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Old 08-21-2019, 11:30 AM   #1
bizzlezx10r
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Default Cleaning exhaust tips? (In/Out)

I bought my WRX a month ago with the SPT exhaust already on it. Sounds great but they look absolutely terrible. Also when I get on it I’m getting a lot of sulfur smell.

I’ve been watching videos on how to clean it but I feel like none of exhausts in the videos are as bad as mine. Has anybody attempted to clean the inside of the exhaust with a wire wheel attached to a drill?

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Last edited by bizzlezx10r; 08-21-2019 at 11:38 AM. Reason: Title change
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Old 08-21-2019, 03:08 PM   #2
joesstripclub
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I would start with some metal polish like mothers. You can also get their powerball or whatever attachments they have now, which is a foam polishing pad that attaches to a drill and is made for polishing wheels, but would work great on the inside of exhaust pipes. A wire wheel will ruin your tips for sure. You may have to step up to steel wool if the polish doesnt cut it.
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Old 08-21-2019, 03:15 PM   #3
gfxguy
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My SPT exhaust was also in pretty bad shape when I bought it. I was able to restore it with some Meguiars Ultimate Compound and a Mother’s PowerCone.
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Old 08-21-2019, 03:32 PM   #4
bigbenp
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On my first STi, I used 0000 steel wool to clean up the soot and then shined it up with Nevr-Dull. Took some elbow grease, but it looked nice afterward.
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Old 08-22-2019, 03:25 AM   #5
brylemr
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I use Flitz Metal Polish and a Daytona Speedbrush to clean the inside.
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Old 08-22-2019, 09:10 AM   #6
gaugeof12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigbenp View Post
On my first STi, I used 0000 steel wool to clean up the soot and then shined it up with Nevr-Dull. Took some elbow grease, but it looked nice afterward.
Pretty similar. I used a green kitchen scrub pad along with the steel wool and then w/e metal polish i had on the shelf in the garage.
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Old 08-22-2019, 09:13 AM   #7
jasonwrx86
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Mother's metal polish.
Be careful of green scotch pads, they can put scratches into polished tips.
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Old 08-22-2019, 11:00 AM   #8
bizzlezx10r
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jasonwrx86 View Post
Mother's metal polish.
Be careful of green scotch pads, they can put scratches into polished tips.
Thanks everybody!

I don't think the exhaust is polished. Does anybody know what material it is from the pictures? It almost looks like the same material that exhausts from early 2000's street bikes were made out of. Like that dull, heavy metal.
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Old 08-22-2019, 12:45 PM   #9
TifosiWA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bizzlezx10r View Post
Thanks everybody!

I don't think the exhaust is polished. Does anybody know what material it is from the pictures? It almost looks like the same material that exhausts from early 2000's street bikes were made out of. Like that dull, heavy metal.
IIRC, the SPT exhaust systems are stainless steel with brushed finish, that's why you will never be able to get it to shine like you can with polished SS or chrome exhaust tips.

You can clean it with any of the above mentioned products, personally, I use Blue Magic (https://bluemagicusa.com/) that are readily available at most auto parts stores.
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Old 09-09-2019, 02:43 PM   #10
MarcWinkman
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I use a little bit of Hoppes No. 9 (bore solvent that can be had from any gun shop or the hunting section of your local sporting goods store) with a green Scotchbrite pad. Get some of the solvent on a shop rag and let it soak onto the surfaces you want to clean for a couple of minutes then scrub clean with the Scotchbrite pad. Simple, inexpensive solution, and a large bottle of bore solvent will do the task many times over. To bring back some luster, I use Adams Metal Polish. Makes my exhaust tips look new again. In full disclosure, I do have polished stainless tips on my Cobb exhaust, but either way, this methodology will also work with the brushed tips on the SPT exhaust.
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Old 09-15-2019, 06:08 PM   #11
seattleslow
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigbenp View Post
On my first STi, I used 0000 steel wool to clean up the soot and then shined it up with Nevr-Dull. Took some elbow grease, but it looked nice afterward.
I wish I thought of that. I kept scrubbing, and scrubbing, and scrubbing with chrome cleaning products. That must shave a lot of time off.
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Old 09-16-2019, 09:50 AM   #12
bizzlezx10r
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Quote:
Originally Posted by seattleslow View Post
I wish I thought of that. I kept scrubbing, and scrubbing, and scrubbing with chrome cleaning products. That must shave a lot of time off.
I'm bout to hit it with that 4 Grit if it keeps being so stubborn as it is.
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Old 09-17-2019, 11:14 PM   #13
TriAxis 6
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Superclean @ 3:1 let dwell for a few mins. Agitate with a stiff bristle brush and rinse. That should get the schmutz off. Then I’d go after it with a higher quality metal polish like angelwax alchemy
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Old 11-06-2019, 09:45 AM   #14
mng17
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some fine steel wool, simple green, and a lot of patiences
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Old 11-10-2019, 01:47 PM   #15
GC8RA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mng17 View Post
some fine steel wool, simple green, and a lot of patiences
Recently used this method also
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Old 11-12-2019, 05:36 PM   #16
gt58
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simple green then #0000 Steel Wool then used some leftover Brasso I had laying around. applied it by hand and let it sit for a while. came back and cleaned it off. next day went out and bought mothers mag and aluminum polish and a mothers powerball drill attachment. that really really made it shine. midpipe portion closest to the downpipe was still discolored from the heat. axle back portion looked practically brand new

Edit: this was a blitz nur spec R catback btw.
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Old 11-20-2019, 03:20 AM   #17
futureboy40
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eagle one never dull
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Old 11-27-2019, 10:29 AM   #18
WhiteRX09
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Bar Keepers Friend works wonders.
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Old 11-27-2019, 08:43 PM   #19
mxbowler95
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Another one for Eagle One NevrDull for your case, it will clean them in no time.
Use the Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish if you get them shined. I personally use both on my cars, Eagle One first then Mothers.
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Old 12-05-2019, 01:06 PM   #20
Brandon_812221
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I’ve always had luck using one of those foam cones that you can use with a cordless drill and some polish of your choice
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Old 01-08-2020, 08:28 PM   #21
Scorpius
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WhiteRX09 View Post
Bar Keepers Friend works wonders.
Imatrythisoneout.
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Old 01-30-2020, 10:38 PM   #22
jakesubie
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I've always been able to just wipe my exhaust tips clean with a microfiber cloth and optimum no rinse. I guess it helps that I do it every week or two, every time I wash my car.
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Old 02-11-2020, 07:09 AM   #23
Angela626
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joesstripclub View Post
I would start with some metal polish like mothers. You can also get their powerball or whatever attachments they have now, which is a foam polishing pad that attaches to a drill and is made for polishing wheels, but would work great on the inside of exhaust pipes. A wire wheel will ruin your tips for sure. You may have to step up to steel wool if the polish doesnt cut it.
That's true
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Old 02-11-2020, 01:06 PM   #24
rhymeboy89
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I 100% agree with Mothers polish. I have a 02 wrx with a HKS exhaust which I purchased used about 7+ years ago. And any time I polish with Mother's, that tip comes out cleaner then using a rubber (am i allowed to say that or is it too riskay? haha)

Jokes aside, it really does work wonders.
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Old 02-12-2020, 10:40 AM   #25
TriAxis 6
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I’ve had great results with Superclean @3:1 with a semi aggressive brush to get all the crap off and then polish and untarnish with optimum metal polish.

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