Okay, here's one I can't find a topic on. My dealer-installed sport exhaust tip has a great deal of soot on it. Is there any safe way to remove this? I remember using fine steel wool to remove the surface rust on the chrome-plated parts of a bicycle and my brother-in-law's wheelchair when I was a kid, with good (and scratch-free) results. Do you think this method might work for my exhaust tip?

 

I use a can of chrome polish sold in most auto stores. It comes in a round metal tin and is full of cotton wadding. You just pull off a little piece, rub it and then wipe off with a clean towel.

On a side note, my Magnaflow exhaust tips are clean and shiny but are no longer silver. More of a golden yellow. Anybody know how to get them back to bright silver?

_________________

SE Regional, BAMA Club Moderator: PM me

 

I just had this discussion with a friend who recently put a new Magnaflow exhaust system on his Mini. Because of the big change in the exhaust note he received from the new system he said he now drives the car differently. The difference in his driving is , as he said, "I like to keep the revs up above 4,000" He than went on to say that since he has been driving with the revs this high he did notice his exhaust tips were getting very sooty, which wasn't happening before when he kept the reves lower.

Not exactly a scientifically sound explanation but it seemed to make sense to him. :smile:

 

The explanation is simple. The MINI runs richer at higher RPMs for safety to keep temps down. Running richer means incomplete gas combustion and therefore more soot in tailpipes.

 

but how can I bring back that shiny silver finish?

 

A rag and elbow greese :smile:

 

I have heard that oven cleaner works well.

 

I do have some metal polish that I use when I strip paint off of Hot Wheels cars to get the bare metal to a chrome-like shine, perhaps I should try that before venturing down the steel-wool path.

 

On a similar topic, I've noticed that my tire treads pick up a lot of yucky road grit whenever I drive my car. This is really annoying. What can I do?

 

Try Wright's Copper Cream. My stock S tips turned bronze when grafted to my NRP. Wright's brought them back to silver.

 

Whenever I clean my car, which is every day btw, the soot comes off my stock (beer can) tip with either a paper towel or rag. It just wipes off. If I want it sparkly shiny, I'll use Meguiars Chrome Polish, but I really don't find that necessary.

 

Xalfa - - - -

I carry an emergency detailing kit for those quick cleanups at long stop lights. This is my Z3 kit; my MINI kit is identical with the addition of an emergency windscreen repair kit.

 

>>Whenever I clean my car, which is every day btw, the soot comes off my stock (beer can) tip with either a paper towel or rag. It just wipes off. If I want it sparkly shiny, I'll use Meguiars Chrome Polish, but I really don't find that necessary.

OctaneGuy - - -

Was that you that I saw yesterday off to the side of the 405 wiping down his exhaust?

 

Yeah I think it was!!! Although I prefer to do it at stoplights, but I found it only takes a few seconds to wipe it down, so hitting the side of the freeway is no biggie during rush hour traffic. Got to make sure to blind all the drivers behind me with my shiny exhaust!

BTW, that's some emergency stoplight detailing kit you got there!!!



>>>>Whenever I clean my car, which is every day btw, the soot comes off my stock (beer can) tip with either a paper towel or rag. It just wipes off. If I want it sparkly shiny, I'll use Meguiars Chrome Polish, but I really don't find that necessary.
>>
>>OctaneGuy - - -
>>
>>Was that you that I saw yesterday off to the side of the 405 wiping down his exhaust?
>>
>>


_________________
Octane Guy

c3:Lets Motor for a Worthy Cause :::
Or Find a MINI Motorer near you!

 

--->Nick T. - that is the most obscene picture I've seen in a long, long time. You've got absolutely too much time on your hands!

 

>>Okay, here's one I can't find a topic on. My dealer-installed sport exhaust tip has a great deal of soot on it. Is there any safe way to remove this? I remember using fine steel wool to remove the surface rust on the chrome-plated parts of a bicycle and my brother-in-law's wheelchair when I was a kid, with good (and scratch-free) results. Do you think this method might work for my exhaust tip?


Yea, washing regularly is good. When I neglect the tips for a while, I clean the soot with wheel (break dust)) cleaner. I can remember the brand right now. I DO remember that it's in a bright orange translucent spray bottle.

 

Here is a little secret. The product is called Bar Keepers Friend and is available at the grocery store and such. It comes in a Comet looking can that is gold with a blue label. This stuff does great things to copper and stainless.

GMG

 

>>Xalfa - - - -
>>
>>I carry an emergency detailing kit for those quick cleanups at long stop lights. This is my Z3 kit; my MINI kit is identical with the addition of an emergency windscreen repair kit.

This is clearly a cry for help. Nick, you don't need to suffer alone. There are people out there who can help. The first step is to admit to yourself that you have a detailing problem. Then you just take it one day at a time. You can make it through this, man.

 

If your exhaust tip is polished chrome you will want to be gentle with cleaning off the soot and preserve the nice finish. I'd use a low abrasive cleaner and clean rag. Don't wait too long to clean it as deposits will build up.

I usually check my tips regularly and when dirty clean them with a liquid paste metal cleaning product that can be used on any metal surface. It is not very gritty and doesn't scratch metal.

 

>>I usually check my tips regularly and when dirty clean them with a liquid paste metal cleaning product that can be used on any metal surface. It is not very gritty and doesn't scratch metal.

This is clearly a cry for help. Minihune, you don't need to suffer alone. There are people out there who can help. The first step is to admit to yourself that you have a detailing problem. Then you just take it one day at a time. You can make it through this, man.

 

XAlfa wrote:
>>This is clearly a cry for help. Nick, you don't need to suffer alone. There are people out there who can help. The first step is to admit to yourself that you have a detailing problem. Then you just take it one day at a time. You can make it through this, man.

As an OCD sufferer I’m a member of Zainoholics Anonymous, but I’m also a charter member of ARZOA* and its sister group, ARMOA*.


Ryephile wrote:
>>--->Nick T. - that is the most obscene picture I've seen in a long, long time. You've got absolutely too much time on your hands!

Too much time goes with territory - - I’ve been retired for over twenty years.

To get back on topic, I use Meguiar's All Metal Polish on my exhaust tips. Works well, but there may be products that work better.

* Anal Retentive Z3 Owners Association
and
Anal Retentive MINI Owners Association

 

Coming from Ryephile, those are strong words indeed!

 

I used to have a '93 Trans Am with dual twin exhaust... I cleaned the tips with oven cleaner (as another poster reported) and it cleaned them really well! You just spray it on and use a soft brush to clean off the soot.

Not sure on the long term care of this, but that's what I did.

Q

 

Watch out with oven cleaner and painted surfaces!

-joe

 

I'm using chrome polish on the JCW exhaust tips to keep them nice and shiny!