Cleaning the moped exhaust
How it is done
Every moped enthusiast knows the situation: In the beginning, the moped ran wonderfully. But at some point, the suspicion creeps in that your moped has lost some of its power. Maybe you're just imagining the drop in performance, but why does the bike suddenly need more fuel? You search the internet for information, talk to friends and listen to all kinds of advice. In fact, you're not the only one whose bike is losing power. In many cases, it is enough to clean the moped exhaust and everything is fine again. But how do you clean it? In this article, you will find out how to proceed and which tools are effective.
Back to old strength - cleaning the exhaust pipe
You will hardly recognise your old bike the first time you ride it with a freshly cleaned exhaust pipe. Your moped won't go any faster than it did originally. In fact, it may well feel that way when the loss of power has suddenly been rectified. Another pleasant effect is that fuel consumption is noticeably reduced. It becomes problematic when you get the tip that you should burn out your exhaust, as this is not always a good idea.
Burning out the exhaust pipe - the radical method
During the burnout process, all parts are filled with fuel, which is then ignited. It smokes and stinks and is supposed to solve all problems. Unfortunately, the reality is different. With this method, you run the risk of destroying the insulating material of the exhaust pipe. As a result, your plane may be quite loud afterwards. Admittedly, it is a spectacular spectacle, but there is a risk of injury and it is a fire hazard for you and anyone watching you. If you want to clean the exhaust, burning it out is an option, but it is not recommended. The danger you expose yourself to is reason enough to stay away from it. But how do you get the exhaust pipe clean? There is a gentler way for people, the environment and materials, and you don't even need tools.
The alternative: cleaning with baking soda
If you want to gently clean the exhaust pipe of your bike, you should get some baking soda. You can get it at any drugstore and it doesn't cost much. Take several hundred grams with you. If you don't have any cleaning gloves at home, you can get some on the way back. This is because caustic soda should not come into direct contact with your hands and eyes.
When you get home, pour the baking soda into a litre of water and stir everything well. Once the lye has been mixed, pour it into all the cavities of the exhaust pipe. To prevent the caustic solution from leaking out, then tape up all the openings in the pipe. Waterproof adhesive tape is particularly suitable for this. Of course, you can also use other solutions. Many DIY enthusiasts are extremely inventive here. The only thing that matters is that the lye cannot leak out.
After 12 hours, you can remove the adhesive tape seal. It is best to collect the lye in a bucket. You will be amazed at how dirty the solution is. So don't take a bucket that you want to use afterwards to store apples in. This stuff is VERY DIRTY! The good thing about it: Everything that floats in the suds has previously polluted the exhaust system of your motorbike. Now you just have to wash out the exhaust thoroughly to make sure everything comes out. When you're done, the exhaust will look like new!
Oven cleaner insider tip - how to get the soot out
The baking soda method works wonders. However, it does involve a certain amount of effort. The good news is that you don't always have to use such heavy artillery. If the exhaust system is only slightly to moderately dirty, there is an easier way. All you need is commercially available oven cleaner. With this type of soot removal, you simply spray the exhaust with the cleaner. After leaving it to work for 30-60 minutes, rinse the foam out with water and you're done! Even stubborn oil films can be removed with grease remover. As you can see, everything you need to thoroughly clean your exhaust system is easy to obtain.
Disposing of waste water - take care of the environment
Our advice definitely falls into the ‘chemical cleaning’ category. Your moped will not be damaged in the process. This should also apply to the environment, because cleaning your exhaust produces waste water that does not belong in the sink or toilet. You can fill the dirty water into a canister and take it to a recycling centre. The wastewater will be disposed of properly there.
How often should the exhaust system be cleaned?
How often you carry out the procedure depends on the degree of soiling. If you ride a lot of kilometres on your moped, you will have to maintain it more often. A good average is every two to three months. If you are reluctant to work with caustic soda, you should opt for shorter intervals. This way, not so much soot will build up and the oven cleaner will suffice. To keep an overview, you can also keep a record and enter the days on which you have cleaned the exhaust in your calendar. We wish you a safe journey and lots of fun with your Slowrider!
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Image sources:
Featured image: Kreidler by Raphael
Image of exhaust pipe beating flames: © modify260 - stock.adobe.com
Picture with baking soda in bowl: © Igor Dudchak - stock.adobe.com
