How can I clean this? Or paint it?

M

Mcthings

New member
1997 Toyota Camry XLE V6



My muffler looks like it has some horrible skin disease or something!



It's just the stock one. I think it used to be painted black, but I'm not 100% sure (my family is the original buyers, but before the car was handed down to me this year I didn't pay attention to this stuff!).



I took a bunch of pictures. I do realize it will be hard for you guys to help me when you don't know exactly what is on the thing. So this is my ideas of what it could be



a) it could be the paint chipping/rusting

b) the paint could be long gone, and it's just rusting or something



Is there any way I can clean this stuff up, or paint it or something? My car looks pretty good for being a 97' Camry, and this is really bugging me because it's like the only thing I don't know how to fix!



Picture(s) are attached.
 

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First of all, did you try washing the entire muffler itself? It looks like it is really dirty. if it is washed then you might have to just sand it down and paint it or just leave it sanded down. I have never personally dealt with this problem but i would try to use some Noxon metal polish on it. You can get it at autozone or advanced autoparts, comes in a green bottle. Its like 4$ probably.
 
I'm having the same problem on my muffler. I don't know if it's just built up dirt peeling off or if it's some kind of protective coating. I didn't want to attempt trying to clean it in case it may be some sort of coating, which if removed, may cause it to rust out.
 
I'd jack the car up really high at the back end and crawl under there and clean the muffler and pipe really well.

I'd start with a wire brush, then graduate to a strong APC like Castrol then move on to emery paper maybe. If I found any rust, I'd treat it with Rustmort or any of those neat chemicals that kills rust and makes it inert.

I'd then mask everything off and spray paint it with a high temp silver, thus restoring it to its former greatness.

Or better yet, I'd get my friends over, do a Tom Sawyer, and watch them do it while I consumed thirst quenching beverages.

Just a thought,

-John C.
 
Well, I just cleaned it off really well, and it turns out that it's just the old paint peeling really badly. Should I buy some high-temp paint and just repaint the whole thing, or what?



Pics soon.
 
Pics attached. I am sure that it is the paint peeling (the pics don't really do justice)
 

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Looks like paint peeling to me.

Cheap and effective solution is to go to Home Depot and get a can of black Weber Grill paint. It's flat black, heat resistant, sticks to anything, and its cheap.

Scuff up the muffler with a green scotchbrite pad and then hit it with two coats of paint. Thats the first thing I do to my cars new or old. I hate seeing silver mufflers hanging under the car.
 
I think it is peeling paint. Remember prep is 95% of the job make sure it is good and clean before painting. Becareful painting it as to not get overspray on the rest of the car and do not use news paper to mask the rest of the car off, use some sort of plastic sheeting, paint can go through news paper. High temp flat black is what I would use I think it looks better than silver but that is up to you.



Good luck

Shawn
 
Before I "jacked the car up really high" (that just sounds dangerous) I would at least give some thought to pulling the muffler and doing it off the car. I mean come on, the flange is RIGHT THERE on the case, how hard could it be?



Get some:



PB Blaster

OE Replacement Hardware In Advance
 
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