So, I have a 2009 XF Supercharged. My tips and lower bumper are always covered in black soot, I cant figure it out and I have asked the dealership on several visits with no recommended solution or fix. I have never noticed this on other XF's, I have a Mina Exhaust if that helps any. Even looking at Youtube vids of XF exhausts and the inside of the exhaust tips are even sparkling clean.

 

Do you floor it a lot? lol. Do you have an aftermarket tune? My guess is that it is just fuel from the car running rich so you shouldn't have to worry about it. Most factory ECUs are going to run on the rich side (since they have to tune for worst case scenario in regards to fuel, conditions, etc...), especially at high rpm's or high boost so this should be expected. Typically the stock catalyst or mufflers will take care of it so maybe the Mina is exacerbating it a little, but I have no experience with them so it's just a guess. I will tell you that this has always been a problem for me on my sports cars as they usually don't run any kind of catalyst to clean up the exhaust, the RX-7 is pretty bad about it. I have found that being generous about waxing around the effected area usually helps to make it really easy to wipe away.

 

Pretty normal, these cars run a little rich from the factory. My Mina exhaust is always dirty inside and that's been the case on all of my performance cars. If you are seeing clean tips on the inside on videos they probably just got washed

 

What about my bumper? Same thing? I just thought cause my bumper was getting black something was wrong. I can understand the tips.

 

Yep bumper too.. My car is black so it's harder to see but I'm sure I would have some there too. You could get an aftermarket tune to add power and lean it out a bit, that might help a little. But you're always going to get some that on lighter colored cars.

 

IMO true on all of the above.

Best advice I can offer, is to get the tips as clean as can be, inside n out to start with.

Presumably washing your car regularly, include the tips on every wash giving them plenty of attention

See below the tips on my Audi A6 at around 7 years old and 114k miles, they look good as new.



Being a diesel it suffers probably at least, if not more so from heavy soot deposits under acceleration.

Hope it helps..

Best

 

My white 2010 has the same problem. Take a magic eraser to the bumper. Makes it look as good as new in about 15 minutes. I then use a good wax on the bumper and tips. Wash it once a week and you definitely won't have that buildup.