You might try a REALLY harsh solvent, but even then...

The "blacK" is unfortunately the nasty stuff from the combustion process that has literally been baked onto/into the metal.

You could try soaking a scouring pad in xylene or toulene, those are as strong a solvent as you can get. They are sometimes relabeled and/or blended to by slightly less carcinogenic, but these are really unheathly. You have to use chemical proof gloves and be very careful to avoid breathing the stuff.

You might find them in "laquer thinner" too.

Solvents MIGHT work, but I would not count on it.

The only sure way to remove the "black" is with a bead blaster, and really that is not practical to do very often, as even a skilled operator will eventually remove some metal and thin out the tip.

Of course with either the harsh solvent or the blaster you need to remove the tip -- the risk of getting solvent on a painted surface is too great, and blasters for even the smallest parts still have a lot of overspay.

It be more cost effective to just replace the tips every few years.

 

when i was younger one of my friends worked for an auto detailing shop. They detailed used cars for car dealerships. They would spray paint the exhaust pipes to make them look new.

 

Try Eagle One "NevrDull" wadding polish. It restores the appearance on all metal finishes and works well on the metal tailpipes.

 

If you have chrome tips, spray them with window cleaner then scrub gently with a low abrasive grade of steel wool (like 00 or 000). If your tips are not chrome use wheel cleaner and the steel wool.

Do not try polishing or painting until you get all the buildup off.

 

I give the tips a squirt with Simple Green as I go around the wet car spraying the wheels and sidesteps. Then When I get to the back I use a nylon brush to softly scrub them.

 

Thanks for all your responses. I will try your suggestions one at a time til I got it shiny again.

 

Try carb cleaner. Spray some on a rag and then wipe the exhaust tip. I've always done this with my motorcycles with good success.

-Alan

 

Please let us know what works!

 

BUMP

Anyone have any more ideas or RESULTS with the aformentioned? I was thinking steel wool 0000 and rubbing compound, or windex

LET ME KNOW, I will also get back to you on the steel wool.

 

There is a paste type polish called chrome polish. Use that.

I have never had a stain stay behind. Use a terry cloth in a back and forth motion, and don't be afraid to use to much pressure.

 

Anyone have any more ideas or RESULTS with the aformentioned?

Yes!!!

Like I said months ago, window cleaner and fine grade steel wool!

I'm not making it up, I know it works and have cleaned literally hundreds of tailpipes this way.

If the buildup is minimal, you could probably use some kind of metal polish like a few people mentioned. But if its something that has been accumulating for awhile just go to Home Depot, buy some 000 grade steel wool, spritz your tailpipes with windex and slowly work away the build-up.

If you don't have time to run to the hardware store, I'm sure you have some other mildly abrasive substance around the house that you can use to agitate the stain....like the pot-scrubbing side of a kitchen sponge , the scrub side of a mop head (might be a little akward) or an old toothbrush maybe? The steel wool would be faster, but I'm sure you could find a suitable alternative in a pinch.

If you are concerned about steel wool being too harsh, that is why I recommended a fine grade that, when used with a liquid cleaner like windex, will not damage the metal finish.

 

I spray mine twice a year with flat black spray paint that is for "HIGH" tempurature items....

FORGET all that cleaning stuff as your wasting your time and money!

Tape the crome if you don't have a good aim.......:1: :1: :1:

this is how HONDA cuts cost! Supertech can tell ya.,........the lower end models like the plain jane Accord NO LONGER gets that nice flat black paint as they just leave them metal to metal.....Then they stopped cleaning the dash boards from the factory. Let the stealerships gouge those fools into that "cleaning system" YEAH........When I bought my Hondas back in 1984 they were night and day from these days.......So back to the subject....when you drive around you will notice the V6 EX Accord has "painted" muffler tanks and the LX or lower models are just bare boned......:1: They even stooped so low by puting stickers instead of badges (EX, LX etc...) and got so many complaints they went back to metal LOOKING badges (Acura MDX, 3.5RL etc.....)

 

Try Eagle One "NevrDull" wadding polish. It restores the appearance on all metal finishes and works well on the metal tailpipes.

use this, a bit of rubbing, pressure and time, it can get alot off and make the tips new. My TL had the same problem, i used nevrDull for about 20 minutes on each tip and they were better hten what they had come from the showroom

 

Found the product to use on the tail pipes. It is called Wenol metal polish. I have before after and product pictures. It is easy to do and you do not have to rub all that hard.

 

after

 

product

 

Found the product to use on the tail pipes. It is called Wenol metal polish. I have before after and product pictures. It is easy to do and you do not have to rub all that hard.

Apparantly it doesn't work.:2:

 

SORRY but your chrome tail pipes are signs of neglect in my opinion. WD-40 works wonders and has been around for years ! I have a product from Germany to shine chrome too !

 

I just bought the car a couple of weeks ago and I have no doubt that the previous owner did nothing to them for three years. Wd 40 would do nothing to the tips and to the other smart ass poster above you if you cannot appreciate a good product and information on how to keep your vehicle looking good then why even look in the detailing section. I have posted on several of these type forums and have never had such negativity come from it. The product works great with little effort leaves no oily residue to collect dust and I have nothing to gain from you people using the product. There were no comments like wow looks great thanks for the tip or anything of the sort. I know that the mufflers and my pipes need work but tips look great. I could have worked on them a little more but I am not a perfectionist. I wanted to get the majority of it shined so that it looks good from a glance. I couldn't care less if someone got on there hands and knees and inspected them for perfectness. I spent more time taking pictures and uploading them than I did polishing. It will be the last time that I go to that trouble.

 

I just bought the car a couple of weeks ago and I have no doubt that the previous owner did nothing to them for three years. Wd 40 would do nothing to the tips and to the other smart ass poster above you if you cannot appreciate a good product and information on how to keep your vehicle looking good then why even look in the detailing section.

Because I am a mod and I review all the threads. Apparently you don't know the universal sign of a smiley face. To top that off I replied to your post showing the discolored tip. Where you said

Found the product to use on the tail pipes. It is called Wenol metal polish. I have before after and product pictures. It is easy to do and you do not have to rub all that hard.

I knew it was a before picture, and I was poking fun, some one must have pissed in your Cheerios or you are too damn sensitive. sheesh

BTW your pictures are blowing out the margins....

http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12985