Decided to let my valve covers soak over night in some degreaser but now the top part is very oxidized and it had some white buildup on it. The aluminum wheel cleaner I had helped a little but not much. Anything I can do to clean this up rather than hit it with some aluminum spray paint?
NAPA stores sell a product called aluminum brightener: https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/MCR1458 It works really well on oxidized aluminum, but is nasty stuff so be sure to wear eye and hand protection.
Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish.
Media blast it
Zep-alum.
I prefer to use either glass bead or walnut shells rather then chemicals. If you don't have access to a blast cabinet then chemical it is.
Phosphoric acid is commonly used to clean aluminum. It's also used to clean or etch concrete depending on the concentrate of the acid, it's usually diluted with water. Look any place that sells products for that purpose. You can also use a product "Lime Away" as it's main ingredient is phosphoric acid.
Eagle One makes a product called Etching Mag Wheel Cleaner. Basically you spray it on let it sit due some light scrubbing and rinse off with water. Cleans up oxidated aluminum pretty nicely. Be sure to wear eye protection and rubber gloves as the stuff is pretty harsh on skin. After dry and clean you could probably use rattle can clear spray to preserve finish. Aluminum corrodes pretty easily after cleaning.
jimbbski said:I prefer to use either glass bead or walnut shells rather then chemicals. If you don't have access to a blast cabinet then chemical it is.
Phosphoric acid is commonly used to clean aluminum. It's also used to clean or etch concrete depending on the concentrate of the acid, it's usually diluted with water. Look any place that sells products for that purpose. You can also use a product "Lime Away" as it's main ingredient is phosphoric acid.
IIRC so is Coke :)
You can use steel wool to remove the oxidation then use metal polish.
pirate said:Eagle One makes a product called Etching Mag Wheel Cleaner. Basically you spray it on let it sit due some light scrubbing and rinse off with water. Cleans up oxidated aluminum pretty nicely. Be sure to wear eye protection and rubber gloves as the stuff is pretty harsh on skin. After dry and clean you could probably use rattle can clear spray to preserve finish. Aluminum corrodes pretty easily after cleaning.
This stuff is pretty similar to the NAPA aluminum cleaner I mentioned earlier. I haven't been able to find the Eagle One cleaner as easily in my area in recent years, it seems like the auto parts stores don't carry it for whatever reason but it will work well too.
I spent some time last night using steel wool and some Mothers Polish as well as some other aluminum cleaner I got from the store yesterday. I think I got it back to original, 150k mile condition at least.
I may pick up the Eagle One cleaner or Coke to clean it up more. Thought I'd make it look nice during a 10-minute valve cover gasket job which has turned into a several day job.
The flat, cleaner part is where I was testing the aluminum cleaner. Probably went through 10 rounds of the Mothers and the Other stuff and that is how it turned out. The rest of the cover was just using steel wool.
There is another product used to clean the aluminum fins on air conditioning coils. There are several brand names. Basically same process spray it on watch it foam and rinse ir off with water. Can be found at HVAC shops.
stuart in mn said:pirate said:Eagle One makes a product called Etching Mag Wheel Cleaner. Basically you spray it on let it sit due some light scrubbing and rinse off with water. Cleans up oxidated aluminum pretty nicely. Be sure to wear eye protection and rubber gloves as the stuff is pretty harsh on skin. After dry and clean you could probably use rattle can clear spray to preserve finish. Aluminum corrodes pretty easily after cleaning.
This stuff is pretty similar to the NAPA aluminum cleaner I mentioned earlier. I haven't been able to find the Eagle One cleaner as easily in my area in recent years, it seems like the auto parts stores don't carry it for whatever reason but it will work well too.
Last time I purchased was from Amazon.
jimbbski said:I prefer to use either glass bead or walnut shells rather then chemicals. If you don't have access to a blast cabinet then chemical it is.
Phosphoric acid is commonly used to clean aluminum. It's also used to clean or etch concrete depending on the concentrate of the acid, it's usually diluted with water. Look any place that sells products for that purpose. You can also use a product "Lime Away" as it's main ingredient is phosphoric acid.
Thats not going to fix the current issue though. It needs to be plolished.
FWIW, Draino or other pipe cleaning pellets will do the same thing.
I've used two other products to get a shine from dulled aluminum like that. One is to get one of those "not-metal" wire wheels like this.
I would then follow it up by using a non-woven abrasive pad.
Then I would go to the polish to get whatever shine you can.
It's a shame that we aren't neighbors. Five minutes in the bead blast cabinet would have that thing looking bueno.
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