Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Thursday March 28, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
NASIOC
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC General > Car Care & Detailing

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-12-2020, 05:19 PM   #26
oichan
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 492327
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: A car lounge in the midwest
Vehicle:
19 WRX 16 STI
17Mk7R 20Supra 20Forester

Default

I use either Griot's metal polish or just Wenol for pot and pans. Works just as good.
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
oichan is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Old 02-14-2020, 11:18 AM   #27
Fndragn
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 470845
Join Date: Jul 2017
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Iowa
Vehicle:
2011 Sti
DGM

Default

For what it’s worth I now have the exhaust from the OP. He gave it to me in exchange for installing his muffler deletes. I had it looking good as new in a couple hours. I used simple green to get the big stuff loose. Then just used some meguires billet polish by hand. I didn’t even need to use my power balls. Unfortunately it went in my wife’s new 2020 wrx, she was t boned by a red light runner on there phone and the new car is a total lose. It had 2,800 miles. I managed to pull all aftermarket part except clear bra, tint, and the freshly retrofitted headlights.
Fndragn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-23-2020, 11:12 PM   #28
kyle4103
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 513795
Join Date: Apr 2020
Default buffing compound

you can try some general buffing compound on a rag, with some elbow grease this will work.
kyle4103 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2020, 06:12 PM   #29
jsulse
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 514285
Join Date: Apr 2020
Default

Try some standard metal polish that can be purchased at local hardware store
jsulse is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2020, 08:10 AM   #30
cory045
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 514704
Join Date: May 2020
Default

+1 on the #0000 steel wool
cory045 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2020, 06:50 PM   #31
RykerMcdermot
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 514576
Join Date: May 2020
Default

steel wool is literally magic and costs less than one hour of working minimum wage.
RykerMcdermot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2020, 05:20 PM   #32
Weedlen
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 455943
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Bend, Oregon
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bizzlezx10r View Post
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?

https://imgur.com/GgCBwTx
https://imgur.com/JuP6R07

i like the mcguire cone on a drill will chrome polish
Weedlen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2020, 01:25 PM   #33
Dubclutcher
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 515015
Join Date: May 2020
Chapter/Region: BAIC
Location: California
Default

Will be installing my invidia q300 tmr. Thanks for the helpful tips to keep the quad babies clean!
Dubclutcher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2020, 12:07 PM   #34
JDAM_37
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 400736
Join Date: Sep 2014
Default

I ended up using wheel/brake dust cleaner to break up all the carbon. It took several cleanings to actually break it all up, then follow it with a polish using Mothers products.
JDAM_37 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2020, 12:57 PM   #35
j1derly
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 515255
Join Date: Jun 2020
Default

Steel wool and some nail polish remover/acetone seems to work wonders believe it or not
j1derly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2020, 09:59 AM   #36
Chiba
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 368677
Join Date: Sep 2013
Chapter/Region: E. Canada
Location: E. Canada
Vehicle:
2013 WRX
Pearly White

Default

I hear that the 0000 steel wool + one of metal polishes will work wonders.
Chiba is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2020, 03:28 PM   #37
STInmyeye
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 515685
Join Date: Jun 2020
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fndragn View Post
For what it’s worth I now have the exhaust from the OP. He gave it to me in exchange for installing his muffler deletes. I had it looking good as new in a couple hours. I used simple green to get the big stuff loose. Then just used some meguires billet polish by hand. I didn’t even need to use my power balls. Unfortunately it went in my wife’s new 2020 wrx, she was t boned by a red light runner on there phone and the new car is a total lose. It had 2,800 miles. I managed to pull all aftermarket part except clear bra, tint, and the freshly retrofitted headlights.
Saddest story ever. I always think about that when I am working on my car and house. All that work and some joker with a cell phone can erase it with no warning.
STInmyeye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2020, 01:25 AM   #38
gabec408
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 511378
Join Date: Feb 2020
Default

just dont use baking soda
gabec408 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2020, 11:57 AM   #39
Powderhunter
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 338131
Join Date: Nov 2012
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Vehicle:
2003 wrx wagon
black

Default

I used Barkeepers friend with a blue scotch brite pad when my exhaust was off and it worked great
Powderhunter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2020, 02:36 PM   #40
Ginjasaur
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 516126
Join Date: Jun 2020
Default

I've always had good results with a green kitchen scrubbing pad and mothers metal polish. If the build up was really really bad I have used 0000 steel wool. I have yet to find a method that is quick or easy though.
Ginjasaur is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2020, 05:22 PM   #41
Stephene100
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 518878
Join Date: Sep 2020
Default

Glad I found this thread. I was wondering how I can clean my exhaust!
Stephene100 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2020, 02:13 AM   #42
Antony44
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 513199
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: New York
Vehicle:
2017
whate

