Cleaning aluminum intake

[thewrongguy]

Hi

Last owner (dealer) used engine degreaser on my mustang which really cleaned up the engine, but made the aluminum intake look really oxidized. Anyone know a simple trick for cleaning it up?

Thanks

Jeff

 

[satanas]

Try using mothers or a aluminum polish got to hardware store they should have some

 

[thewrongguy]

Does aluminum polish work on rough cast aluminum finishes as well?

 

[Jim D.]

It depends on how rough it is -- you could try an aluminum polish such at Mothers, but you'll have to follow with a brush to clean the polish out of the nooks and crannies. But if it were polished already, then you could certainly use that, even with a PowerBall Mini.

For a stock finish, I'd first try a mild soap solution and a stiff detail brush -- plastic or brass might work best, but experiment in an out-of-the-way place in case you don't like the look. Alternatively, you could try a scrub sponge, or even a fine steel wool.

If you like the way it looks, finish with a careful rinse and a light spray of diluted trim protectant and run the engine until it dries (might as well detail the rest of the engine compartment if you're ambitious).

Your other choice, as I see it, is to remove the intake and have it media blasted, but that's probably too much trouble.

Is this on your '90 LX 2.3?

 

[thewrongguy]

Nope, my profile was really out of date, my 90 2.3 turbo got sideswiped at an intersection 3 weeks after the 2.3 turbo swap. That was about 4 years ago, took a detour with a econobox neon (manual was alot of fun to drive, and it handled really well). Bought a 2002 3.8 with the intent of making a 4.2 stroker, and thats the car its for.


Thanks for your tips, something to think about.

Tommorow i'll post a underhood shot to give everyone a better idea of what i'm trying to improve upon. Its not a show car, but that aluminum iritates me for some reason.