i'm wondering if i should be concerned. my exhaust tips get really filthy over a short time (~2-3 weeks). i've said before that my engine sounds like a small diesel, and the exhaust tips look like im burning oil. should this be an indication that something is about to happen?

i did just have a road trip to portland and back, about 630 miles at 30mpg.

 

 

Yep, Mine does the same thing and you just need to ckeep cleaning it with the car or it will build up and then a pain to scrub off. Chrome polish helps.

 

Mine do too. I clean them with Bar Keeper's Friend. I even use it on the glass stove top for burned on stuff. It DOES NOT scratch.

 

thanks for the confidence boost, very appreciated

 

I found some Simple Green (if they're not too bad) or Meguiar's Hot Rims wheel cleaner (or equivalent) and a stiff wheel brush helps a lot to keep them looking clean. Note mine are painted black to start with, so it's not nearly as obvious when I get carbon buildup. For chrome ones, I'd use the same techniques as below, but periodically use some Mothers aluminum polish on them as well.

I start with liberally soaking the insides of the tips with Simple Green and then I scrub using a stiff wheel brush (one of these is what I use: ) I follow it up with some soap & water. I take a microfiber towel and wrap it around the wheel brush, then dip it in the soapy water and scrub with that.

To get it really clean, I follow it up with a drill-mounted Mothers PowerCone ( ) dunked in the soapy water. That really keeps them shiny.