Is Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish the best to clean this up?

ZSerg · 08-21-2018, 12:23 PM

Picked up a Motordyne exhaust for my 370z. Is Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish the best to clean this up?

https://www.amazon.com/Mothers-05101.../dp/B0009H519Y

wideglideleon · 08-21-2018, 03:18 PM

That is a stainless steel Exhaust not aluminum or magnesium. I would start with very fine stainless steel pad (brillo Pad) and then use a medal polish to finish it off.

ZSerg · 08-21-2018, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wideglideleon

That is a stainless steel Exhaust not aluminum or magnesium. I would start with very fine stainless steel pad (brillo Pad) and then use a medal polish to finish it off.

I hear that 0000 steel wool and then metal polish does wonders. I’ll try just the polish first and then go from there.

OhioYJ · 08-22-2018, 10:12 AM

It won't take the deep scratches out, but it will shine it back up. That's what I use on my exhaust, and numerous other things actually. If you want to take out some of the deep scratches you'll need something more aggressive and work back to fine stuff.

ZSerg · 08-22-2018, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhioYJ

It won't take the deep scratches out, but it will shine it back up. That's what I use on my exhaust, and numerous other things actually. If you want to take out some of the deep scratches you'll need something more aggressive and work back to fine stuff.

Thanks

SouthArk370Z · 08-22-2018, 12:48 PM

I wouldn't go out and buy that type of Mother's for this job, but if I had some laying around, I'd give it a try and see if it would do some good - they make good stuff but that product wasn't meant for stainless. If there is only very light scratching, it may do the job - a lot depends on how you define "clean this up."

Edit: Based on my past experience with Mother's products, I wouldn't be afraid to buy anything they label as being for stainless.

ZSerg · 08-22-2018, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

I wouldn't go out and buy that type of Mother's for this job, but if I had some laying around, I'd give it a try and see if it would do some good - they make good stuff but that product wasn't meant for stainless. If there is only very light scratching, it may do the job - a lot depends on how you define "clean this up."

Edit: Based on my past experience with Mother's products, I wouldn't be afraid to buy anything they label as being for stainless.

What would you recommend?

SouthArk370Z · 08-23-2018, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZSerg

What would you recommend?

I'd go with what wideglideleon suggested: a stainless pad and metal polish. You should be able to find polishing compound at your local auto parts store. If Mother's makes stainless polish, I'd give it a try but don't have any experience with it so there may be something better out there.

OhioYJ · 08-23-2018, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZSerg

Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

I wouldn't go out and buy that type of Mother's for this job

This stuff is available at any store. The small can is like $4 at WalMart, it's not like you're out a lot to try it.

My Berk HFC, came were left over from my dad's old 350Z (daily driven, w/Ohio winters), they had 40k miles on them IRC, but they were free. I cleaned them up with Mothers:

In a few spots, I used some 2000 grit, with the Mothers then finished with the mothers. However these are under the car, I didn't spend any real amount of time on them. It was maybe 10-15 minutes per cat.

My HFCs weren't didn't have the scratches your muffler has, but the pipes were looking pretty ugly. When I get home I can look and see if I have any before pictures.

ZSerg · 08-23-2018, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhioYJ

This stuff is available at any store. The small can is like $4 at WalMart, it's not like you're out a lot to try it.

My Berk HFC, came were left over from my dad's old 350Z (daily driven, w/Ohio winters), they had 40k miles on them IRC, but they were free. I cleaned them up with Mothers:

In a few spots, I used some 2000 grit, with the Mothers then finished with the mothers. However these are under the car, I didn't spend any real amount of time on them. It was maybe 10-15 minutes per cat.

My HFCs weren't didn't have the scratches your muffler has, but the pipes were looking pretty ugly. When I get home I can look and see if I have any before pictures.

Thanks! What do you think about using the 00 steel wool instead of the sand paper?

OhioYJ · 08-23-2018, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZSerg

Thanks! What do you think about using the 00 steel wool instead of the sand paper?

Ive used 0000 and that Mothers to polish glass, the 0000 alone will clean glass. I always tend to try and err on the finer side to start with as I don't want to add scratches or marks to things. However that is pretty badly scratched in places so if you want to get all of that mark out where it was bottomed out, you will likely have to use some sandpaper, and start at 400 and work your way back up, wet sanding.

