I've long neglected cleaning my exhaust tips and they're crusty nasty now. What's the best method to clean them? I tried a Brillo pad fortified by Ajax powder but it made little change in the appearance. Oven cleaner? Help!

 

Strange, I use Barkeepers Friend with a spritz of my own chemistry. Some vinegar, isopropyl alcohol and a squirt of Dawn detergent and water. Works great on kitchen cabinets too. They come out sparkling, exactly what I was going to suggest.

 

Some fine steel wool, some simple green, some elbow grease followed by some aluminum polish is what works for me

 

best way to clean them

as you've already learned

is FREQUENTLY!!

if you stay on top the grime just wipes off in the course of normal washing.

over time you may get some color change from metal 'cooking' but unless you polish (aka remove some surface material) you aren't going to change that

Brillo pad ... steel wool ..... heck even my 79 ain't seen that

 

Lacquer thinner works really well to cut the grime/soot. I stumbled across this while cleaning off the black trim with it on my '06 R52. Just wipes off the build up with very little effort

 

We use white vinegar diluted with water (about 2/3 vinegar, 1/3 water). Spray it on, and then take a drill brush to the tips. This method took a bit of patience but all the caked on black crud came off... and a natural/cheap/eco friendly cleaner! Good luck!

 

The secret is to take care of them every time you wash your car but it may be mostly impossible during winter. I don't let any heavy build up on them.

I use a chrome polish by Mothers that remove stain and rust. I also finish the job by using clay bar for any left residues. Mines are still shiny as new chrome.

 

This stuff actually works REALLY well for stainless exhaust tips:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Cerama-B...10DS/202049920

 

Thanks for all the responses! Now I have multiple regimens to try.

 

Eagle One Nevr-Dull.

 

The common theory here seems to be, use a mild abrasive or solvent, combine with elbow grease, follow with polish, repeat frequently! :-)

 

Sounds like a formula to cure many ills.

 

I am a little late to the party here ....but wanted to share any extra tips ...

000 or 0000 steel wool works great and will not scratch the chrome assuming the chrome/stainless tips are of good quality.

Another good option is wheel cleaner ...

Both of which have worked well for me.

 

i used griots garage heavy duty wheel cleaner. let it sit on the metal for a couple of minutes and then scrub off with steel wool.

 

Barkeepers Friend takes the soot right off!

 

Griot's wheel cleaner, or any chrome cleaner, or the homemade vinegar recipes will do the trick. Once you've got the nasties off, a light wiping after each wash will keep 'em looking bright and shiny. Once they're all cleaned up, they will sound louder too! 😉

 

I think I discovered this either here or another forum: cooktop cleaner with their pad. Agree with others that it should be done around each wash, after a few months (or years) it becomes harder to remove and I fear scratching the chrome: Cerama Bryte Cooktop Cleaning Kit, available at the big box stores and online.

You can do a search on "Cerama Bryte exhaust" and find lots of posts on car forums about this.