Plastic bag stuck on exhaust pipes
12-30-2010, 10:09 PM
#1
4th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Posts: 1,842
Plastic bag stuck on exhaust pipes
Has this ever happened to anyone else before? It is the worse thing in the world. The smell of burnt plastic in the interior is unbelievably nauseating and I felt like I was about to pass out several times. It's happened once before with a smaller plastic bag and as soon as I noticed the all-too-familliar smell just now when I was driving, I knew exactly what it was. I looked under and I must have picked up a small industrial trash bag or something cause half my X pipe is covered in white plastic.
Any ideas how to remove the stuff once the car cools down? I know the plastic melts and becomes hardened and it looks like a bitch and a half to deal with.
It will be like this for days just like last time...and I won't be able to tolerate it...
Brandon
Any ideas how to remove the stuff once the car cools down? I know the plastic melts and becomes hardened and it looks like a bitch and a half to deal with.
It will be like this for days just like last time...and I won't be able to tolerate it...
Brandon
12-30-2010, 10:23 PM
#2
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,830
I'm actually surprised this doesn't happen more often with all the stuff people throw out onto the streets.... Wish I could help... You could try chiseling it off if it actually hardens... (my best guess, haha)
12-31-2010, 04:36 AM
#3
TECH SAVANT
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Saint Augustine, FL
Posts: 10,938
It has happened to me 3 or 4 times--when quite bad I have used a scraper to get off the worst of it (easier when the pipe is hot) and then just live with the stink 'til it finally burns off--a good 20-30 mile run on the interstate usually gets rid of most of it.
It is one of those instances where you wish there were someone to grab by the neck...
It is one of those instances where you wish there were someone to grab by the neck...
12-31-2010, 05:59 AM
#4
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,994
Acetone(the pure ****, not watered down nail polish remover) will dissolve many plastics. Gasoline will dissolve some things. Oven Cleaner will also work. I would try the acetone first, but WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES. You do not want that crap dripping in your eyes...
12-31-2010, 07:23 AM
#5
TECH SAVANT
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Saint Augustine, FL
Posts: 10,938
Unfortunately the damned things are made of polyethylene; either low density (the somewhat stretchy ones) or high density (the stiffer ones that crackle a bit), both of which have very high chemical resistance.
In the table in that link the ++ symbol means that the listed chemical has no effect on polyethylene.
In the table in that link the ++ symbol means that the listed chemical has no effect on polyethylene.
12-31-2010, 10:33 AM
#7
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,994
I thought about that stuff...but it's really just citric acid I think, and may not even be as strong as the acetone is. Meh...if it was me I think I would just burn it off and be done with it.
