Cleaning/polishing the muffler

[bbulkley]

The muffler on my car has a lot of brown stains/discoloration (not rust), and I'd like to clean it up. I think it's a stainless steel unit installed when the car was new.

Will regular engine cleaner do the job? Mother's mag and aluminum polish? Maybe just some vinegar?

[sithot]

You'll have to take it off the car to do it any justice in cleaning it.

I've polished one in the past. Never more!

Any good metal polish will work but I would suggest that you use some sort of air/electric contrivance (buffer) to aid you. Otherwise, you'll be rubbing until you're blue in the face.
Once done you can count on doing it again and again. S/S turns yellowish-brown with heat. Nothing will stop it unless you decide to have the system coated (Jet Hot, etc.).

Good luck,

Tom

[Type911]

As Tom said you should remove the muffler to really do a thorough job.
I have a full stainless muffler on my SC , Mother's polish works very well to bring back the shine & remove the yellowing from heat.

Don't tell your friends & family you spent half a morning polishing your muffler