Default

The exhaust is not cleanable. At the factory, a special layer is applied to make the second octave DO and FA notes more juicy. Otherwise, the exhaust melody will be fake.
When the exhaust is completely clean, it will sound like DO SOL.
Antony44 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2020, 08:44 AM   #43
D-rock240
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 284221
Join Date: May 2011
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: West of Baltimore, MD
Vehicle:
2011 WRX GV SSM
2013 MacLeod

Default

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.
Quote:
Originally Posted by futureboy40 View Post
eagle one never dull
Quote:
Originally Posted by mxbowler95 View Post
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.
Another one for NevrDull, that product is great.
D-rock240 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2021, 10:48 AM   #44
blue-sun
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 15934
Join Date: Mar 2002
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Yorkville, IL
Vehicle:
2021 GTI
Cornflower Blue

Default

Cross Posting from an Off Topic Detailing Thread:

Quote:
Originally Posted by blue-sun View Post
A couple of days ago I wrote up a "How To Polish Exhaust" for a local forum, even though it's not limited to just Chicagoland members. We recently got a member from Australia or New Zeeland (it was one of the 2, I can't remember exactly)

Figured I'd share:

https://www.thechicagogarage.com/thr...xhaust.176833/
blue-sun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2021, 03:02 PM   #45
17WRXDGM
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 525213
Join Date: Jun 2021
Default

I have been detailing cars for a long time and have always had good luck with this process for exhaust tips especially on my 17 WRX. It is involved but by doing it this way you don't have to spend as much time cleaning them throughout the year as they will stay cleaner longer.

1. Clean the tips with a wheel cleaner or all purpose cleaner and soft bristle brushes. ( I do this after I have cleaned all my wheels so no contaminants from the tips are on my brushes/bucket when I am doing my wheels).
2. Use 0000 steel wool and that same cleaner for the spots that have any staining.
3. Dry the tips.
4. Use Mother's or Meguiar's Metal and Aluminum polish on a dry piece of 0000 steel wool and work in the spots you want to become shinier.
5. Wipe off the excess polish with a microfiber towel using some elbow grease.
6. Apply a coating of your choice to the tips. I will use the wax/finishing product that I am planning to use on the paint of the car on the tips. This final step creates a barrier for future dirt to sit on top of so that the next time you wash the car, the dirt from the tips will rinse off with minimal effort, most of the time just from the water from the hose/pressure washer.

I do this process twice a year and the rest of the time it is an easy rinse off.

Hope this helps someone!
17WRXDGM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2021, 05:04 PM   #46
jaketheenglish
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 525200
Join Date: Jun 2021
Vehicle:
202 WRX
White Pearl

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bizzlezx10r View Post
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?

https://imgur.com/GgCBwTx
https://imgur.com/JuP6R07


Some metal polish and a speed brush works great!
jaketheenglish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-12-2021, 10:02 AM   #47
aprtunedb5a4
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 315332
Join Date: Apr 2012
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: Central New York
Vehicle:
2020 WRX STi Limited
Silver

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by gfxguy View Post
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.
I second this as its exactly what i do as well to clean mine, also I like to then wipe it down with a microfiber cloth on the outside of it afterwards to give it that extra love.
aprtunedb5a4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2021, 07:46 AM   #48
Vichewski
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 526854
Join Date: Oct 2021
Chapter/Region: International
Location: Russia
Vehicle:
2016 WRX S4
Red

Default

I'm use Autosol (hand wax)
Vichewski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2021, 03:13 PM   #49
car_freak85
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 13530
Join Date: Dec 2001
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Cascadia
Vehicle:
EA63 , EA81T, EJ20G,
EJ205

Default

My Stromung was looking old so I just dug around my bin 'o' detailing supplies and pulled out a can of chrome polish that was older than me.

It worked ok, but required a ton of elbow grease. After using that up, I moved on to a small tin of Mother's wheel polish that had to be 17 years old by now. It was oxidizing and the top layer was dry, but it worked better than the vintage chrome polish.

Now she's looking good enough to re-hang in the gravel and salt spray under my car. This is all to say that it really doesn't matter what you use to polish your exhaust, any kind of polish that is metal-safe will do the job, even if it's 40-years-old.
car_freak85 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2022, 12:36 AM   #50
GoFrogs
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 507317
Join Date: Oct 2019
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: SW Ohio
Vehicle:
2019 WRX
Pure Red

Default

I have the AWE Touring with the 4" polished/chrome tips and they haven't been chrome since week 2 after installation.

I just roll with them sooted up as it is a pain to clean (even wheel cleaner has a tough time) and I really don't feel like taking each tip off to clean.

I'm not impressing anyone with clean tips, plus the darkened tips are stealth like and I didn't pay the extra $100 for the black chrome.

I a eventually get around to clean them nice so they shine again. I have the blue coral metal polish and plenty of microfiber cloths waiting. If summer is nice, and I have the time, I might make the tips chrome again...maybe.

It really is a never ending battle keeping them clean.
GoFrogs is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:51 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.