For most of that of though like those fine swirls marks were it looks like someone already tried to take steel wool to it, I think you might be surprised what some of that mothers and a rag will do. Buff that till the rag turns black, then take a clean spot of that rag to it buff it off. I bet a lot if not most of that comes off with minimal effort. For $4 and an old T-shirt, or towels you aren't out much if I'm wrong except a few minutes of your time.

ZSerg · 08-23-2018, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhioYJ

Ive used 0000 and that Mothers to polish glass, the 0000 alone will clean glass. I always tend to try and err on the finer side to start with as I don't want to add scratches or marks to things. However that is pretty badly scratched in places so if you want to get all of that mark out where it was bottomed out, you will likely have to use some sandpaper, and start at 400 and work your way back up, wet sanding.

For most of that of though like those fine swirls marks were it looks like someone already tried to take steel wool to it, I think you might be surprised what some of that mothers and a rag will do. Buff that till the rag turns black, then take a clean spot of that rag to it buff it off. I bet a lot if not most of that comes off with minimal effort. For $4 and an old T-shirt, or towels you aren't out much if I'm wrong except a few minutes of your time.

Thanks! Ill give it a try when it arrives. Picked up a Motordyne for $1,380 and that the only bad part about it.

need4speed255 · 08-25-2018, 12:14 PM

I believe Blue Magic is made for stainless. It is much better for polishing aluminum than Mothers also. I used to get it at Autozone.

rpowers · 08-25-2018, 06:15 PM

Blue Magic would work the best for this application.

ZSerg · 08-28-2018, 08:27 PM

Alright boys I'm back from my mission. The results are truly beyond what I expected to end up with.

I was going to pretty much use as many products that I already had and could be used for this project to avoid spending extra money.

Process:
Step 1
Sprayed each part with Sticky Citrus Gel Wheel & Rim Cleaner to get the dirt off.
You can use any acid free wheel cleaner for this.

Step 2
Applied Meguiar's SwirlX Liquid Automobile Wax and Polish because I heard that you can also use it on metal.
This wasn't really necessary and not really sure if it did anything but I had it so I used it.

Fun begins
Step 3
I wiped the exhaust with Eagle One Nevr-Dull.

Step 4
I applied Mother's Aluminum & Mag Polish by hand and buffed it with the Mothers power drill buffing cone.

Step 5
I applied the Mother's Aluminum & Mag Polish with a separate micro fiber towel and buffed it off by hand with a separate towel.

Thats it.

Some of the heat marks around the welds did require some thorough hand buffing with the Mothers polish.

Some spots would not come off with the Eagle One but would come off with the Mothers like those heat marks, but sometimes it was the other way round, so I had to go back and fourth. After the first exhaust part you know what product works on what area.

The results were great but it did take some time and some beer

Thanks for everyones help! Hope this helps you guys.

08-22-2018, 12:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324198	I wouldn't go out and buy that type of Mother's for this job, but if I had some laying around, I'd give it a try and see if it would do some good - they make good stuff but that product wasn't meant for stainless. If there is only very light scratching, it may do the job - a lot depends on how you define "clean this up." Edit: Based on my past experience with Mother's products, I wouldn't be afraid to buy anything they label as being for stainless. wideglideleon likes this. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma Last edited by SouthArk370Z; 08-22-2018 at 12:51 PM.

08-25-2018, 12:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
need4speed255 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Indiana Posts: 262 Drives: 15Nsmo/99 EclipseGST Rep Power: 11	I believe Blue Magic is made for stainless. It is much better for polishing aluminum than Mothers also. I used to get it at Autozone. rpowers likes this.

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08-21-2018, 03:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
wideglideleon Track Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 569 Drives: SC 09 370Z LG 7AT Rep Power: 64085	That is a stainless steel Exhaust not aluminum or magnesium. I would start with very fine stainless steel pad (brillo Pad) and then use a medal polish to finish it off.

08-22-2018, 10:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
OhioYJ Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Ohio Posts: 261 Drives: 2016 370Z Rep Power: 953	It won't take the deep scratches out, but it will shine it back up. That's what I use on my exhaust, and numerous other things actually. If you want to take out some of the deep scratches you'll need something more aggressive and work back to fine stuff.

08-25-2018, 06:15 PM	#14 (permalink)
rpowers Base Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: San Diego Posts: 6 Drives: 2014 370Z Rep Power: 7	Blue Magic would work the best for this application.