Abstract Harmful effects of thermal oxides formed on austenitic stainless steels (SS) like AISI 304 and 316L by heating in air or other oxidizing gases on their pitting liability in chloride solutions have been studied by pursuing geometric characteristics of corrosion process (pits density, their depths, and mouth areas, ie. penetrating and superficial detrimental consequences etc.). The possibility of preventing the decay of thermally oxidized austenitic SS by chemical removal (pickling) of oxides before exposure to chloride solutions was successfully applied on simple specimens but serious difficulties arose on welded parts and on parts exposed to other temperature gradients during manufacture or in exploitation.