Aluminum engine block cleaning.

[rmemedic]

There are some smart people on here, figured someone knows a really good trick for cleaning aluminum.

I picked up a used LS1 to swap in to my trans am. Obviously the car the engine was in was driven in the winter, heavy oxidation to the block and accessory brackets. I'm wet sanding some parts of it like the throttle body etc, but there must be another way to get the block looking better... I really don't want to do it with a scotchbrite pad.

Any ideas/tricks??

 

[mmmnaked]

There are some smart people on here, figured someone knows a really good trick for cleaning aluminum.

I picked up a used LS1 to swap in to my trans am. Obviously the car the engine was in was driven in the winter, heavy oxidation to the block and accessory brackets. I'm wet sanding some parts of it like the throttle body etc, but there must be another way to get the block looking better... I really don't want to do it with a scotchbrite pad.

Any ideas/tricks??

I'd say try an acidic aluminum wheel cleaner, but use it carefully because it'll remove plating from stuff like bolts.

How bout a steam cleaner? I bet that would work really well in conjunction with some kind of general cleaner/degreaser.

 

[inreb]

After doing the PineSol carb soak with great results I figured why not clean the engine with PineSol. After getting most of the crud off with kerosene and rinse. Used a paint brush to apply PineSol. It does not run off to badly. Apply every 1/2 to 1 hour over 8-10 hours. After that rinse off with water and apply WD40. That worked for me. DR 650 engine was spotless.

 

[rmemedic]

Thx guys... I'm goin to go the acid route, scrub it best I can and then just paint it with some aluminum colored engine enamel.
Dont need show car shine but I don't want to be embarrassed to open the hood.

 

[YZFer]

parts washer, and a tooth brush

 

[SONIC]

parts washer, and a tooth brush

+1

Good ol fashioned varsol always does the trick!