clean up exhaust

[Stevepshipley]

hi,
I want to clean up a couple of S2 exhaust and tailpipes. is caustic soda the right route (ie:does it actually de-coke the exhaust) if so what sort of strength do I use? will an old wheelie bin hold the fluid ok? or can I use oven or drain cleaner?

cheers steve

[Martin20]

I used caustic soda on the old exhaust I inherited on my series 3. Can't remember the exact mix I used, but I made it quite strong! Poured mix carefully into tail pipe, then blocked it with a potato! Did this a number of times, and a lot of 'crud' came out! Exhaust still going strong today!

[martyn dwane]

wear eye protection and rubber gloves, It can be nasty stuff.

[hullygully]

& what ever you do DONT do it in your mam's sink, or you lose her window nets!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fast n Furious]

Still prefer the propane torch and compressed air method myself.
You can also use a paint stripping hot air gun blasting down the header pipe, but its best to wrap the exhaust with some insulating material like Rockwool cavity batts to hold the heat in.
You will also need some understanding neighbours.