General Rusty exhaust -already!

[LucyP]

Hi everyone

Gave Fonsie Fiat a good clean earlier today and noticed that the chrome on the exhaust is already going rusty - only had him for 4 weeks! Anyone else got the same thing??

 

[custard]

did you polish the tip with a good metal polish like autosol?

 

[LucyP]

No, will that get rid of it then?

 

[Jake_in_notts]

The whole point of a chrome is to protect the bar metal from oxidation. The fact that its already rusting suggests that chrome was either damaged or too thin to do this effectively. I would expect it to discolour a little with the heat but it shouldnt rust. Polishing it will only remove more of the surface chrome protection and it'll rust more.

 

[Nuova500]

Chrome is porous, and nowadays its usually a very poor quality. To do it properly it needs to be triple plated which is expensive and also hazardous. The Italians have never triple plated chrome which is why their chrome is pants, youll just have to live with it Im afraid. Wax it when new and keep it salt free and it will last a bit longer but still not long.

 

[Ulpian]

Correct.
Chrome is a decorative, and porous, finish. The zinc or copper plating beneath it is what should protect the steel from rusting; if it is applied at all. Polish may 'seal' the chrome for a while, but the ultimate destination is - rust
'Plastic' chrome is better, but eventually comes off too. Stainless steel does do the trick though, like the window embellishers on the Lounge...

 

[The Sultan]

if i bought a 500 i would avoid the chrome exhaust and find a stainless example in the same style and have it fitted most car manufacturers that offer any sort of chrome finish on the exhaust will encounter the same problem unless it's stainless underneath

my mates new golf gti is the same looking a bit pitted and dirty

then again think about what it's up against

constant heat change from cold to hot acid and moisture from the exhaust road salt and grit and so on even the best chrome would struggle