cleaning underhood aluminum

[91gmblack]

Hi,

I want to get all that ugly oxidation off the aluminum, particularly the throttle body, EGR spacer, and most of all, the AC compressor equipment & lines.

What the best way to do it?

Thanks in advance.

[GoodSamaritan]

Dont get any aluminum wheel cleaner in the alternator... don't ask me why.

[1987cp]

Dont get any aluminum wheel cleaner in the alternator... don't ask me why.

Why? :p


Seriously, though- do you want a satin or polished finish? If just a basic cleanup is good, I'd think about taking some fine emery cloth over the oxidized surfaces and follow it up with some sort of clearcoat, maybe a clear engine or wheel paint, applied with a brush. If you want fancy, The Eastwood Company sells nice detail polishing kits for use with an electric die grinder. I definitely suggest removing parts that are easily removed (upper intake assembly, for example) since it'll be easier to work with and you can spray the clear instead of brushing without having to mask up to the wazoo. The A/C and power steering brackets will probably have to come off to scrape the gunk off them (my p/s bracket I just glassbeaded and reinstalled, but again, applying a clearcoat would have been nicer) - you'll want to get to AutoZone and rent a pulley puller for that operation, but it's a good excuse to detail your pulleys.

[brokebill]

yeah what does work ? i've been cleaning under the hood on the camaro and for the intake i've been hitting it with fine sandpaper and then rubbing it out with duragloss(gold can). kinda works but will take forever. gotta be a better way.

[1987cp]

Maybe you need to start with a more aggressive grit? When you're polishing an intake manifold, for example, you usually start with coarse sanding rolls lubricated with a grinding compound. Takes forever but you'll get good results if you're patient enough. Of course, if you're lazy like me you just glassbead the part and paint it and call it good. :p

[turbo2256b]

it aint easy

[brokebill]

very nice.
is that the windshield washer cap or coolant tank cap missing?

[turbo2256b]

very nice.
is that the windshield washer cap or coolant tank cap missing?

coolant tank

[Lincolnmania]

purple power and a toothbrush

[gadget73]

remove it, sandblast it, paint it, re-install. aluminum corrodes, if left un-painted or at least sealed with clearcoat, it just gets crappy looking again in short order.

[86GmLsCoupe]

I just got an Eastwood Catalog the other day and they sell tons of underhood detailing stuff. They sell Diamond Clear Satin Aerosol for Bare Metal which goes over bare aluminum to protect it while leaving an unfinished appearance, and then there's polishes, restorers, and wax-like treatments like Zoop. You should check their site out and see what might work for you.

[Blaze86Vic]

Easiest way is to remove it all. Then it's cake to clean and clear.

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[87_crown_vic]

i use old fashioned elbow grease, and a toothbrush looking wire bristle brush(brass or regular type) after cleaning it... CLEAR it or PAINT & CLEAR