engine and drivetrain Tips On Cleaning Engine Aluminum

[mdh]

Getting ready to replace the engine and I decided to clean her up first. Just painted the block but I am not sure what to do with the aluminum. It looks like someone may have painted some of it at some time and there is a bunch of oxidation. Any tips on how to get it back to the way it looked without damaging anything?

[Jace]

wire wheel it, sand blast it, oven cleaner, soak in pepsi or vinegar (equally repulsive substances)(anything with a heap of acetic acid)

[tim385]

Hydro Blast .....and it lasts.....very very high pressure water with glass beads.

[mdh]

Looking for options thar can be done without taking engine apart and that are not overly abrasive.

[Rocan]

Soda blast it... Essentially use baking soda in place of abrasive sand in a media blaster. You can then rinse with water in order to clean it up.

[mdh]

Blasting cant be done, no garage, no compressor.... This is a driveway "restoration" and my m10 lives in my living room...

[allbim]

Go to Harbor Freight and get yourself some  toothbrush sized wire brushes. 

[Rocan]

that explains the wood floors... haha...

 

you can totally soda blast in your driveway, or even in a sink. invest in a small compressor. 

 

 

Trust me. Seriously, I have spent more time cleaning and polishing aluminum then I care to admit. This will be the best solution that fits around your demands. the correct finish is attained by sending them off to get tumbled, but it sounds like you don't want to disassemble and simply want it cleaned... therefore this is just about your only option that wont scratch or damage your covers. 

[algon]

Duro makes a product called Aluminum Jelly. Just like their Naval Jelly for rust removal on steel but for aluminum. Brush some on, wait a spell, brush with a stiff brush and rinse thoroughly.

[peterschop]

I sometimes use WD40 and blue shop paper towels. Works wonders for cleaning off old grease and grime off your engine. Spray it on, work it in, wipe off. Repeat. Don't know if it will take the paint off. Maybe with some small Harbor Freight wire brass brushes and WD40, you can remove the paint.

[dbmw2002]

I chuck the cone shaped wire brush in my 1/2 drill and see what a half a horse will do, hasnt left a scratch and cleans it up great, manis, lids and blocs, eqwally well, use a brass tooth brush and Carb cleaner for the nooks

[TobyB]

Oil eater and a scrub brush.

 

Wax and Grease remover and a scrub brush.

 

Engine degreaser and a scrub brush.

 

...

 

Notice a trend?

 

t

[bob02]

Blasting cant be done, no garage, no compressor.... This is a driveway "restoration" and my m10 lives in my living roomIMG_20130910_013005.jpg...

If that were my situation, i'd put a pan below, get the comet from under the sink, and both brass and regular toothbrush bristle brushes, and go to town. Rinse with a spray bottle. Repeat.

 

 Good luck,

 

 bob

[turbophil]

Bite the bullet, pull the covers off for cleaning and reseal.  Why go through all the work to pull the engine without resealing it before going back into the car?  

 

Murphy's Law: The gaskets you didn't replace while it was out will leak...

[dbmw2002]

17 days later you will have a clean engine, ignore gentle brushing and bash the sit out of it

yea thats what I said