Hey guys, sorry if this has been posted before, but I tried to search on google and on the forum and didn't find much.

I got a Turbo XS Exhaust, and it has some scratches and is dirty. A little discolored too, I don't mind the Y Pipe and Mid pipe looking a little discolored or dirty cause no one sees that. But I want the tips and canister to be clean.

My question is, I know with most exhausts in decent shape, you just use some polish and elbow grease to make it look nice and shiny. If you want to "polish" it, you wetsand it.

What if it has some scrapes/scratches/and is very dirty like below. How do you clean that? Can I use lower grit sandpaper? Does it have to still be wet sanding? Can I use something else besides sandpaper?

I also want to clean the inside of the tips, it's like carbon build up turned it black, would normal wetsanding with 1000 grit to 2000 grit followed by polishing make it look good? Would 1000 grit even take out some of the scratches seen below?


Sorry for the long thread, but please try to help me and don't flame me for not knowing what to do.
John


Here are the pictures.

 

did you try wd40?

 

The exhaust actually isn't with me now, It should get here by Wed/Thurs hopefully. I might clean it off with a cleaner like Simple Green or WD40 (Not sure if that works) lol, but clean it off, then will use some steel wool or wet sanding to get the discoloration/scratches out. Then after that, add some mother's or nevr dull polish wax, and just go to town. This should be a fun project. I'll keep the thread updated with pictures.

 

Cleaned my exhaust up good, and that thing was dirty.

 

I use this stuff on my Greddy Evo2 and it works really well

 

Alright, I am told Nevr Dull is like one of the best. If I can't find it, I'll use Mothers. I already have everything ready, just need the polish and 0000 steel wool.

 

You can see how much Nevr Dull I used, and how it came out. Thing was dusty and grimy before.

 

Well I had the same problem with my stock exhaust... I used:

Brake Cleaner
Steel Wool or Brush
Wenol
Microfiber Cloths.

1. Clean the area with brake cleaner... its good on the carbon and leaves minimal residue

2. Using the wool or brush start removing the carbon and other crap you man have.

3. Apply a good polish... all the ones aformentioned by the other guys are good, I just happen to use Wenol.

4. Your going to have to use alot of polish and your going to have to take a couple breaks b/c your going to be there for a while.

5. Wipe with the Microfiber and... Your done.

Maintain the finish with polish so you wont have to re do what youve just done.

 

and yes 1000 may help a little...

 

I used a 7" polisher and stainless steel compounds that you can get at home depot on my borla to get a mirror shine. Never dull and aluminum polishes did nothing to it. Stainless and titanium are the hardest metals to polish and take alot of work.

 

try cleaning it with Simple Green or Orange Blast Cleaner, then use Nevr Dull...it works wonders

 

For step #1 I would use an inexpensive rubbing compound. Then you can move to a polish.

 

Good idea. 2 step cleaning BEFORE polish.

 

I clean my exhaust with Poorboy's S&W or Simply Green, then use Wenol metal polish and it brings back the reflective qualities of my Borla great.

 

Thanks for all the help guys. But I was planning on cleaning the whole canister to see where the dirty spots and scratches are located. I can't just clean it, and go straight to polish, it has a lot of scratches on the tips, I was planning on using the scotch-brite that is similar to steel wool/sandpaper, which is pretty rough to remove all the discoloration and scratches, then clean it again, then use a smoother/softer scrotch-brite, then clean it again, then finish with some SS cleaning spray I found with the 0000 Wool, then after that is done, I will polish it to give me a clean look.

This looks like it's going to take a bit of work and time, but I'm just concerned about the canister, I will probably just wash the mid pipe/y pipe and give it a quick polish or cleaning cause it'll get dirty in no time.

The inside of the tips too, guessing some normal rough scotch-brite and some cleaning product should do the trick right?

 

Also, I've been reading up on Nevr Dull, Mothers, and Blue Magic. Seem they are all top notch and great. The thing is, if I want to have a very strong cleaning type of polish that doesn't shine as much, Nevr Dull is the answer. Mothers has been proven and tested by some people that is has a MUCH nicer shine/polish. Blue Magic is also good from what I heard. I don't need this sucker to be chrome, I just want it looking decent without scratches and discoloration.

Whatever is cheapest I guess. lol

 

Nevr dull does work wonders. i have top speed and my pipes got differential mount fluid leaked on them and burnt on and pipes where turning that dirty gold color even after scrubbing with soap and brush. so i got never dull and used it on my subframe and pipes and they bling now. i bet if u scotch brite the subframe it could shine to. Nevr Dull FTW

 

Good to know! Yeah, I'm going to just clean it off and find out what I'm dealing with. Then use Nevr Dull to remove the discoloration and dirt on the canister/tips.

The thing is, I want to know what to do to get rid of those nasty scratches on the tips. Any ideas for the scratches?
John

BTW, exhaust is coming Monday. So will have to wait over the weekend and update the thread with before/after pics then.

 

You might have luck with 00 Steel Wool depending on the depth of the scratches.

 

Liar!!