Cleaning Header

[kuo34]

I have a DC Sports ceramic coated header. It's gotten some crusties and/or rust (can ceramic coated headers rust?) on it. What's the best way to get it clean without damaging the coating?

[kphyle]

well seeing as how if it's rusting, the coating is already ruined. If it's just dirty, then I'd use a really rough sponge. If it's really rust though, I'd just start wet sanding.
I had a used megan header that I wanted to clean up, and it looked SO much better afterward. Just start out with some pretty low grit sandpaper (like 200) just to get the chunks off. Then just work yourself up in grit, and don't stop until you get rid of all the scratches from the previous lower grit sandpaper.

[kphyle]

oh, and i forgot, don't be scared to really get into it.

I started with really gritty paper the first round, and I got a little scared when all that happend was I scratched the crap out of it.
but even with low grit paper, if you do it fast enough and hard enough, you can even get it to look nice and shiny with that.
so be hard on it, it'll work out

[kuo34]

Thanks for the tip. I started with a scotch pad and it started cleaning up. Guess I had random road/engine grime built up on it.

[kphyle]

oh yea. My megan one was pretty filthy. But it had actually changed colors as well, so when I got it back to silver, it was like a brand new header. it was sweet

[kuo34]

Right on. I like a polished stainless steel header, but in the end the ceramic coating made more sense to me (not to mention the right price).

[kphyle]

yea, I always loved the DC one, I just got an amazing deal on the megan one, so I couldn't be too picky.

Did you get it all cleaned up?

[kuo34]

Yep, a quick scrub and everything is nice and clean. If I have the car long enough to wear out this header, I'll probably pick its replacement through the pricing game. Stainless or ceramic coated, they'll both fit the bill for me.