Maintaining Exhaust Tips

[Lyons]

I have chrome tips on the TT, but due to the fact the car gets washed twice a year the tips are always black with soot when I come to clean them and the stuff doesn't budge with standard car soap. I end up taking wet and dry sandpaper to get rid of it, but the same thing happens come the next wash.

Is there any polish/wax I can put on the tips to help protect them, and make it a bit easier to remove the soot?

I assume my standard Meguiars stage 3 polishing kit () wouldn't do the job? Is something special needed that would stand up to the heat?

 

[tomah]

Some high heat sealant like FK1000p will help a lot.

 

[Coog]

I use autosol every other wash on the GTI exhaust tips. Bit of elbow grease gets them good as new.

 

[Gavlar]

Another vote for Autosol

 

[Boydie]

Wire wool like mad with some autosol then buff with a micro fibre - should lift the majority!

 

[Lyons]

This stuff @Coog?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_176475_langId_-1_categoryId_165527

 

[moorsojr]

i find autosol a little too abrasive, it can dull polished metal, although if you have been doing it with sand paper you probably arent too fussed. my vote would be for Mothers mag and aluminium polish, thats what i use on the accord and cant fault it.

 

[Coog]

Yeah that's the stuff. A good buff brings them up like new. I wouldn't want to use anything harsher than that on the GTI tips as they seem to be plated.

 

[tomah]

Autosol is great for cleaning, but it won't keep them clean. That's where the sealant comes in.

That's my combo. Autosol and FK1000p. Works a treat and lasts for months.

 

[Lyons]

Yeah that's the stuff. A good buff brings them up like new. I wouldn't want to use anything harsher than that on the GTI tips as they seem to be plated.

Aye, the TT ones are too I think. I daren't imagine the damage I've done by sanding them .

 

[Coog]

Where do you get FK1000p? That's the thing that annoys me about the tips. Couple of weeks later and they need rebuffing.

 

[Lyons]

Where would I get this FK1000p stuff Tomah?

 

[bluntcap]

A bit of clay bar to remove any tar etc, I find that works a treat on my exhaust tip

 

[Boydie]

Where would I get this FK1000p stuff Tomah?

Do search and ye shall come across clean your car:

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/sealants/finishkare-1000p-hi-temp-sealant/prod_589.html

 

[tomah]

Where would I get this FK1000p stuff Tomah?

Davey@Procar might have it, but you can get it online from CleanYourCar or ebay.

Edit: as above.

 

[Cooper]

Might give this a go to seal the polished rims on the M3 and the miltek tips.

 

[tomah]

If I was @DaddyC I would give you this link.

 

[Lyons]

Jeepers, it's dear enough!

 

[tomah]

Jeepers, it's dear enough!

And it's a massive tin that lasts for ever. If you're just using it for exhaust tips, ideally you could buy a tin between two or three people and share it out.

 

[Boydie]

A review:

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=86899

 

[Big Pimp]

@Lyons, my old bean. Just how black are they at the minute? How would you like me to give you, for a free trial a wonder product which will clean them like new, with practically no effort?!

 

[Lyons]

I would've liked that more 4 minutes ago, I've just bought some Autosol .

But yes, I'm all for product development etc so would be happy to oblige .

Use of the F word helped too.

And they are black, no chrome in sight.

 

[PeteMoore]

Ian, I have a tin of brasso you can try, never had any issues with it.

Would also be free

 

[ChrisL]

Wire wool like mad with some autosol then buff with a micro fibre - should lift the majority!

Thats what ill be doing with the Cupra before Titanic Dubs

 

[C4L]

I use autosol every so often then apply rim wax (a wheel wax/sealant as its more durable than normal wax), it seems to keep it nice and soot free for longer even though you would think it would burn off :/ But it helps maintain it in my experience