Cleaning inside tailpipe trims on a Vantage ?

[R1CKF]

Hi

Can anyone help advise best way to clean the inner part of the exhaust trims with the perforation holes on a 2012 Vantage? Mine are pretty sooted up and it would be nice to get them cleaned up as close to original as i can as they look very smart when new , but not sure what products to use.

Thanks

[Jon39]

I think it is perforated metal, so presumably a rag soaked in methylated spirit or white spirit, should improve the appearance without doing any harm.
Obviously the sooty appearance will gradually return, but it is akin to removing brake dust from road wheels. The more frequently it is removed, the easier it is to do and the better the result.

[Tiganut]

I use MEK for that sort of thing.

[yellow_tang]

There’s always a YouTube video that covers a subject

https://youtu.be/OHKek0d7CoY

[paddy328]

That blokes voice is so dreary!

Can’t argue with the process, though I’ve never used wheel cleaner on exhausts before. What you have to be careful of and what you see in his video is the polish going into the holes, of which there are many on the Aston.

To avoid build up, try not to use too much polish. Work on the solid areas and then have a go at the inside with the residue of the solid bits. This should should stop you dumping loads of polish into the holes, but might take a bit longer to do.

[Jon39]

yellow_tang said:

There’s always a YouTube video that covers a subject

https://youtu.be/OHKek0d7CoY

I only watched a brief part of the film, and it had to be without sound. It did look like, but I hope he was not using a steel wool pad to apply his potion. Steel wool would be far too abrasive for a perfectionist, especially as it was being rubbed against the end of the stainless outer pipe.




.

[paddy328]

Jon39 said:

I only watched a brief part of the film, and it had to be without sound. It did look like, but I hope he was not using a steel wool pad to apply his potion. Steel wool would be far too abrasive for a perfectionist, especially as it was being rubbed against the end of the stainless outer pipe.




.

000 grade wire wool is fine and pretty much standard use across the board. Also, there is no way just polish and a cloth will remove some built up carbon. What you have to be careful of is taking the chrome off the tips where the carbon has pretty much eaten through it. You have to keep on top of it if you want exhaust tips that don’t corrode

[Jon39]

This topic has encouraged me to clean the exhaust outlets.
White spirit on a cloth immediately returned the inner perforated tube to original condition. Fortunately there was no carbon build up at all.

Paddy, you mentioned the chrome tips. Are you sure they are chrome plated? They look to me more like polished stainless steel, than chrome. However either way, delicate use of Solvol Autosol type paste usually creates a pleasing result. The outlets are very close to painted bodywork, so of course great care is needed when using the paste.

[paddy328]

I’m not sure to be fair. They might be just stainless steel. All I know is that if you leave them to get bad, the polished areas can go dull and grey with no way to get them shiny again.

[R1CKF]

Thanks for the advise everyone, i think i'll try the white spirit and see how that goes as they haven't been cleaned in 6 years ! - As you say Paddy, if i use the polish, i reckon i would spend more time cleaning the polish out of the little holes than anything else !!! Top tip Paddy , much appreciated

[Wessa]

Rick,

I'd go Meths, wire wool then if your really anal.. I use Autosol. Just ensure metal dust is blown or cleaned out as much as you can.