Cleaning blue off chrome pipes (was: This should be a sticky somewhere)

OKC_Kent wrote:

And the paint doesn't burn off inside?

Was very sketical and figured probably just wasting $7.95 on hi-temp. But had wondered about it for several years. And when finally got the new exhaust system, thought what-the-heck and gave it a try. Has actually wound up being a little success story (helping offset some catastrophic failures).

Haven't pulled the headers since then, but am guessing built up soot and carbon will prevent true examination. Will blissfully presume the hi-temp remains intact between the carbon and inner pipe wall (fingers still crossed, but 29's are purrring and pipes did suffer high running temps during the Bike Week run). Still gleaming -- appear as if engine never even cranked. Knock on wood.

Read an article on this years ago, writer claimed one medium coat worked better than multiple thick ones.

arise thread of old.


I'm bumping this because my bikes headers are blued. Has anyone had bluing return after having polished it off? Should the carbon build up on the inside prevent the return?

Chrome on stock pipes will not normally turn blue - only if engine has run too hot (likely a lean condition). This is because the stock pipes are double walled - a pipe inside a pipe. Aftermarket chrome pipes pretty much always turn gold/blue or darker because they are single walled so the chrome is exposed to higher heat. If your pipes are original and are blue, and if you can somehow polish it back to chrome, they should not turn dark again if your engine is properly tuned. If they are aftermarket I suspect they will turn dark again. Ed