Aluminium cleaner ?

[Sibbo]

What do you use to clean your engine casings ? Something gentle and non corrosive ( and preferably available in Australia )?

Up to now I've been relying on degreaser and detergent but something to brighten things up a little would be good !

[Sibbo]

Really ? Nothing ! I'm surprised .

[Mal S7]

Gday Sibbo,

If you don't want to use acids then use scouring pads and wire wheels on angle grinder or drill; keep it wet with WD40 so you don't get scratches! Finish with spray degreaser. Works a treat.

cheers
Mal

[grant81rs]

Gidday Sibbo,

The stuff I just used worked great, easy to apply and buffed up well considering the alloy was well used and flat looking, I text the metal polisher that I got it off to find out the name as I had a few others on a facebook site wanting to know also!!

He said its not an over the counter item, is a heavy duty industry product used for prime mover bullbars and truck rims etc and that he buys it in bulk lots... so no name was mentioned and i really did not want to push the issue to far otherwise my jam jar supply could run out

Sorry I'm of no help to you..

[Sibbo]

Thanks Mal, thanks Grant .

Grant that's something to follow up , we have a big trucking firm based in town with their maintenance workshops and their trucks alway look very bright and clean, especially the alloy . I'll pay them a visit .

[Roy Gavin]

For cast alloy a scrub with Penetrene and a bronze or SS brush works OK, remove the residue with a $2- spray can of solvent based degreaser, removed with a water blaster or a stiff brush.

Then you have to seal the surface or it corrodes PDQ. I use a "Polyglaze" Auto resin polish which seems to seal the rough surface a bit, darkens it a little so it doesn't look like you just cleaned it, and lasts well.

If you want to polish smooth extruded alloy Solvol Autosol is still as good as anything, though I recently used Luster Lace strips which worked real well, particularly on the SS exhaust headers which usually need removed and brought up one mop at a time on the spindle

[Sibbo]

Thanks Roy .... something else to try . I think I have a few bronze wire brushes somwhere .

[ME 109]

I've used CT18 Super Truck Wash for years with good results. Diluted 1-10 with water and sprayed over everything. Allow to sit at least an hour and then wash with a pressure washer. Available from all the auto joints.

Bloody good stuff and will not harm any surface. Dirty engines will need the scrubbing brush as well, at first.

[SteveD]

And then, when all nice and clean, there's make up for motorcycles, Rub 'n buff.

Before and after...

[Duane Ausherman]

I have heard aluminum pronounced differently, but never speled differently.