What You'll Learn
Aussie Conditions
Look, nothing looks worse than a clean car with filthy, carbon-caked exhaust tips. Whether you've got a dual-cab ute or a weekend cruiser, the Aussie sun and road grime bake that soot on hard. I've spent 15 years polishing chrome and stainless, so I've put together this quick checklist to get you sorted in the garage this weekend.
The Gear You'll Need
What You'll Need
While you're here...
Pre-Start Checklist
What You'll Need
The Cleaning Process
Deep Clean
Spray your wheel cleaner or APC inside and outside the tip. Let it dwell for a minute, then scrub with your brush and rinse. Don't be stingy here.
The Steel Wool Trick
If there's crusty black soot that won't budge, lubed-up 0000 steel wool is magic. Honestly, I wouldn't bother with anything else for heavy buildup. Scrub gently.
Dry Thoroughly
Dry the metal completely with an old rag. You don't want water mixing with your polish and making a muddy mess.
Apply Metal Polish
Chuck a 50c piece size of polish on a cloth and work it in. You'll see it turn black, that's the chemical reaction cleaning the metal.
Buff to a Shine
Use a clean section of your microfibre to buff the residue off. If it's still a bit dull, give it another crack. Usually takes two goes.
Seal it Up
Apply your sealant or high-temp wax. This makes the next wash heaps easier, especially if you're driving through red dust or salt spray.
Final Inspection
What You'll Need
A Quick Pro Tip
Watch Out
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