Mag & Aluminum Polish On Painted Exhaust Tip

[music_man185]

right now i have a bare aluminum exhaust tip on my truck. after 4 years, it looks pretty dull with black exhaust soot on it. i plan on picking up some mag and aluminum polish to get it looking like it should. however, i've always wanted to paint my exhaust tip in a gloss black to blend with my truck better. my only concern is that with all the soot i have on it now, in no time after painting it, it will be covered again and look horrible. would i still be able to use the mag aluminum polish on it after its painted with a high heat exhaust paint?

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Mag & Aluminum Polish On Painted Exhaust Tip

No.

Think of it like this, once you paint your exhaust, what type surface would you be working on if you worked on the exhaust tip?

It will be paint

The metal will be hidden under the paint, so using a metal polish wouldn't make sense since you would be rubbing it on paint, not metal.

Now, that said, I suggest using a metal polish now regardless because you need to get the surface clean before you paint it. Try the polish and after you finish decide if the cleaned up tip is actually what you are after, or, if not, rub it down with some rubbing alcohol and then prep it for paint.

[Murr1525]

Re: Mag & Aluminum Polish On Painted Exhaust Tip

Get some #0000 Steel Wool to apply it with.

Once it is cleaned up, it isnt too hard to maintain.

[music_man185]

Re: Mag & Aluminum Polish On Painted Exhaust Tip

so after i clean it up and paint it, what should i use to keep it clean after its painted? my main concern is exhaust soot

[Murr1525]

Re: Mag & Aluminum Polish On Painted Exhaust Tip

Once it is painted, you would be limited to carwash soap, clay, maybe a mild paint cleaner.

The pipe gets so hot, you'll need a specialized paint I am sure, and even that will blister off, it my parents car is any indication.

[music_man185]

Re: Mag & Aluminum Polish On Painted Exhaust Tip

i would definitely use a high heat primer and high heat paint. i think they make a rattle can spray paint made especially for exhaust tips. if not, i would use something like header paint.

[Black1]

Re: Mag & Aluminum Polish On Painted Exhaust Tip

It shouldn't get all that hot on the exhaust tip itself... unless you have a diesel. I would just use a Scotchbrite Pad (green or brown) to scuff it down, then a prep spray (like Prepsol) to clean the grit off. Then you can just paint it with gloss black high-heat spray paint. Pretty easy.