Hey all. I am looking to get the engine compartment all spiffied up for the spring as I have some garage time. My car is darn near mint, but the bare, dull aluminum engine parts (alternator, brackets, etc...) are a little white-powdery-fuzzy looking. What product/products can be used to make them look nice again? I don't want to polish them, but just remove the oxidation if possible. I've got everything else detailed and beautiful. Thanks!!
Mike

 

Bump... anyone??
Help!
Mike B

 

I dont thing it can be cleaned...a shop that does blasting could probably do it gently with a dry-ice blasting, but even that would be risky...would have to mask the bodywork to keep the dust off(even blasting with dry ice would blow the powdery aluminum oxide dust all over- sandpaper is aluminum oxide...)

*if* you did dry ice blast back to a brand new cast look, you will still have the recurring oxidation...on my 09, I warmed the motor(not hot, just warmed up) and sprayed WD40 over the bare aluminum/magnesium areas...it discolored a bit darkish compared to bright aluminum color, but it still looks the same 4 years later- although its still never been driven or gotten wet even, so who knows...

I WD40 sprayed my 06 at a few months old as it was starting to oxidize with the white spots appearing, so far it hasnt changed much either, just dirty... its never seen salt- but gets driven all weather when no salt out, and sits outside 90% of the year(only gets put away if storms are looming-I'm lazy and too much junk in the garage)

if you do any type of oiling on the car, be careful- exhaust gets hot enough you might light it up and burn it to the ground...

Ive thought a lot about trying to clean the engine, dry-ice blasting is the only idea Ive come up with that could be done on a engine in the car- but the dust is a big deal to address... cant be cleaning that off without scratching, but masking the nose wouldnt be that bad I guess... I'm open to any ideas/suggestions too- hate that Ford didnt paint the engines, the sloppy oxidation looks like crap in no time...a buddy had a KB blown 05 that was a wicked fast car- but under his hood was one of the ugliest engines Ive ever seen, as a year round car, salt/roadspray had the entire engine looking like it was recovered from the titanic...except for the black blower of course

while under the hood, watch the front lip for paint bubbling- they are just about all doing it, if you catch it before it bleeds under the front lip you have options that dont involve exterior paint/match/etc...

 

I would think WD40 would stink like insecticide and attract dirt. I hate the smell of that stuff. Plus I've read some reports it has sulfuric acid in it - to break lose frozen bolts/nuts. Can't believe some people oil their guns with it.

 

oh both cars stunk to high heaven the next day when I fully warmed it up...like after putting on a new exhaust, exact same stink.
I know they say theres acid in it, but its in there to break up corrosion so the oil can wick into the metal... a bad idea maybe, but a idea no less

without stripping the engine down, or pulling it out, I really dont think there are many options...the dryice blast is still something I'd like to try- but that still leaves the sealing issue...oiling is still all I can imagine without pulling it and painting.