Polishing exhaust tips, not sure what material they are.. Help needed

[Marc Hufnagel]

I'm working with a 2008 Hyundai Sonata SE, with dual exhausts. The tips are shiny metal, but I have no idea if they are chrome or stainless or just what they are.



Here is an example (best I could find without taking a pic of mine directly, as it's raining here today).

Suggested product? Something locally available would be great.

 

[imported_Jakerooni]

Well most should be SS. Chrome tends to flake off. Regardless the cleaning is pretty much the same. Go get some steel wool grade #0000 and soak it in glass cleaner and go to town on them. Should get them nice and clean. Then for an added touch go get some metal polish and give them a nice gloss over to give them an extra "pop".

 

[Marc Hufnagel]

I was just able to find the build specs for the 2008 model and it lists 'dual chrome exhaust tips on 6 cylinder model' so now I know what we're dealing with, I hope.



Now to settle on what to use on the chrome. They are somewhat scratched up, and I can't get a buffer on them, so I might try the UC first.

 

[GoudyL]

If they are chrome tips, use some chrome polish on them.



You can possibly pre-clean the tips with some wheel cleaner, and detailing clay to get rid of gross dirt.



I would not be going after this with ultimate compound since its not made for polishing metals.

 

[Bostonsfavson]

If they are chrome tips, use some chrome polish on them.



You can possibly pre-clean the tips with some wheel cleaner, and detailing clay to get rid of gross dirt.



I would not be going after this with ultimate compound since its not made for polishing metals.

Neither is M105, but Kevin Brown (among others) has been using it with great success on metal, including chrome. If a polish is safe for paint, it's generally fine to use on metal.