Hi All

Anyone have any good tips or advice for removing road tar and dirt from stainless polish tips? Trying to get the original mirror shine back in them.

Many Tks

 

I just painted mine matte black to avoid future problems. I used ceramic paint from the local auto parts place. Still looks good after almost a year and it only takes a swipe when washing the car.

 

I switched mine to chrome. Had the same problem with the original stainless. Could not get them looking new and shinny. The chrome ones can easily be polished and always look great.

 

First remove the tips from the car. Spray them down with an APC-all purpose cleaner and then hit them with a tar/bug remover. I like a brand called Tarminator. Works very well. Then you are going to want to use a metal polish/cleaner on them to bring some brightness back to them. I would then wash them with car shampoo and dry. Re-install!


Now, you can 'coat' them with one of the many ceramic/nano/glass coatings on the market and this will apply a layer of protection on them that will make future cleaning a breeze. It will also 'repel' some dirt/carbon/etc build up on them.


They will not shine like chrome when finished, however, they will be much cleaner and shinier like when new/newer.


Hope this helps!

 

Steel wool and a little water (for brushed metal tips only).

This will make people on this forum probably cringe, but trust me, your tips will look perfect. I have used this method for years with no issues. I discovered it here on 6speed from someone that had a relative in the metal cleaning/manufacturing business.

 

000 steel wool...NOT BRILLO!

 

I ended up painting them black chrome. Duplicolor sells the blackchrome in a can, bought it at pepboys.

 

I use a stainless steel polish from Wallmart. Comes in small can and you tear off small pieces of steel wool with some sort of polish in it. Polish and wipe of with rag. Takes no more that a couple of minutes each side. Works great. Do it about every other weekend

 

If you clean the stainless steel tips often, they're an absolute breeze to keep shiny and manageable. I use WD40 and I've never had a problem keeping them looking brand new. Just spray some onto a towel (or even a paper towel), and wipe away.

 

How long have you had them painted for? Has the finish held up? They look great...better than OEM IMO.

I had my tips professionally painted black (ceramic painting) about a year ago and the finish is already starting to come off. I've only put about 3k miles on the car since I had them painted.

 

I have always used Nevr-Dull on my exhaust tips. It is a wadding polish. It is a rough, cottony looking material with polish impregnated in it. Works great on my GMG exhaust tips. This is for bare to chrome plated metal.

 

Tks guys for the tips. Will give it a try this weekend 👌

 

I use Meguiars NXT Metal Polysh. Works very well.