Carbon build-up on exhaust tips (newbie question)
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Great Falls, VA
2009 CLS63 AMG + 2003.5 M3 e46
Carbon build-up on exhaust tips (newbie question)
Still learning my way around the car. It's been 30 days now since I bought it, and starting to notice how easy carbon is building up on the chrome exhaust tips of my car (sorry about poor picture quality - had to use my iPhone)
Is this normal for this car? And if it is, what's the best way to clean those chrome tips?
Thanks
Is this normal for this car? And if it is, what's the best way to clean those chrome tips?
Thanks
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 808
Likes: 12
From: Mississauga
2016 E550 Cab & 2011 GL 550 & 09 VROD Muscle & 06 Seadoo Speedster LE .......
Use gas with no Ethanol................will solve the problem..............ALSO use some CLR to clean those tips......LoL..
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 250
Likes: 11
---
I clean them just like I do the rest of the car. I bought the car used, so there were 25,xxx miles on it and I'm convinced that no one cleaned the exhaust pipes. I used some 1600 grit sand paper and some various chrome polishes to the clean it up. Looks good as new.
Now when I polish the car (Klasse) I put a coat on the tips and I also put a coat of P21S wax on when I'm waxing the rest of the vehicle. Takes an extra 30 seconds of time and looks great.
Now when I polish the car (Klasse) I put a coat on the tips and I also put a coat of P21S wax on when I'm waxing the rest of the vehicle. Takes an extra 30 seconds of time and looks great.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,437
Likes: 43
From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
Pressure wash it, I have the same issue with my tips and it comes right off with a pressure washer as long as you do it on a regular basis otherwise it gets baked on and you will need to use chemicals and/or some sort of abrasive to remove it.
Trending Topics
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
cls55
I read that there is different grades of steel wool and the one to get is the 0000 grade which is super fine. I bought some from walmart the other day but haven't tried it yet. fyi it was in the home paint section next to the sand paper, for a few bucks 
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 808
Likes: 12
From: Mississauga
2016 E550 Cab & 2011 GL 550 & 09 VROD Muscle & 06 Seadoo Speedster LE .......
Shell V- Power is non Ethanol all over the world.....n dipping the tips in CLR will solve that issue they will be spankin....
Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Washington St.
Chevy Cavalier(206,000 miles)
I have had a lot of success with Armour All Wheel Cleaner. It removes brakes dust, you spray it on the chrome tips and wipe off. It also cleans inside of the tips. My chrome tips look brand new and I have very little carbon inside of my tips.
