Help cleaning exterior of headers and exhaust please

[DocDirk]

Some time ago I put my car cover on prematurely and burned a layer of black deposit from the cover onto my headers and part of my muffler. I asked for suggestions then and tried most everything I remember but cannot find the thread again today.

I've used acetone, lighter fluid, several other organic solvents, plastic scrapers, etc., but only a faint reduction in the dense black deposit has occurred. I'm afraid to be more aggressive for fear of leaving permanent cosmetic changes to the nice shiny surfaces....has anyone solved this problem? I'd welcome any suggestions - Thanks!

Regards,

Dirk

[marcalan]

check your local harley shop for some chrome cleaner. I use a cotton embedded cleaner for my motorcycle and it gets out just about anything that is melted to the pipes.

m-s

[Zoom This]

First time I got burned material on my header was with fake nylon sheepskin material that melted all over my pipes and muffler. After I put my eyes back in my skull I got to work. I cooled the header pipes and mufflers with water and brought out a 1" metal scraping tool, a flat bladed screw driver, 0 steel wool, 00 steel wool and 0000 steel wool as well as Wenol polish for aluminum and other metals. Surprisingly, the ceramic coating was pretty tuff stuff with all the careful chippping and scraping I did before rubbing and rubbing with the steel wool and a final polish out. 90 minutes later....done.

What I learned at a later time and another occurance with a plastic product is to immediately cool the header with a towel soaked with cold water and quickly chip off the material. It practically flakes off. The immediate cooling and subsequent scraping has saved my ass as well as some club members. Haven't tried the Harley shop chrome cleaner stuff.

[DocDirk]

Well I couldn't make headway with acetone, lighter fluid, you-name-it...tried the Harley cleaner and eventually left it on thickly overnight and have made some progress scraping the burnt on black layer with my daily driver's ice scraper! Another two or three days of working at it (and another two or three scrapers) should have it right as rain

Thanks for the ideas!

Dirk

[speed220mph]

I have stainless pipes, which present a different challenge than does chrome. Still, I've still had to deal with melted on nylon trouser legs, skin and plastic bags whipped up off the road. Discoloration has been a particullar problem, so what I've done after using all the remedies mentioned is to spray the pipes with oven cleaner.

I first masked the side of the car behind the pipes with aluminum foil to protect the paint. I leave the cleaner on for 20 or so minutes, then wipe it off after putting on gloves to protect the pinkies. Darn if that stuff doesn't work, or so well it was hard for me to believe.