Hey guys, I need some advice on maintaining stainless steel exhaust tips. I wet sanded the tips and got all polished up looking very nice. Took the boat out and after one run down the lake they were stained and already looking discolored. I cleaned them back up and used metal polished thinking this would protect from the water and exhaust heat. No luck. Cleaned them up again and tried using wax to protect them. Still having the same problem. Is there anything I can put on them to protect the finish?

I take a rag with a little muriatic acid on it and wipe around the tips, takes about a minute and lasts pretty much all season. Are the tips 316 stainless? Shouldn't discolor that quick I wouldn't think.

I assume they are 316. I will try that. I read a article on line about using vinegar. Any input on that?

The acid will take off that bit of rust/soot colored stain around the rim but won't equal the manual polishing etc. I suppose vingegar is a weak acid and will probably work but may take longer or not come out as good as muriatic.

Lime away and a magic eraser always seem to clean mine up after a day on the river. Haven't found a way to keep them clean for a long period.

what about clearcoating them? i don't think they get that hot.

I use vinegar after every trip. If it gets real bad you can use rubbing compound or stainless cleaner.

Just spray some CLR on it. The haze is the calcium and minerals in the water left behind after evaporation. Doesn't matter what you coat them with the minerals will be left behind.

CLR removes that stuff in short order.