Topic: bare steel headers/mufflers - any way besides coating ?

[greenjeans]

Like the idea of some bare steel 4 into 1 pipes  (carpy or similar) on my current project.

However, I do not want to paint, powdercoat or wrap them. 

I've heard of preserving the insides of pipes by pouring some oil in and rotating to coat all the surfaces.  Evidently when the pipes get hot it burns off the oil and some is left behind - kinda absorbed into the metal ?

Would the same apply to the outside ?     This one will definitely be a fair weather bike.   I definitely want to keep rust at bay, but I don't mind discoloration.

I guess I could just wipe them down with oil or something ?

Any brilliant ideas ?

[Bankerdanny]

They do make a high temp clear.

I would think trying to use oil on the outside would just lead to constantly smoking pipes.

[flybox1]

Yes. I like the color of steel, too. Highly likely it will discolor over time. I'd ceramic coat steel color.

Performancecoatings.com does some cool stuff/colors.