Have you discovered a yellow tinge forming on your motorcycle exhaust pipes and wondering what the hell is going on? Read on to find out what causes motorcycle exhaust pipes to turn yellow and what you can do to fix it.
Are you dumbfounded by the fact that for some reason your beautiful shiny chrome exhaust has started to turn yellow for no apparent reason at all? This can be especially distressing if you’re one of hose riders who take a lot of pride in keeping every inch of their motorcycle clean and shiny.
The sight of yellow pipes may cause some concern and have you questioning yourself as to what you could have done to cause it but it’s actually more natural than you might assume. Yellow motorcycle exhaust pipes are a result of the extremely hot air that is constantly flowing through them which over time discolors the finish. In most cases this is perfectly normal however there are some things that can contribute to yellowing exhaust pipes.
In this article we’ll be taking a further look into the factors that can cause yellowing motorcycle exhaust pipes and what you can do to restore them to their former glory.
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What Causes Motorcycle Exhaust Pipes To Turn Yellow
As mentioned before the rather straightforward reason behind yellowed exhaust pipes is due to the hot exhaust gasses that get funneled through the exhaust system. Yellow discoloration is normally found on stainless steel exhausts while chrome exhausts mainly tend to turn blue. On either finish you’ll observe that in most cases the discoloration will happen at the bend of the pipe as this is the part of the exhaust that gets the hottest.
The good news is that exhaust discoloration is perfectly normal and wont do any harm to you or your bike. All makes and models of motorcycles are different and most of the time a yellowed exhaust is just a natural result of standard operation but in some cases it could be a sign that something is wrong.
The main culprit that can contribute to exhaust discoloration is a motorcycle that is running lean. When a motorcycle is running lean it has too much air in the fuel/air mixture which can cause the engine to run hotter than it should. These excessively hot gases then pass through the exhaust system which is where the discoloration can occur.
If you’re noticing the yellowing is contained to a small isolated spot on the exhaust then that could be an indication that there is a leak in the exhaust. If you suspect that this could be the case it’s best to take your bike to a qualified motorcycle mechanic to check it over.
How To Fix Yellowed Exhaust Pipes
Depending on your style and the look you’re trying to achieve you might actually like the unique look of a yellow or blue exhaust, if that’s the case for you then you can simply leave it. However if you aren’t a fan of the look then there is a few ways you deal with the problem.
The first thing you can try is to polish the exhaust pipes using a quality metal polish, if you’re running a chrome pipe and dealing with blue pipes then your best bet will be Blue Job Polish. This method will take some patience and a bit of elbow grease but should work in removing the discoloration and bringing back the natural metal shine. The reality is that the discoloration will most likely eventually come back at some stage so it will require periodic attention if you want to maintain that look.
If the idea of frequent polishing doesn’t sound all that fun and you’re open to a complete new look two options you could consider are investing in a ceramic coating for your exhaust or wrapping your pipes with exhaust wrap. Both ceramic coating and exhaust wrap work to reduce exhaust temperatures and will eliminate exhaust discoloration with the main difference between the two being the aesthetic.
To Conclude
A yellow motorcycle exhaust is a result of the hot engine gases flowing through the pipes. In most cases this is completely normal and is purely just a cosmetic effect but in some cases exhaust discoloration can be caused by the engine running lean or even due to an exhaust leak.
Running your bike with a yellowed or blue exhaust is completely harmless and will purely come down to the type of aesthetic you prefer. If you don’t mind the look then you can carry on but if you want to remove the yellowing the best method is to use a metal polish to buff out the discoloration however this will require ongoing attention.
Be sure to check out our other posts for more great motorcycle content!