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Author Topic: Exhaust dirty ends???  (Read 12736 times)

Offline GTiBEER

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Exhaust dirty ends???
« on: October 16, 2010, 06:52:36 pm »
When I bought my Golf last month the bodywork is immaculate and everything is working fine, the only thing that niggles me is the stainless steel exhaust tips have never been cleaned and are black and very dirty looking.

A friend off mine told me to clean them with engine oil but I think he was having a laugh as it looks worse now.

Has anyone got any tips for bringing them back to their original shine?

Offline 182_blue

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Re: Exhaust dirty ends???
« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2010, 06:53:22 pm »
When I bought my Golf last month the bodywork is immaculate and everything is working fine, the only thing that niggles me is the stainless steel exhaust tips have never been cleaned and are black and very dirty looking.

A friend off mine told me to clean them with engine oil but I think he was having a laugh as it looks worse now.

Has anyone got any tips for bringing them back to their original shine?

Autosol  :happy2:

Offline johnston

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Re: Exhaust dirty ends???
« Reply #2 on: October 16, 2010, 07:22:07 pm »
glad somone asked this already, i was just about to say the exact same thing lol  :laugh:

Offline Tara

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Re: Exhaust dirty ends???
« Reply #3 on: October 16, 2010, 07:24:46 pm »
I gave up with this and just had new tail pipes put on  :ashamed:

Offline stealthwolf

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Re: Exhaust dirty ends???
« Reply #4 on: October 16, 2010, 07:25:32 pm »
If they're really dirty, I'd suggest using (engine) degreaser or similar. Once you've removed the worst of it, using a microfibre cloth and autosol to polish to a nice finish. I'll warn you now - the dirtier they are, the more elbow grease is required.

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Offline GTiBEER

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Re: Exhaust dirty ends???
« Reply #5 on: October 16, 2010, 07:41:20 pm »
That's my Sunday planned then! She looks like she runs on diesel and I'm sure some shiny pipes will finish her good looks off!

Cheers!

Offline uk_stu

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Re: Exhaust dirty ends???
« Reply #6 on: October 16, 2010, 09:41:57 pm »
Use a fine wire wool with a metal polish... (Autosol) and then rub!!

will bring it up nicely!

Offline ScrupesGTI

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Re: Exhaust dirty ends???
« Reply #7 on: October 16, 2010, 11:58:04 pm »
I recently fitted a miltek ED30 exhaust to my car, the special tips are always filthy and a git to clean. I use carb and brake cleaner to get the thick off then polish with autosol but it stays clean for all of 10 mins of driving. better to paint them black i thinks???

Spoils the look of a clean car which is a shame :sad1:

Offline Edition30

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Re: Exhaust dirty ends???
« Reply #8 on: October 17, 2010, 01:03:44 am »
I gave up with this and just had new tail pipes put on  :ashamed:

Lazy co.. :signLOL:


I hope it was of Miltek (or similar) style?
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Offline Gene Hunt

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Re: Exhaust dirty ends???
« Reply #9 on: October 17, 2010, 09:06:28 am »
I recently fitted a miltek ED30 exhaust to my car, the special tips are always filthy and a git to clean. I use carb and brake cleaner to get the thick off then polish with autosol but it stays clean for all of 10 mins of driving. better to paint them black i thinks???

Spoils the look of a clean car which is a shame :sad1:
..........quick wipe with a soft cloth a couple of times a week will keep on top of it. :happy2:
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Offline GTiBEER

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Re: Exhaust dirty ends???
« Reply #10 on: October 17, 2010, 04:24:11 pm »
Used all my elbow grease and she has come up well!

Used Fairy liquid and a wire brush to get the black crud off and then used that Autosol stuff (thanks 182_blue) and the final result was pleasing but not perfect. I think some stains were never meant to come off but unless you look closely you would say it was shiny!

P.s does anyone know where to get clay as my local Halfrauds is clean outta stock???

Offline stealthwolf

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Re: Exhaust dirty ends???
« Reply #11 on: October 17, 2010, 04:37:48 pm »
Tends to be on car-cleaning websites, such as washshop, autoperfections, elitecarcare, cleanyourcar etc

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Offline TANNER

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Re: Exhaust dirty ends???
« Reply #12 on: October 18, 2010, 08:47:05 pm »
Someone advised me to use a Brillo pad with the soap in to get most of the black off before autosol. Works a treat for me! Splashed out a pound on some Wilco's budget wire wool pads. Bargain!

Offline stealthwolf

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Re: Exhaust dirty ends???
« Reply #13 on: October 18, 2010, 09:28:15 pm »
If you use wirewool, you need to use 00-grade wirewool, or better still, 0000-grade. Wirewool has the propensity to induce scratches on the exhaust, hence a finer grade is less likely to cause problems.

The GTI isn't just a machine. It's very much a living, breathing thing.

Offline GTiBEER

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Re: Exhaust dirty ends???
« Reply #14 on: October 18, 2010, 10:40:38 pm »
I will try the 0000 wire wool pads and when I finally get a fully refurbed chrome looking pipe I can eat my bacon off I will post a pic. As if I didn't have enough geeky habits already, this website adds a whole new dimension and less time with my girlfriend lol!