MK5 Golf GTI

General => Detailing => Topic started by: Moz on March 05, 2012, 10:15:00 pm

Title: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: Moz on March 05, 2012, 10:15:00 pm
As title really guys, the cars in great nick, apart from the rear tailpipes which are brown and rusted.

Never cleaned anything like that before, is there any recommended specific products I can use?

Thanks as always chaps.
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: rich83 on March 05, 2012, 10:18:26 pm
Fine wire wool... and autosol (or other) metal polish
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: Top Cat on March 05, 2012, 10:23:44 pm
A good tip is to thoroughly wash it first before the autosol and elbow grease, sounds obvious but lots of people dive straight in and it gets messy.  :happy2:
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: Moz on March 05, 2012, 10:37:10 pm
Suppose that makes sense, will pick up some of that Autosol mate.

Appreciate help chaps.
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: ktlstar on March 05, 2012, 10:39:53 pm
autosol gets my vote!
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: andrewparker on March 05, 2012, 10:40:10 pm
I always use an engine degreaser with a foaming head before getting to work with the metal polish. Just let it dwell for 5 minutes or so then rinse off.
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: Deako on March 05, 2012, 10:48:57 pm
I have Optimum Metal Polish, which is liquid, very thin and less abrasive than autosol. Autosol can get heavy deposits out, but you want something much finer for restoring that bling to the exhaust afterwards.
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: Hedge on March 05, 2012, 10:57:49 pm
My Milltek gets very stained and corroded. It looks pretty shocking without a visit from the green scourer.

Good job it's stainless I say.  :fighting: :fighting: :fighting: :fighting: :fighting:
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: LC_15 on March 07, 2012, 09:58:03 am
Autosol mate best stuff ever i used it and mine came up amazing
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: rich83 on March 07, 2012, 11:42:47 am
My Milltek gets very stained and corroded. It looks pretty shocking without a visit from the green scourer.

Good job it's stainless I say.  :fighting: :fighting: :fighting: :fighting: :fighting:

My exhaust goes black within about 500miles.  :sad1:
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: stealthwolf on March 07, 2012, 04:35:35 pm
As above degreaser to remove the build up and then buff with MF and metal polish. Use 0000 grade wirewool if you really have to.
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: MC71 on March 08, 2012, 07:05:44 pm
Autosol everytime or/and get a new milltek!!!!!! :happy2:
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: Mk5 GTian on March 11, 2012, 07:20:36 am

I'm using Gunk foam engine degreasant (6.99 from Halfords) to get the worst of the black off with fine wire wool, but  it's hard work. Then the autosol to finish, but I've not started that yet.
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: Gene Hunt on March 11, 2012, 07:06:43 pm
I've heard oven cleaner is a good start when it's really bad?.
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: Mk5 GTian on March 11, 2012, 07:16:29 pm

Chuffed to bits with the autosol! And my mate came round and got some awful marks off his chrome side bars on his V6 Nissan Murano!
 
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: andrewparker on March 11, 2012, 09:23:04 pm
Baby oil is also very good at restoring shine on stainless steel surfaces. I use it after AG Metal Polish.
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: Spikey on March 11, 2012, 10:12:20 pm
Attacked mine with scotch bright and the Autosol and it looks miles better now.  Only spent around 20 minutes on it so needs some more  elbow grease to get it gleaming. Standard exhaust by the way :)
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: Moz on March 14, 2012, 07:22:43 pm
Super stuff will be heading out for Autosol on Saturday then :)

Cheers all  :driver:
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: dan930 on March 15, 2012, 01:24:25 pm
Where do u buy the wire wool from??
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: andrewparker on March 15, 2012, 01:27:09 pm
Where do u buy the wire wool from??

You can probably get some from the supermarket. I got a pack from Clean Your Car. It costs next to nothing.
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: Gene Hunt on March 15, 2012, 01:29:23 pm
Where do u buy the wire wool from??

You can probably get some from the supermarket. I got a pack from Clean Your Car. It costs next to nothing.
.......brilo pads. :laugh:
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: stealthwolf on March 15, 2012, 03:06:32 pm
Don't for the love of god get cheapo wirewool. It will cause marks to the exhaust - it's like taking 200 grit sandpaper to your car when you really only needed 3000 grit.

