MK5 Golf GTI

General => Detailing => Topic started by: Snooze on April 11, 2011, 10:04:43 pm

Title: Tarnished exhaust
Post by: Snooze on April 11, 2011, 10:04:43 pm
Ive had my car just over a year now and my exhaust tips were tarnished when I bought it.  I get very jealous when I see everone elses shiny exhausts!

Can anyone tell me what I can do to clean them up and get them all shiny like they should be?  There must be some gd products out there that will do the job?  Cheers muchly
Title: Re: Tarnished exhaust
Post by: rich83 on April 11, 2011, 10:05:50 pm
Autosol metal polish... and fine 000 grade wire-wool!
Title: Re: Tarnished exhaust
Post by: Russ_leeds on April 11, 2011, 10:10:17 pm
Autosol metal polish... and fine 000 grade wire-wool!

X2 works a treat :happy2:
Title: Re: Tarnished exhaust
Post by: Top Cat on April 11, 2011, 10:11:15 pm
The trick is to give them a good wash first before the polish, saves a lot time.  :wink:
Title: Re: Tarnished exhaust
Post by: stealthwolf on April 11, 2011, 10:14:41 pm
As above, wash'em.

I find engine degreaser and a stiff brush helps get rid of much of the crud, especially on the insides.

Use 0000-grade wirewool and autosol and lots of elbow grease.
Then use a microfibre to buff to a high sheen.
Title: Re: Tarnished exhaust
Post by: rich83 on April 11, 2011, 10:16:25 pm
Just remembered... last time i jet washed my car i sprayed the pipes with billberry wheel cleaner as an experiment and it worked quite well!  :happy2:
Title: Re: Tarnished exhaust
Post by: TagnuT on April 12, 2011, 08:27:15 am
Like the others have said Autosol, but I give my tips a quick squirt of WD40 to get rid of some of the deposits.

Gotta keep your tips polished!!  :signLOL: The number of GTIs and GTs that you see where the car is clean and the exhaust tips are still dirty!! Its nearly as bad as seeing a convertible with its roof up on a nice day.
Title: Re: Tarnished exhaust
Post by: Kalpsn2000 on April 12, 2011, 09:54:43 am
Another thing to add to my ‘GTI To Do List’ for the bank holidays.

Would Brasso do the job?
Title: Re: Tarnished exhaust
Post by: alexperkins on April 12, 2011, 09:56:06 am
Brasso doesnt work particularly well on exhausts, plus it bloody stinks!

I use luster pad personally - brilliant stuff  :happy2:
Title: Re: Tarnished exhaust
Post by: Kalpsn2000 on April 12, 2011, 10:54:49 am
Ok thanks.

Off to purchase some Autosol and 000 wire wool.
Title: Re: Tarnished exhaust
Post by: Gene Hunt on April 12, 2011, 07:12:45 pm
Another thing to add to my ‘GTI To Do List’ for the bank holidays.

Would Brasso do the job?

.......the stuff that comes in a can that is soaked in a soft wadding type stuff works when you have most of the heavy deposit off.Got a tin in the garage & use it all the time for a nice quick clean.
Title: Re: Tarnished exhaust
Post by: seiko on April 12, 2011, 08:33:11 pm
cleaned mine with autosol the weekend, had the car since October and to my surprise after a bit of elbow grease, found out my exhaust is not standard as I thought, it is a milltek, got excited and jacked her up to see how far it went, just cat back, but still pleased lol,
Title: Re: Tarnished exhaust
Post by: Top Cat on April 12, 2011, 08:54:15 pm
cleaned mine with autosol the weekend, had the car since October and to my surprise after a bit of elbow grease, found out my exhaust is not standard as I thought, it is a milltek, got excited and jacked her up to see how far it went, just cat back, but still pleased lol,

Bonus.  :pomppomp:
Title: Re: Tarnished exhaust
Post by: stealthwolf on April 12, 2011, 09:07:16 pm
Remember to tell your insurance!
Title: Re: Tarnished exhaust
Post by: RussZS on April 13, 2011, 12:20:16 pm
It's also worth 'sealing' your exhaust after all of your hard work!

Blackfire Metal Sealant works a treat, and is great on alloys too.
Title: Re: Tarnished exhaust
Post by: alexperkins on April 13, 2011, 12:23:54 pm
That metal sealant is bloody expensive! jesus. Reads well though