Tips for exhaust pipes

[fv58]

Hello all, I am hoping for some tips or ideas on cleaning inside of exhaust pipes, have some light rust on insides of pipes, any tips? Thanks Dave

[Ed Womer]

Why! If you have rust it means the pipes are mild steel and will always have a slight amount of rust. You could just run the engine but with extended time of sitting it will always be there. If you really want the rust off get some murick acid at Home Depot or wherever and fill up the pipe and let it sit. Be careful the acid will burn your skin.

But guess what? as soon as you leave the pipe sit it will start to rust up again. There is a reason everyone wants stainless steel headers.

Ed

[Steve Davis]

You should also keep in mind that ANYTHING you do to clean out the rust will DECREASE the thickness of the pipes.. making them more prone to blow through. I agree with the suggestion to do nothing.. except, maybe drag a rag through them (using heavy cord) to get the worst of the loose stuff out.
Steve, FV80

[fv58]

Thank you guys, I will leave them alone, and save up for stainless set. Thanks again

[FVRacer21]

I was going to add - I had a set that had been sitting for a few years. Took a rubber glove or balloon over one end and filled it up with vinegar for a few days. For straight pipes like collectors, I took a piece of sandpaper on a stick and made like a flapper sander.

Then I made a cap for the tailpipe and was going to hit it with some wd40 every time I came off the track......ask me how long that lasted....

I was going to put a ball hone on a snake like and do a quick clean

"You should also keep in mind that ANYTHING you do to clean out the rust will DECREASE the thickness of the pipes." SD

Agree - but some of the pipes were so thick they could use the weight reduction.

ChrisZ

[DLRacing]

The only way to extend a mild steel exhaust pipe is to have it ceramic coated inside and out.