How to Prevent Discoloration of Harley Motorcycle Exhaust Pipes

There are ways to prevent discoloration due to exhaust heat coming in contact with chrome on motorcycles.

One of the most impressive and eye-catching aspects of Harley-Davidson motorcycles are their shiny chrome exhaust pipes. Over time, however, heat from the the gases being exhaled from the exhaust pipes can turn the reflective metal a dull bluish hue. High-powered engines, such as those on Harleys, will develop a lot of heat but there are many ways to slow and prevent the blue discoloration from occurring.

Things You'll Need

• Exhaust shield
• Heat-resistant paint
• Ceramic-based coating

Instructions

1. Tune your motorcycle's engine. An out-of-tune engine will cause the exhaust to be hotter than normal, forcing warmer air farther down the exhaust pipe than it usually travels. This heat will cause extensive discoloration on the exterior of the exhaust pipe.

2. Coat the inside of the exhaust pipe with high heat-resistant VHT paint. This will cause a carbon layer to form on the metal and insulate it from the hot air.

3. Coat the exterior of the exhaust pipe with a ceramic-based coating made specifically to stop discoloration of chrome. These coatings also help to insulate the metal from heat and can be purchased at most motorcycle shops.

4. Cover the exhaust pipe with a protective shield. While not as aesthetically pleasing, exhaust shields come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can even be ordered in custom-built designs from most motorcycle shops.

Tips & Warnings

• Most new motorcycles will have discoloration a few inches from the head of the exhaust pipe in the first few hundred miles. This is a breaking-in effect that should subside over time.

References

• Motorcycle Repair: Get Rid of Motorcycle Exhaust Pipe Misery
• Hackerpipes.com: Exhaust "Blueing" Information
• St. Paul Harley-Davidson: Service FAQs