Boxerworks.com

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 !

Really ? Nothing ! I'm surprised .

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

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..

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 .

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

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

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.

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

Before and after...

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