DIY Exhaust tip cleaning

**bcramer** · 10-12-2008 08:40 PM

I searched and didn't see anything out there regarding this, so I figured I do a write-up.

This is a very easy process and is also pretty cheap. I ended up spending about 5 minutes on each tip and I don't think the previous owner ever cleaned them. So it was about 3 years and 24,000 miles worth of wear.

Products Needed:

- Steel Wool (Not an SOS pad)
- Flitz Steel Polish (This is what made it really easy)
- Old Micro-Fiber or Rag
- Latex or Rubber gloves (optional)
- Empty Bucket (optional)

You can pick up Steel Wool at almost any hardware store and latex/rubber gloves at your local Rite Aid or Walgreens. I'm not sure where to pick up Flitz at as we just had it in our garage. My best guess would be a hardware store like Home Depot or Ace.

Procedure:

1. Put on your gloves if you're going to use them. If you choose not to, then your hands will be beyond dirty and it's a PIA to clean them.

2. Set your bucket on the ground next to your first exhaust tip upside down so you have a seat.

3. Pull about a nickel sized piece of steel wool and dip a portion of it into the Flitz container. You do not want a lot of Flitz. It's one of those few products where less is more.

4. Then just rub your exhaust tips with the steel wool. You will start to see the grime and baked on crap come off. If your piece of steel wool gets too broken down or dirty tear off another nickel sized piece and dip it in the Flitz. I ended up using two pieces, one for each tip.

5. Every once in a while I wiped down the exhaust tip with my old Micro-Fiber cloth to really check my progress. I wiped them down again when I was done to remove all the loose grime and dirt.

I hope someone finds this useful and good luck!

Also, I have the stock exhaust tips. I do not know if this process will work on aftermarket exhaust tips. Especially the diamond black ones that are quite popular.

Pictures:

Before:

After:

Progress:

*I am in no way responsible for any damage/harm you cause to your car or yourself by following this write-up. This process worked well for me and may need to be altered to suite your needs.

**B6JoeS4** · 10-12-2008 09:42 PM

What also works well is Mothers metal polish. I used it on my 2002 A4 with 52,000 miles and with some elbow grease, i was able to make my tips look like chrome.

**p1nk50ck** · 10-12-2008 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by B6JoeA4

What also works well is Mothers metal polish. I used it on my 2002 A4 with 52,000 miles and with some elbow grease, i was able to make my tips look like chrome.

i second that. my exhaust was caked in black crap and looked corroded to all hell. with a little bit of effort and some mother's metal polish, it looked brand new. i was floored at how good of a product it was.

**akasch** · 10-12-2008 10:15 PM

Nice write up I need to do this. Mine are getting pretty gross

**supamannn99** · 10-12-2008 10:46 PM

nice writeup!

**EMAXX** · 10-12-2008 11:10 PM

What I've found also works really well when you're cleaning you exhaust is if you have some tar or little specks of dirt, use a razor blade and scrape. The steel wool is good, but doesn't get everything.

**RedS-line** · 10-13-2008 06:23 PM

nothing seemed to work on my blackened stock tips so i cut the suckers off, installed new tips, and clean / maintain them with heavy duty degreaser and metal polish. looks like new now

**bcramer** · 10-13-2008 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by RedS-line

nothing seemed to work on my blackened stock tips so i cut the suckers off, installed new tips, and clean / maintain them with heavy duty degreaser and metal polish. looks like new now

Haha, that's definitely one way to do it!

**Audi Juice** · 10-13-2008 09:09 PM

I use steel wool and mothers at the same time. Polish by itself, and you are in for some serious work. Need something abrasive to do the trick for sure. Steel wool has many different levels, all indicated by 0's. I usually use the 00 grade.

**Phrost** · 10-13-2008 11:16 PM

Test pipe crew with permablack exhaust tips holla

**supamannn99** · 10-13-2008 11:58 PM

lol

**Mr.Audi** · 10-14-2008 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by Phrost

Test pipe crew with permablack exhaust tips holla

i am def in that crew!! BUt i really am gonna try and clean mine up, just to make them look nice.

**VMRSport** · 10-14-2008 11:35 AM

I don't think I've cleaned my exhaust tips once, since purchasing it. Probably 3-4 years worth of carbon build up on it right now, haha. Keeps the attention away from it, especially from cops.