Exhaust Tips - How to Keep Clean
Exhaust Tips - How to Keep Clean Search didn't pull anything up, so may as well start a new topic...
Long story short, I have Megs tips and did a camswap awhile back, no cats on the car so they are now black. I know I can polish them back up to shine with the dremel, but is there anything to prevent buildup on them? If anyone has polished exhaust tips, you know it's damn tedious and I don't want to do this every few months.
Those tips should be blinding in shine, but they're not...
Long story short, I have Megs tips and did a camswap awhile back, no cats on the car so they are now black. I know I can polish them back up to shine with the dremel, but is there anything to prevent buildup on them? If anyone has polished exhaust tips, you know it's damn tedious and I don't want to do this every few months.
Those tips should be blinding in shine, but they're not...
The soot sucks. 
There has to be a decent remedy for this, but I'm just clueless as to what products would help prevent this, or at least slow down the build-up of it.
As for the sticker that was there, I took it off to make room for a badge made in stainless by dragon. Unfortunately, it didn't adhese well (should have used adhesive promoter) so nothing is going there for the time being. I'm going for the chrome accent theme. Got the door badges, front sticker, stainless inserts.. coming together nicely.
There has to be a decent remedy for this, but I'm just clueless as to what products would help prevent this, or at least slow down the build-up of it.
As for the sticker that was there, I took it off to make room for a badge made in stainless by dragon. Unfortunately, it didn't adhese well (should have used adhesive promoter) so nothing is going there for the time being. I'm going for the chrome accent theme. Got the door badges, front sticker, stainless inserts.. coming together nicely.
I would say just hit it every few washes with some mothers polish. I have CME on my SS and just scrub them good every time I wash the car and they stay pretty clean. I dont know of any once a year treatments so you just have to be presistent with it.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
This might sound cheesy, but its the only remedy i could think of. maybe a light coat of some kind of oil on it would help? they would still be shiny, but when they got dirty you just wipe off the oil and the soot? then re-apply. just a thought.
I started cleaning my pro corsa tips with mothers polish but found that by using brake cleaner sprayed onto a soft cotton cloth would produce the same results in a fraction of the time and effort. No cats equal dirty tips.
Launching!
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
I do the same as mentioned on my corsa's as well. its just one of those things you have to keep on top of. I always hear about the Zoopseal but have never used it. not sure if it would work on a stainless tip maybe just aluminum.
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,535
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From: The Houndstooth
I just use some simichrome if I let it get to the point where soap/water doesn't work too well. Its quick and easy no dremeling or hard rubbing required on either of my stainless exhaust tips (corsa or fasttoys).
Be sure not to use anything abrasive beyond a very very light cut polish. Like SOS pads or steel wool... they will make small fine scratches and then they'll be even harder to keep clean and get to shine.
Be sure not to use anything abrasive beyond a very very light cut polish. Like SOS pads or steel wool... they will make small fine scratches and then they'll be even harder to keep clean and get to shine.
I use steel wool on mine. It was something I used at the Harley dealership to get stuff off chrome. Just rub it lightly. I wash my tips off, steel wool them, then polish. Look brand new everytime. As far as keeping them clean, dont go WOT.lol I wipe them off before I drive the car everytime. It slows it down, but inevitibaly, they get dirty again.
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Finding 3rd Gear
Originally Posted by HOSS
I use steel wool on mine. It was something I used at the Harley dealership to get stuff off chrome. Just rub it lightly. I wash my tips off, steel wool them, then polish. Look brand new everytime. As far as keeping them clean, dont go WOT.lol I wipe them off before I drive the car everytime. It slows it down, but inevitibaly, they get dirty again.
Damn, you guys weren't kidding about brake cleaner. I sprayed it on, wiped with a terry cloth, and that crap came right off. Went over it with some water to dilute it after. Brake cleaner really shouldn't harm them, as long as don't soak them in it. 
After the wipedown..
After the wipedown..
I use the ZoopSeal metal polish on mine. I clean mine everytime I get in from driving that day. Think god is a weekend driver !!! Its nothing you can do about the soot, well you can not drive it, LOL
I used Metal Armor Metal Polish on mine, then the Metal Armor Final Polish and Sealant. (2 coats, initially). Now I just do a quick clean everytime I wash the car, usually with a MF towel and some quick detailer. Works very well.
I add another coat of the final polish everytime I wax the car .. takes about 10 minutes per tip ..
I add another coat of the final polish everytime I wax the car .. takes about 10 minutes per tip ..
Originally Posted by Silver02TA
wow, i couldn't imagine putting brake cleaner on my $300 exhaust tips 
