​Removing Heat Discoloring from Chrome Exhaust Pipes

You don't have to live with discolored chrome exhaust pipes!

Chrome exhaust pipes look fabulous, but throw enough heat through them and you wind up with that 1960s acid-trip-looking bluish rainbow of discoloring that is enough to drive anyone crazy. Quarter-million dollar Peterbuilt, a $50k Harley Tri Glide or an entry level Yamaha V Star 250, it just doesn’t matter. Sooner or later your chrome gets funky.

Aside from the obvious culprit; heat, the other partner in chrome crime is good old oxygen. Oxygen loves everything and the combination of heat and oxidation turns your once pristine, mirror-finished chrome pipes into refugees from a tie-dye convention. So… what’s the fix? How do you return that chrome to like-new? How do you remove heat discoloring from chrome exhaust pipes? The answer may surprise you.

You would think that because we’re dealing with oxidation, any old scrubberoonie would do. Not true. Because we’re talking about chrome plating, you’ve got to be careful with how aggressive a product you use. That can be hard to do, because it’s difficult to tell just how much plating you’ve got to work with. You’d be surprised how thin the plating can be, even on high-end cars and motorcycles. It also depends on location. The closer to the engine, the more robust the plating should be, but again, that’s not always the case.

So here we are – Level of plating unknown, we still have to deal with the oxidation, and the last thing you want to do is scratch that gorgeous chrome finish. No problem – Flitz to the rescue.

Flitz Metal Polish, in either paste or liquid, will not only remove that discoloring, it will deliver a mirror finish, and leave behind a thin film of protection to keep those chrome pipes cleaner even longer. And it couldn’t be easier to use.

Secrets To Polishing Your Chrome Exhaust

The first thing you need to know about using Flitz Metal Polish is, you don’t need a lot. A very thin film on a small area is all you need. Work in small areas. Don’t slather it over the whole pipe. In this case, more is NOT better. We suggest small areas because we don’t want the polish to dry. It’s not like a wax where you wait for a haze before buffing. Apply a thin layer of polish. For deep discoloring, let it sit for 2 or 3 minutes, then begin rubbing it in with a soft cloth or paper towel to start getting after that oxidation. You’ll begin to see a lot of black oxidation coming off onto the cloth. That’s a good thing.

Once you’ve got most of the gunk off, buff the remainder off with a separate clean cloth or microfiber. Depending on how severe the oxidation is, you may need to repeat the process several times until that discoloring totally disappears. And if you do have to do it several times, don’t worry, Flitz Polish is technically “non-abrasive” so you’re not going to hurt those chrome exhaust tips or pipes. They’ll be just fine.

As you may have already guessed, there is going to be a substantial amount of elbow grease involved to bring those pipes back to pristine condition. If you’re working in a tight area, especially on motorcycles, that can be a bear. But we wouldn’t have brought it up if we didn’t have an answer for you.

Flitz Buff Balls are a ball of viscous felt fingers bonded to a metal shaft that fits any 3/8” corded or cordless drill or air-tool. Buff Balls provide the added safe friction and pressure you need to make short work of bringing those chrome pipes back to like-new condition. The felt fingers actually pull air in, so there’s less chance of overheating during buffing. Best of all, they’re washable and reusable.

The Flitz 2” Super Mini Buff Ball has an extended plastic-coated shaft that gets into tight areas and protects those areas at the same time. If you’re working around engine cooling fins in close quarters you know exactly what we’re talking about. That 2” Buff Ball is also a godsend for exhaust tips, mag wheel openings and especially around motorcycle spokes. It’ll spoil you!

So there it is. Cleaning chrome exhaust pipes and removing that nasty heat discoloring is a daunting chore no longer. Flitz Metal Polish and a Flitz Buff Ball and your pipes will gleam in the sunshine once again! And they’ll stay looking better longer!