. My factory exhaust used to do the same thing. It washes of easily, so it doesn't bother me.

 

It is quite possible that the fiberglass wool packing the muffler may be breaking apart. I have never seen this with a Nismo exhaust, but it's possible with any muffler in general. The soot that you are talking about, does it look like there are tiny fibers in it? or just black soot? Black soot is reletively normal for most exhausts especially on our cars, just the contaminants or carbon coming out of the exhaust gases... Even stock exhausts do it to a point. I don't think it's anything to be alarmed about tho.

 

No fibers, just soot and not that much of it, but it's there. Not a concern.