cleaning aluminum?

[bison]

any idea what concoction to use to clean corrosion off aluminum castings like intake, IP's and such?

 

[schiker]

Not much for corrosion might be only sandblasting-beadblasting. Cleaners would remove grease, oil, and crud but not corrosion excessive oxidation I don't think.

Carb cleaner seems to work about the best or me. Gunk engine cleaner before to get the excess stuff off. Cast is just too rough to clean with a polish or cleaner but might try some type of marine cleaner for aluminum again that I would think would work well for diecast, extruded, or billet but not too hopeful for rough cast ie sand or lost foam etc.

Don't use Greased Lightening it will etch? the piss out of it - dull it up and streak it.

 

[Acesneights1]

Aluminum Jelly.

 

[ak diesel driver]

Didn't Matt use b100 on his truck?

 

[bk95td]

I use wire wheels. I have a vast assortment to get in all the nooks and crannys. Steel wool or scotchbrite on the ip's. I did sandblast the intakes. I was tempted to try oven cleaner for the bad grease but never did.

 

[schiker]

Thought of something. I have never seen it but have heard of a marine product called toon brite. Its used to remove oxidation and stains from pontoon boat toons. Again it is probably more for a smooth finish not sure what it will do for cast.

Is what you are trying to clean like a white scale from water corrosion? Hence the marine type products might be your best area to look into. Again not to cop out but seems like they usually paint cast and clean smooth surfaces with a polish like product. The smoother the surface generally the better it resists oxidation/corrosion.

If I remember correctly oven cleaner like Easy Off will "eat" aluminum. I think its basically strong Lye (can't remember if that is a acid or base).

 

[Matt Bachand]

Didn't Matt use b100 on his truck?

Used B100 as a parts cleaner, never tried it on aluminum. But a product called "A must for rust" worked really well on my diamond plate. In fact, I didn't even scrub, just sprayed it on, and walked away and it still looks bright 9 months later.

It all happened when some overspray dripped on to the diamond plate, the drips were so clean it looked like paint the next day, revealing how filthy the plate was.

 

[Missy Good Wench]

Aluminum Bright (get it at NAPA) is an acid based product. It really works well for cleaning up nasty looking alloy.


Missy

 

[bison]

thanks guys and gal.
Now beside the Aluminum bright,where do i get the other products mentioned cuz i never heard of it,and no one local seems to have any thing other than the usuall stuff that dont work.
I dont have a sand or bead blaster and wire wheeling is to time consuming.

 

[Crankme69]

Take the components to yr local car wash, hit em with the super soak wash & then rinse with the high pressure rinse, works great on my old side covers / cases on my Superglide.

 

[bison]

No go,i tried that with my own pressure washer with industrial strenght soap/cleaner.

 

[Crankme69]

Worth a try...it really does clean up the motor nicely on my Harley.

You must have some heavy duty oxidation & chit there.

 

[Crankme69]

Maybe try a little easy off oven cleaner on the bottom for a test?

 

[chris4521]

I would suggest oven cleaner as well, but it might eat away at it a bit (sure does a number on the skin)

 

[btfarm]

Do not laugh... Tomato juice.




OK... go ahead and laugh.
until you try it.

 

[NVW]

Do not laugh... Tomato juice.




OK... go ahead and laugh.
until you try it.

Also works on skunk spray:thumbsup:

 

[bison]

i got no tomato juice,will ketchup do or a raw tomato):h

 

[btfarm]

You guys are laughing... I just know you are. Now my feelings are hurt...:sad:








Hell I don't know about ketchup or a raw tomato. Just try it. I just know I've cleaned aluminum before by soaking it with juice or canned tomatoes mooshed onto it.




OK I'm over it...

 

[handcannon]

Last winter I got a non egr intake manifold for my 1983 6.2. It was apparently origionally a military item as it was covered in a thick, tough, black kind paint (maybe epoxy paint). I ended up using a piant remover to clean it up. What I used was "Jasco Premium paint and epoxy remover". It is a thick, jelly like stuff that I brushed on, let set for a while, then wire brushed it, then hosed it off. It took several applications to get all the paint off, but I ended up with a manifold that looked brand new it was so shiny. I don't know how it would work for the kind of oxidation you are trying to remove but worth a try.

Don

 

[bison]

You guys are laughing... I just know you are. Now my feelings are hurt...:sad:








Hell I don't know about ketchup or a raw tomato. Just try it. I just know I've cleaned aluminum before by soaking it with juice or canned tomatoes mooshed onto it.




OK I'm over it...

You're busted,it doesnt work worth a Fiddlers F'ckrrr:h