Cleaning the exhaust of a car can be an incessant task. As soon as you drive, it starts to accumulate with carbon, soot, sand, mineral deposits, dirt and eventually even rust. But if cleaned periodically, your exhaust can provide efficient performance and is good for the car.

The exhaust tips can be made of mild/ stainless/ galvanized steel, be chrome plated or use some similar material. Each of these materials require different cleaning process but the standard tips for cleaning is the same all across. Let us have a look at 5 tips for cleaning car exhaust.

1. USE CLEANSER- ALL PURPOSE OR SOAP WATER

Before starting any cleaning process, let your car cool down to avoid skin burn. Now, pre soak the tips with an All Purpose Cleaner (APC) or a simple soap and water solution. However, make sure the solution is not poured directly into the pipe and is instead sprayed. After letting the cleanser stay on for a few minutes to loosen the dirt, use the wheel brushes to gently rub the inside and outside of exhaust tips. This will get rid of any superficial dirt.

2. USING NON POLAR ALKALINE FLUIDS

Once the superficial filth is cleaned, wipe the interior and exterior of the tip with a new microfiber towel and not a used one or else it may cause damage to the paint job of the car. Then, use benzene/turpentine/tar/diesel fuel or glue cutters to remove the grit that doesn’t go away by using soap water solution. This can be used inside the tip of the exhaust.

3. USING DEGREASER

If alkaline fluids don’t work, use a degreaser on the inside and outside using a dry cloth and leave it on for some time. A degreaser is a chemical agent with a solvent base that helps in removing any water insoluble substance. Thus, a degreaser helps in loosening up the carbon mount.

4. USING 000 STEEL WOOL

Once the degreaser is applied for some time, scrub it off using grade #000 steel wool. You can either scrub using the wool as is or pour a little vinegarover it and then clean. The latter method will be very significant in getting rid of the rust that forms inside the exhaust tip.

This issue is faced mostly by cars in cold countries especially around snow or in those places where there is frequent rain. Since the iron of the tips along with oxygen reacts with water, it forms iron oxide or rust which is very difficult to remove via normal soap solution. An important tip to remember when using the 000 steel wool is that while it smoothens the outside surface easily, it can also scratch the chrome or other material surfaces. So care must be taken while scrubbing with it.

5. POLISHING

Once cleaning of the inside and outside of the exhaust tip is done, make sure the exhaust is dry by using a microfiber cloth. Only when it is dry,is it advised to get the said part polished such that it gives that newly bought car shine. This comes under repair and services. This can be done by two methods. One is through polishing by hand and the other is through polish cone. The polish can be either metal or aluminium and should be lefton for some time before being removed with the microfibre cloth.

Once all these tips are followed, try to keep the exhaust protected by using a wheel sealant or metal coating. This will help in cleaning the exhaust more quickly and easily in the future