Exhaust tips can sometime be an area that is often overlooked. The tips can sometimes make or break the rear view of any car. This write-up will walk you through the correct and safe technique of properly cleaning and conditioning most exhaust tips. The method below will work on any aluminum and chrome tip. If you have specific questions about your exhaust tips, please PM me prior to attempting the technique below.

Initial Condition









Step 1

Wipe down inside tips to remove initial carbon deposit using GP Yellow Microfiber Towel



After initial wipedown. This helps remove most of the soot sitting inside the tips



Notice the hard water spots etched on the outer surface of the tips

 

Step 2

Spray P21S Total Auto Wash inside and outside of the tips. The gentle citrus-based formula will begin breaking down the carbon deposit and hard water spots on the outside of the tips



Using latex gloves, take a small piece of OOOO steel wool and begin cleaning the inside and outside of the tips. Use gentle pressure initially and increase pressure as needed. Let the product and wool do most of the work



After wiping down with steel wool and P21S Total Auto Wash



GP Yellow Microfiber Towel before wiping off tips after cleaning with P21S Total Auto Wash and steel wool



Tips after wipedown



Most would, and could, stop after this step. However, being OCD, I still see room for improvement



Towel after wipe down

 

Step 3

Zymol Metall is a mild and effective metal polish. It safely cleans all types of metal without any caustic fumes or harsh chemicals. This is an all-natural product that comes in a towelette. The strawberry and cream scent is just delicious



Allow Metall to sit for about 3-5 minutes




Here's the towelette after wiping the inside and outside of the tips. As you can see, there was some residue left behind





Using a GP Yellow Microfiber Towel, wipe off Metall to a brilliant shine and luster



Final Result

 

Great write up Moe. Fantastic "tips" for sure

 

Moe,
I'll never look at exhaust tips the same way again. Thanks for the tips, so to speak.

 

Thanks Pat

 

Glad you found this of value. Tips are usually and area that may be overlooked, but it makes such a difference when detailed properly.

 

Here's another set of tips that are powder coated. I simply cleaned them with the P21S TAW and OOOO Wool on the inside and just TAW on the outside. No Metall should be used on tips like this.

 

I got a resonse on my BB but I don't see it here...The question was about the inside tips of the 997 Turbo being black...The answer is yes. The inside of the turbo tips are black and using OOOO wool will remove the factory paint. I learned that the hard way You can use the TAW to clean inside the tips and the OOOO wool will work excellent on the outside of the tips. Also, you can touch up the insode of the tips if they're showing age by cleaning them well, and sraying High Temp Flat Black Paint. Make sure it's high temp paint and it's satin finish, I used Dupli Color that you can find at auto parts store.

 

I use a very similar procedure to this and they look great when they are first cleaned, but unfortunately, they get all black after the first time i drive the car!!! Guess i'm running a bit rich

 

If you make it part of your routine and clean the pipes, the carbon won't be difficult to remove.

 

Thanks for the write up. Have you seen that Menzenra has a metal polish now. Have you tried it out?

 

Awesome write-up and results I'm going out to the garage to take care of mine now! My poor baby's previous owner neglected her tips Also neglected her alloys...what do you recommend to remove baked-on stubborn brake and road grime??? Will the P21S work for that too? Obviously not steel wool...

 

Glad to hear this thread inspired you The TAW should work well on your wheels. Post a picture if you can and I can better diagnose.

 

amazing. i must do this to my exhaust