Plastic Bag vs Exhaust

Dec 22, 2006 6 Replies
E

Hi all,



I asked this question over in rec.autos.tech, and got little response.



A neighbor has a large black plastic trash bag stuck all over her catalytic converters, and several feet of (stainless) exhaust pipes following... it covered remarkably even and adhered extremely well. We pulled/scraped off all we could, but most of plastic still remains.



As parking outside both at home and work is an issue in this case, I'm wondering if anyone might have suggestions or ideas on cleaning the smelly mess, short of just letting the remains burn off.



Thanks in advance!



Erik


Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
R

Realistically nothing much will dissolve polyethylene. Of course it can be done in the lab but that takes boiling in hazardous, expensive solvents. Burning it off is an option but there is a danger of starting a fire down there. I suggest talking to a muffler shop about this. That would be a lot cheaper than starting a fire near the gas tank.

Richard

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
F

If you have physically removed all you can, the best thing to do is just let the rest pyrolyze off. Other than odor, it should not catch fire or cause any damage to metal. Frank

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
L

Scrape off as much as you can with a brass brush or scraper while hot. Any residuals will eventually just crumble away.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
W

Or the other way around.. scrape it off at freezing temperatures, might be easier, depending the way it sticks to it.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
L

Brittleness temp for most HDPE is >-0°f. I'd much rather do it warm!

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
L

Oops, that should have read < 0°f......

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required