FuriousGeorge

Anybody noticing a pretty substantial carbon buildup on their exhaust? I installed my Borla Stingers about 5 or6 months ago and haven't cleaned them at all. I was thinking it was nothing more than a residue on the inside bottom part of the tips, but it's not coming off easy. Is this normal? Gasoline in AZ is all up to 10% ethanol, and I'm not sure whether ethanol burns into carbon in the cats or something like that which might cause the issue.

Is there a particular cleaner or method to keep them clean? Is steel wool a bad idea? Thanks.

Wally39

I'd like to know what to use to clean mine also. It's not the ethanol, because I use the same gas without ethanol all the time and mine are black too.

StangPilot

I asked this question in the detail section and got some good replies. I also have the Borla's and know exactly what you are looking at. I think it's just the rolled tip that collects the carbon from the exhaust. If you feel the tip, the roll goes into the pipe and stops. That lip catches alot of heat and grime that collects on the outside of the tip.
Go buy some Never Dull. This will take the grime off your tips and then I use Turtle Wax Chrome Cleaner to get the mirror finish.
Steel wool is a BAD IDEA!! You will scratch the **** out of your tips.
Good luck.

sycd

I use a little bit of that quick detailer spray on the cold exhaust every 2-3 weeks to get rid of that deposit. Not good enough for a car show, but good enough for every day driving and keeping things under control :-)

cantwin1

I used some generic silver polish I have. Now at the car wash once a week I hit it with a wet rag while washing, dry it, and go over it with quick detailer, done! Seems alot less sticks to it since I put the polish on.

Bluestar

First I thought it was running rich......then I find out this is normal. Clean it off and it comes back within a day or two.

FuriousGeorge

Being stainless steel, I'm surprised to hear that steel wool would damage it. I'd think stainless steel is a stronger metal than what steel wool is comprised of.

StangPilot

Stainless doesn't mean it won't scratch. I actually have some small scratches on my pipes.
You can try the wool. Let me know how it turns out, but I definitely would try a cleaner first. If it's bad enough you need to scrub with wool then something is wrong.

FuriousGeorge

I'd rather take your advice and be safe rather than sorry when the inside of my exhaust is scored all to hell.

StangPilot

I use the cleaner on mine about every 2nd - 3rd wash.