Tiny exhaust specs in the paint

[Viper44]

I have a question for you since I know some if not all of you have experienced this. On a GTS Viper where the exhaust pipe exits the rear of the car in the center of it, I am getting tiny specs in the rear of the car on the body (rear bumper and in-between the tail lights.). Besides going in the painted color of the car I am also getting it on the stripes in the rear (white paint stripes). The specs are coming from exhaust crap. I washed the car and still have the specs showing in the white stripes and some of the rear colored parts of the car. What are most of you using to clean up this stuff from the exhaust pipe that is already on the paint and doesn’t come off when you wash the car? I was going to try bug and tar remover but don’t know if it works for that or not and I don’t want to mess up the paint of the car. I’m not sure if I need to clay bar that part of the car or if that would work either. Please let me know what you are using. Thanks.

 

[viper spray]

Get some windshield washer fluid,(the blue stuff)and soak a disposable dryer cloth in it, then wipe. You will be suprised how well it works.

 

[Viper44]

viper spray, Thanks for the reply. I'll have to try that. You are talking about the really thin, kind of course sheets, and not the foamy ones, correct? The stuff almost looks like it is in the paint. I had some little tiny oil/grease looking specs that I was able to wash off but these other specs wouldn't come out. Thanks again.

 

[2001 GTS]

Wax takes it off pretty easily...just washing won't do it.

No cats makes the problem a lot worse

 

[Bob K]

If you look at these spots with a magnifying glass you will see that many are tiny burn holes in the paint. You can scrub with all sorts of things and they won't come out. Believe me, I have tried. It is only present on my '96 which has exhaust mods. My '02 has no problem. I suspect hot exhaust particles are the causative agent. If and when I have that part of the car repainted I will put 3M over it to see if that helps.

Bob K

 

[Viper44]

2001 GTS,
Thanks for the reply. I do need to wax it sometime this coming month. I will try Viper Spray's idea and the wax afterwards. I just hope it does come off. I am planning to remove the cats if I can get the car registered where that are no emissions. I want to do that so the side sills stay cooler and also to make it sound better. I assume I need to do a bunch of layers of wax in the back of the car before I remove them, right?

 

[Asp Man]

I've got this problem, too. No cats on mine, either.
Clay bar works great. Keep it nicely waxed helps, as well.

 

[Cal Cobra]

I'm catless too and also seeing the same issue. I used Mequiars cleaner wax and it came right off. I went over that with a coat of Teflon based wax as an additional protective coat, I'll see how that works.

I also just applied the Teflon based wax to 3 of 4 of my white wheels to see if it makes cleaning them a bit easier.

I think my car is running far too rich, as at times when I nail the throttle I can see my own jet stream (it's gas, not smoke). I can also see it in my garage where I park. I have a Roe VEC1 coming that I hope I can tune the car a little better with to resolve this issue.

Cal

 

[Viper44]

Thanks again for all of the replies and info. I just got the car and it has cats but I am seeing specs all over the paint in the back of the car. I guess I really need to try the blue window wash on the dry sheet idea. If that doesn't take it off I will need to strip the wax in the back soon, try the clay bar and re-wax that area to see if I can get it to come off. I want to take the cats off but hope that doesn't make things worse. Can they tune the stock ECU with out using a piggy back unit (Vec)? Maybe I'm also running rich with the factory settings.

 

[ViperJohn]

Since you have cats, I suggest taking a look to make sure your battery isn't leaking. Mine leaked and left what appeared to be exhaust specks on my bumper but were actually small battery acid pits that sprayed on the bumper.

 

[Viper44]

Bob K and Viperjohn, I looked at the back of the car up close yesterday and yes the marks are tiny pits in the paint were clay bars and washing won't take them out. The exhaust on the 96 is totally stock. Any idea if a different exhaust or cats would help it out? I am going to pull the rear drivers wheel off soon and check to make sure the battery isn't leaking like you mentioned but wouldn't I see some of the leakage on the ground if the car sat for a few weeks? If you know of anything that will help reduce this please let me know. I am planning to remove the cats but now I'm not so sure that is a good idea because of the issue I have. Thanks for any help anyone can give.

 

[Matt M PA]

I had the same problem on my 1996 GTS. I do not have this problem on my 2000. I removed the rear resonator and went to the Snake-Oyl set-up. I doubt it's gasoline, more like carbon and condensation.

I beleive the factory resonators hold the moisture longer and it exits the car hotter and burns into the paint. The Snake-Oyl rear sub-assembly allows the moisture to come out faster.

All that said..I doubt any "wax" will protect against that..if it's hot enough (or caustic enough) to burn into the paint...wax won't hold it back either.

 

[Viper44]

Matt,
So did the new exhaust set up help out with the tiny burn holes or not? If so when you mentioned the resonators, are you talking about the stock mufflers or something else? I do need to so something about this issue or the back of my car is going to look really bad pretty fast. Thanks

 

[Matt M PA]

44...everything else in my car is stock...except for removal of the rear resonator. I have not seen those black pits since.

The Snake-Oyl rear assembly removes the far rear resonator and repaces it with straight pipe.

 

[EllowViper]

When I re-did my rear facia and added the stripes, I had all kinds of those imperfections. Apeared to be embededed within the clear coat almost like the fallout you get when parked in industrial areas. Seeing as I was refinishing the entire bumber area, I wet sanded that area and buffed it out as an experiment. That actually removed the embedded specks and the area looked great. The clear is pretty thick in my opinion having sanded through it to the base. My only concern would be that if you screwed-up the process, it would look worst and you can ony wet sand/buff/polish only so many times. Not sure if a clay bar has enough grit to get the depth needed...but I would definately try that with a good buff/polish before resorting to a wet sanding solution.

 

[troyrt10]

I have the same issue on my 1996 GTS. I tried a clay bar at first and then I realized that they are burnt in to the paint. I removed my rear exhaust and put in H/F Cats and the problem has not gotten worse! Maybe it's the rear muffler? I am going to get the back repainted eventually. I hope that will be the end of it!