Smelly encounter with plastic bag…

[astark]

Yesterday I took my car out for a spirited drive. On the way home I saw a plastic bag flopping around in the road. I thought I drove by the bag but realized, when I parked, that it had attached it’s self to my muffler and melted. I want to remove the residue of the bag (it smells) but don’t want to scratch the surface of the SS Bursch. I thought about taking the car a long drive to burn the bag off but I think that won't work and only leave a black sticky residue. I tried to “peal” pieces of the bag off with my fingers when it was cool but that will take forever. Any one have this problem??? what did you do to remove the bag???
TIA,
Alan

[astark]

Forgot to post this pix...

For reference - you are looking at the tailpipe from underneath the car

Thanks,
Alan

[RickM]

Talk about bad luck.

I don't think that will be easy to clean up.

I'd scrape whatever I could when cold (and hopefully brittle).
Then get to operating temp and let cool again. Might have to do this a couple of times. Trying to remove when hot will just smear...unless you can initially peel some of the stuff off.
Then utilize a coarse, medium, fine polish to get back to a shine.

[svandamme]

burn it off
shouldn't take too long at some point it will be black and carb clean will get it off without too much effort

[SpeedracerIndy]

Just make sure there isn't enough to catch on fire!!!! Wouldn't want to start a fire in that area.

[PorschePilot]

I had that happen also. I used lacquer thinner, which soften up the plastic and a nylon bristle brush. It took a little work, but no damage. Other solvents may work, like carb cleaner that NAPA auto parts sells. Make sure to wear good eye protection.

[goat]

Could you use a freon type of spray and feeeze then it would be real brittle and might come off easier?

[Paulporsche]

I would try the lacquer thinner.

If that works, wash the thinner off the exhaust before starting the car.

Paul

[B D]

Lacquer thinner, or adhesive remover should do the trick. Or get it hot and get a cheap brush and some soap and water and scub it off, then rinse and repeat.

[KFC911]

You might try "Goo Gone", or the 3M 'gum remover' product on a shop rag. I've have great success with GG removing all kinds of crap off of my car (without abusing my lungs). I sure wouldn't want to scratch the SS with a brush, etc.

[RickM]

Laquer thinner sounds like a good idea...or anything that will dissolve a plastic bag. Perhaps apply with a fine or medium Scotch Brite pad.

[Amac]

Had a some clear plastic stick to a B & B muffler.
I used sand paper to get it off, then used 800
wet to get the shine back.

[B D]

Originally posted by KC911
You might try "Goo Gone", or the 3M 'gum remover' product on a shop rag. I've have great success with GG removing all kinds of crap off of my car (without abusing my lungs). I sure wouldn't want to scratch the SS with a brush, etc.

When I said brush I meant a plastic bristle brush, not a metal brush. The scotch pad would be good too.

[astark]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll let y'all know how it turns out.

Alan

[no substitute]

Have you seen the movie Alien? Wow, that's creepy looking.
This happened to me with a Honda years ago. It took forever to burn off, and I've learned to avoid plastic bags like they're a large chunk of metal. The freon idea sounds good.