Advice needed on engine detailing

Flynn · 09-26-05, 02:51

I've started to detail my engine and I'm after some advice for getting some of the rather tired looking bits clean.

The silver radiator pipe and the air filter in the picture have now been cleaned with Autosol and then a little S&G to get them looking nice.

I've highlighted the two areas I want to concentrate on at the moment. These are the throttle body and air intake. Both are aluminium and rather badly corroded.

What's the best way to get these looking good again?

WaxIt · 09-26-05, 07:11

maybe Wenol?!?

AndyC_1 · 09-26-05, 08:23

AG Metal Polish, Peek Metal Polish and various grades of wire wool worked on some of my aluminium if that's any help - just be prepared for lots of elbow grease!

themightytimmah · 09-26-05, 10:43

I used Aluminum brightener on mine. Its pretty harsh stuff though, but it saves a ton of work from polishing by hand.

klnyc · 09-26-05, 10:50

Umm, Mother Alum polisher will do it.

MikeWarner · 09-26-05, 11:15

Have you tried a steam clean? It got bits like that on my car like new.

Flynn · 09-26-05, 11:48

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I've got a little steam cleaner (well it's a wallpaper stripper with a steam cleaner attachment) so I may well give that a go first. Then I'll track down some the products mentioned and try those. I'm not looking to get these parts shiny like chrome but it would be good if they looked rather less tired.

marko · 09-26-05, 06:05

you can make them shiney like polished aluminum with a drill, buff, and jewlers rouge. first things first, I'd scrub them with nevr-dull and see what we're into here. you might try 3m abrasive pads and any good metal polish. those parts appear to be fairly accessible, so I wouldn't rule out using drill attachments. a little power goes a long way. and yes, I take less integral parts off my engine and polish them.