Get 0000-grade wirewool. Halfrauds do them but in a mixed bag with other grades. Alternatively, buy online.
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: MC71 on March 16, 2012, 05:34:10 pm
Where do u buy the wire wool from??

Fleebay, 0000 grade, about £4 Inc p+p for a shed load of the stuff, you will be pulling things out of the shed to buff up just because you can!  :happy2:
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: ub7rm on March 17, 2012, 10:10:36 pm
Where do u buy the wire wool from??

You can probably get some from the supermarket. I got a pack from Clean Your Car. It costs next to nothing.
.......brilo pads. :laugh:

I have to admit I use brillo pads when its bad followed by autoglym metal polish.  Looks a million time better but its not a show car.
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: Mk5 GTian on March 18, 2012, 10:32:21 am
Where do u buy the wire wool from??

Brewers decorating merchants. One in most big towns.
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: SRC on March 18, 2012, 11:30:06 am
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fbb331%2FSRC25%2Felbowgrease.jpg&hash=da5d920db6a0eb47a3422b036e1876b86e47e6b0)
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: Eccie on March 25, 2012, 06:49:09 pm
Cleaned my Tips with Autosol today


(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Ftt60%2Fgpe%2F0a819c50.jpg&hash=5d1d86041cf95ee9e2333a7a636d2f3aa8a62f5b)
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: Frenzy on March 25, 2012, 10:30:17 pm
top work eccie  :happy2: i need to do mine again, they're filthy  :sad1:
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: essoman on June 14, 2012, 12:57:48 pm
Before and after shots of my standard exhaust tips,I used Autosol metal cleaner and very fine grade(0000) metal wool and lots of elbow grease !




(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fj419%2Fessomangti%2F2011-06-16153526.jpg&hash=22544fb0bb68a5961dffa480d2c880df5a518b75)
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fj419%2Fessomangti%2F2011-06-16162347.jpg&hash=09832fa3ad0f0add588edb427f58e75a1dfdd780)
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: AndyED30 on June 15, 2012, 09:23:19 am
Get them clean...........................

Then spend 30 seconds cleaning it with a MF cloth every time you put the car away and you need no bother with any elbow grease nonsense!  :jumpmove:
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: mvb12 on June 15, 2012, 10:49:01 am
i used fine wire wool and a silvo on mine, put some snaps on my build thread too.   :happy2:

will get some of this autosol and try that. Also heard Astonish (think its an oven cleaner) does the job quite well.
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: scopes on June 15, 2012, 11:41:57 am
http://www.waitrose.com/shop/ProductView-10317-10001-35540-Brasso+metal+polish+wadding?gclid=CPzEw6KH0LACFSYhtAodK03RXg

Brasso polish wire wool together, that works too...
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: Gene Hunt on June 15, 2012, 01:21:24 pm
Oven pride oven cleaner works a treat also. :smiley:
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: Frenzy on June 17, 2012, 10:34:16 pm
Dunno if this is naughty or not but after 8 months i'd allowed my pipes to get pretty dirty with lots of carbon build up. I couldn't be arsed to go through the same rigmarole as i did the first time, it took ages to get them shiny, so i just squirted some Bilberry Wheel cleaner on them, left it to agitate for 5 mins and then washed off and pretty shiny with minimal effort  :laugh: I guess i could get the autosol on them now to really finish the job off but i cannae be bothered...  :chicken:
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: stealthwolf on June 17, 2012, 11:36:19 pm
In all honesty, the exhaust tips is one of those details that I hate doing and hence do separately.
Title: Re: Best products for cleaning dirty exhaust?
Post by: Jogon on June 18, 2012, 07:57:10 am
I use petrol to get the worst off , place an old cloth over the top of my green petrol container , tip upside down , let the rag soak up a little petrol , then wipe pipes (be careful only use on cold pipes) , gets 90% of the job done (in seconds , hardly any elbow grease required) , then small amount of polish to give a great shine  :happy2: