The Essential Guide to Polishing and Cleaning Exhaust Tips

Date Posted: 17 July 2024

When you are detailing your car, what would the end result be if you only focused on the major parts? Let’s say you do the paint, wheels, and windows, and leave dirty exhaust tips as they are. They would be the most eye-catching part of your vehicle, which is what you don’t want. What’s the solution? Cleaning the exhaust tips and giving them a nice polish.

The added benefit is that it also protects them from corrosion and carbon build-up. Polishing and cleaning exhaust tips is a DIY project that is neither difficult nor time-consuming, but there are some steps you should follow to do it properly. That is why we wrote this article - we will explain how to correctly clean your exhaust tips in 4 steps and polish them afterwards to make them as good as new. And we should start by explaining why they turn black.

Why Do Exhaust Tips Turn Black?

As your engine burns fuel, it produces exhaust gases that contain unburned hydrocarbons, carbon particles, and many other contaminants. When these gases exit through the exhaust system, the carbon particles and soot can settle on the inner and outer surfaces of the exhaust tips, thus, the exhaust tips turn black due to the accumulation of soot and carbon deposits.

Additionally, high temperatures from the exhaust gases can cause oil residues and other substances to bake onto the tips, which also contributes to the blackened appearance, but this is not the primary reason, in general. And this applies regardless of the type of fuel you burn or exhaust tips you have.

In other words, it’s inevitable that exhaust tips will blacken with use. This is not a sign that you are experiencing exhaust system issues that you need to fix. You simply need to clean the exhaust tips. However, before we get to that, let’s quickly discuss the different types of exhaust tips you could have.

The Most Common Materials for Exhaust Tips

The back of a vintage Mercedes.

Exhaust tips are most commonly made either from mild steel, chrome-plated mild steel, or stainless steel. Mild steel exhaust tips are the most affordable and easily customisable, however, they are prone to rust and corrosion, making them much less durable than the other two types. Many standard-grade cars come with mild steel tips.

When it comes to aesthetics, mild steel exhaust tips typically cannot be made to shine like chrome or even stainless steel tips. Chrome-plated mild steel offers an attractive, shiny finish and improved resistance to rust compared to plain mild steel, but the plating itself can chip or peel over time, requiring occasional maintenance.

Finally, stainless steel exhaust tips are the most durable, provide the most resistance to rust and corrosion, and can withstand harsh environmental conditions. One advantage of aftermarket exhaust systems is that they typically come with stainless steel tips, so if you’ve ever upgraded your exhaust system, these are likely the ones you have.

Stainless steel tips maintain their appearance longer than other materials and are often preferred for their longevity and low maintenance needs. Another advantage of stainless steel tips is that they can be brought to a shine very similar to chrome tips. When it comes to cleaning these different types of exhaust tips, the process is the same.

The Items You Need for Cleaning Exhaust Tips

For cleaning your exhaust tips, you will need some soap and a bucket of water, a towel you don’t mind getting dirty, grade 0000 steel wool (make sure it’s #0000 steel wool because it’s delicate enough to clean surfaces without damaging them), a wheel cleaner, or a fallout remover that also contains a degreaser (ideally both, if you wish to be truly meticulous).

It would also be good if you had a tyre brush on hand to make everything easier, and it’s recommended that you wear gloves while cleaning your exhaust tips. For polishing, you will need a metal polish, a wheel sealant, and a microfiber cloth.

What About WD-40?

WD-40 is one of the most common multi-purpose lubricants/penetrants/degreasers that most people use for anything vehicle-related, and you likely have it in your garage. However, it’s not ideal for cleaning your exhaust tips. Applying WD-40 will do a better job than if you didn’t apply any product, but it’s only a short-term solution and does not work as well as a wheel cleaner or fallout remover.

Now that you know what you need, let’s talk about how to clean your exhaust tips in 4 steps.

Tips for Cleaning Your Exhaust in 4 Steps

A man preparing for cleaning exhaust tips.

First, clean what you can with soap, water, and your tyre brush - this includes both the inside and outside of the tips. The results won’t be fantastic, but you should see some improvement. Use the towel to clean off any excessive soot and gunk. At this point, it’s advisable to wash your work area so your garage floor or driveway doesn’t stain.

The next step is to apply the wheel cleaner the same way you did soap and water - use your tyre brush to scrub both the inside and outside. Your tips should be looking much better at this point. The next step is to apply the fallout remover (if you have it)—spray the inside and outside and let it sit for a minute or two.

The fallout remover should break down all the remaining caked soot, and you can remove it with your tyre brush. At this point, your exhaust tips should be looking almost new. To be ultra meticulous, give the exhaust tips a final scrubbing with the steel wool to remove any remaining soot. Finally, wipe them down, and you’re finished with cleaning the exhaust tips.

Polishing Your Exhaust Tips

After cleaning exhaust tips, there is no reason not to polish them to keep them pristine, is there? So, apply the polish evenly over the tips. Work the polish in with the steel wool and follow up with the microfiber cloth to remove any potential scratches caused by the steel wool. At this point, your exhaust tips should be shining as if they just left the factory floor. Finish up with the wheel sealant and keep your tips shiny for as long as possible. You are done cleaning and polishing your exhaust tips.

Upgrade Your Exhaust Tips

You are likely cleaning exhaust tips because you are the type of person who likes to have a finely detailed and pristinely maintained vehicle. However, there is only so much you can do if you have low-grade or old exhaust tips. So instead of spending time and energy on cleaning old exhaust tips, consider upgrading them.

At Perform-Ex Auto, we have a wide range of aftermarket exhaust tips for you to choose from. You will find exhaust tips in different pipe cuts with many inlet and outlet dimensions. You will also find everything you need to upgrade to a performance exhaust system, from universal & direct-fit catalytic converters to all kinds of exhaust accessories.

We only supply exhaust parts from the world’s leading automotive brands, and all of the products come with a genuine warranty. Whatever it is you need, simply place the order online, and we will deliver it to your address. In case you need assistance with the proper fit for your vehicle’s make and model or have any other questions, contact us, and we will respond as soon as possible.