I seems I ran over a plastic bag and now it is melted (bonded?) to my headers. It is really on there. These are ceramic coated and I don't want to damage them. This stuff is really stuck on there. Any ideas on how to get it off?

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Pat Kelley
66 & 67 El Caminos

ceramic coat is really tuff stuff, i'd try paint remover in an small place first, you need to brake down the plastic so it's plyable, or brake fluid, god i was just thinking what i'd do if this happened to me, acetone maybe, on painted headers you'd would deffently have to repaint, good luck!, maybe experiment first,dilute the paint remover down with some water.

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Ugh, I had the same problem when my disconnected TCS sender plug decided to bond with my ceramic coated hookers. I picked as much of the black gunk with my fingernail as I could, and used some Meguiar's liquid wax. It took a while to all come off, but I didnt want to use anything stronger or more abrasive in the interest of preserving the finish. Worked for me! Good luck--Tony

I've also had this happen. used a propane torch to kinda soften the goo, scraped with a stick & -lightly- hit it with steel wool. After it cooled, I polished the coating with Mother's 7 you can't tell it was gooey.

I would GUESS that any petroleum or carbon based solvent would reduce the plastic and not touch the ceramic. try acetone ( nail polish remover)or other such compound. I have a contact cleaner based on TriChlorEthylene. Serious carcinogen, but would make easily cleanable goo out of the plastic.

Or try heat.

The HPC guys say to shine them with ScotchBrite, which is very abrasive. Call one of the coating guys and ask if you can just scrub it off the old fashioned way.

Thanks for the suggestions. So far I have tried lacquer thinner, acetone, and MEK. MEK seems to doing the best but it is still a long process. I think the plastic is so tenacious because the heat has changed it on a molecular level. It's no longer the same plastic it was before.


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Pat Kelley
66 & 67 El Caminos

I got it off. At least, the vast majority of it. I scraped as much as possible with a utility knife then used a stainless steel pot scruber soaked in MEK. There were a few spots I just couldn't get to. I finished with ScotchBrite and water. The area lost some of it luster. I hope to find something that will bring back the luster.

Thanks for all the suggestions and remember avoid plastic bags in the road, I know I will.

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Pat Kelley
66 & 67 El Caminos

MEK Methyl-Ethyl-Ketone use that stuff about every day. Potent stuff, don't be smoking around that stuff. Smell will get you high quick. It is good for cleaning 3m glue also.

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Malibu 307 (aka 406 smblk)
69 SS 396(aka 454)
Wolf in sheeps skin

Yesterday I found an old tape measure while cleaning the garage, it was covered in an oily, dusty film. I sprayed it with CRC brake kleen and it melted the case, I don't know if it would work on a plastic bag but it ruined the tape.

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Philip Valentine
Lakeside, AZ
Team Chevelle Member #42 GOLD
philip@chevelles.com