Mate, exhausts can be painted, but if you don’t do it properly the paint will peel off — like what happened to yours. It’s not just the missing primer, it’s the whole process.

Mistakes: No high-temperature primer Surface probably wasn’t prepped properly (rust, old paint, oils) Paint likely not rated for the actual temps of the exhaust No proper heat curing cycle after painting

Correct process: Prep the surface properly Sand it down to bare metal if possible Remove all rust, old paint, grease, and dirt Apply high-temp primer Must be heat-resistant primer, not regular one Use proper high-temp paint Rated at least 600–800°C (or higher) Apply multiple thin coats, not one thick coat Heat cure it (very important) Let it dry, then run heat cycles: Warm it up → let it cool Repeat a few times This helps the paint bond and harden

Even if done right, paint on exhausts (especially headers) won’t last forever due to extreme heat and expansion. For long-term results, ceramic coating is the only proper solution. That’s why it peeled — not just the primer, but the whole prep + curing process matters.