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Corvette: How to Polish Your Exhaust Tips

Polishing the exhaust tips is the perfect finishing touch to set your Corvette apart from the rest.

By Nick Mason - January 29, 2015

This article applies to the C5 Corvette (1997-2004), C6 Corvette (2005-2013), and C7 Corvette (2014-current).

The Corvette is known for its slick looks. It is a sports car and—more often—it's a show car. An unpolished exhaust tip is the perfect way to ruin a beautiful piece of art. However, a polished set of exhaust tips would complement the iconic look of the Corvette and give it the final touch that will make it a show car.

Materials Needed

  • Metal polish
  • De-greaser
  • Microfiber towels
  • Detail brush
  • Water
  • Polishing kit (optional)

Step 1 – Clean the exhaust tips

Cleaning the exhaust tips is required to ensure the polish works properly. Using water and degreaser, soak the exhaust tips. Let the degreaser dwell for a few minutes to help break down the carbon buildup that's caked on the exhaust tips. Follow up by using the detail brush to thoroughly clean the inside and outside of the exhaust tips.

Figure 1. Clean exhaust pipes.

Pro Tip

To be sure that the polish is most effective, verify that the surface of the exhaust tips are completely clean. Some heavy buildup may still be present, but the polishing step will remove the heavier buildup.

Step 2 – Dry the exhaust tips

Using microfiber towels, thoroughly dry the exhaust tips. The exhaust pipes should be completely dry before attempting to apply polish.

Figure 2. Dry exhaust tips.

Step 3 – Polish the exhaust tips

Apply metal polish to a microfiber towel (or your polishing kit system). Begin polishing the exhaust tips in a circular motion. Work the polish into the metal until it begins to haze. Wipe away the polish with a clean microfiber towel and inspect your work. At this point the exhaust pipes should have been polished to a high shine. For excessively coated exhaust tips, several application of polish may be necessary.

Figure 3. Exhaust polish.

Once you have achieved the results you are looking for, you'll notice a huge difference in overall appearance of the vehicle. Polishing the exhaust tips is the perfect task to add into your detailing routine and it's the perfect finishing touch to set your Corvette apart from the rest.

Featured Video: Exhaust Polishing Kit

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