Hey guys. I think that I may be experiencing a problem. I have a 2000 Expy, 4.6 and the only mods that I have are the MicroTuner from Troyer and a SS Exhaust by MagnaFlow. Right now I am running the 87 Octane fuel. I have noticed that the tip of my exhaust is beginning to turn yellow and wont just wash off like its getting too hot and beginning to turn it as if it were being heat treated. Only thing that I know of that would be different than what other folks do is that I add Fuel Injector and Cleaner to my gas every time I do an oil change. Anyone have any ideas as to why my exhaust is changing colors?? Could there be a problem here that could cause my cats to get too hot and self destruct? Any and all comments and posts would be appreciated...

I just want to add that the Programmer was bought last summer and the exhaust near Christmas... and this is something that is just now beginning to happen. I cant say that either of the mods are responsible for this, I really dont know why I am just know starting to see this...

Thank you.

 

I had a 2000 5.4 Expy with Gibson Exhaust, and the SS tip also slightly turned color. The tip is not getting hot enough to change the color. It could be it just needs a good metal polish more often. I know I neglected mine after a while (and some scratchs and "stuff" getting stuck on it) and really only cleaned it when I washed the truck. I didn't clean or polish is at all anymore, although form a distance it looked fine.

My new tip looks even more cool. Hopefully having the rolled edge the black soot will saty inside and the outside will stay nice and shiney.

 

Hi Ozark Expy,

This is very simple - you do NOT have "a problem" - your exhaust is not "too hot." All exhaust systems get hot in use. What is happening is perfectly normal, and easily reversible.

When the exhaust heats up in use, the pores of the polished stainless expand (of course), and thus the road grime gets baked into the metal, and gives it a golden patina over time - and it doesn't take long. When you have something as beautiful as mirror-polished stainless steel, you have to do some maintenance on it.

Reverse this process by once a month, using Eagle 1 (that's the brand name) Wire & Rim Cleaner - you can pick that up at almost any auto parts store. Whatever you do, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RE-POLISH the tips - the polishing compound will just do the same thing, get baked into the pores of the metal, and turn golden colored - and will not remove the previous contaminants baked into the open pores of the polished metal when it's hot.

Simple solution - Eagle 1 Wire & Rim Cleaner, used once a month.

 

Stainless steel turns yellow over time without polish. Maybe oxidation? People with polished stainless steel side steps or nerf bars have similar comments, yet they clearly don't get the high exhaust temps like a tailpipe tips.

 

Hi APT,

Good point!

Polished metals in general, especially S/S, do tend to take on a golden patina over time - it doesn't *have* to be an exhaust component, it's just that this happens *quicker* with exhaust components.

Polishing the S/S when it's part of an exhaust system will not "fix" this (though that is what you generally do for polished S/S that is *not* exposed to heat & other polished metals not subjected to heat from the exhaust), as what happens is the pores expand due to the heat in the exhaust, and the road grime literally gets "baked" into the metal - polish only makes this worse over time, according to Magnaflow & their actual supplier of their raw S/S - it takes a good cleaner (not a polish) like Eagle 1 Wire & Rim Cleaner to reverse that golden patina.

 

Hmm, had to look up "patina". Never heard of it.

Anyway, a good chrome or steel polish will do it. There are many. Eagle One Nevr-Dull has a good reputation.

 

Thanks guys. I appreciate all the input I can get. Glad and a little embarrased that this was all there was going on. Gonna grab some polish and take care of that little eye sore.

 

I'm sorry to butt in here, but why use polish after Mike carefully explained that polish is not recommended for the exhaust because it will get baked into the pores of the metal?
Why not at least try the cleaner first?