Simple Green- Its simple.. Dont use it on Aluminum

**YeboGoGo** · 01-31-2010, 09:18 PM

I had a friend call me recently and asked about simple green on aluminum. Apparently he used it @ 10:1 on his wheels. The finish went dulll.. He was left thinking :hm

I remembered it was corrosive but didnt think much.Apparently its bad for aluminum. Remember- Engines and lots of parts on modern cars are aluminum.I have since remove simple green in favor of ZEP Citris.

A little research and I found this :

Newsgroups: alt.mountain-bike

Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2001 7:53 AM

Subject: Simple Green & Aluminum Mountain Bikes

> Presented for your consideration:

>

> I`ve seen a number of postings from mountain bikers that

> use Simple Green to clean their bikes and/or components.

> I myself used it as a general cleaner/degreaser on my bike

> but have discontinued the practice since I came across

> reports that the US Army and Air Force had prohibited its

> use on their aircraft and other equipment. Now you can

> think what you like about the Army and Air Force or even

> the US government in general, but when it comes down to

> taking care of its equipment, they have a pretty good

> record.

>

> The AOPA (Airplane Owners and Operators Association) has

> also come out recommending against its use. Airplanes

> constitue a pretty big investment and they are not cheap

> to repair and maintain. The AOPA is a private group not

> usually given to putting out bad advice to their members.

>

> Aviation-grade aluminum is pretty expensive stuff. The

> paint used in painting aircraft is usually very high

> quality and much more durable than auto paint, and

> probably the paint used to on bicycles. I don`t have

> any credentials in metallurgy but I do know that aluminum

> bike frames in particular are touted as being high-grade

> aluminum. Other components are made of aluminum as well,

> like cassettes and handlebars. I also seem to remember

> the words `aviation grade` used in describing the

> materials used in some bicycle parts.

>

> So between the the US Army, the US Air Force, and the

> AOPA, I think their advice on this issue is worth

> considering. There are enough other products available

> that do as good or better job than Simple Green that this

> should not be a showstopper for anyone.

>

>

> Below are excerpts of some of the inforamtion available

> on the web:

>

> Aircraft Cleaners

>

> Simple Green and other cleaners that are not listed in the

> Technical Manuals are taboo for a very good reason - they

> hurt the metal used to build the machine.

>

> It has been brought to the attention of the U.S. Army

> Aviation Missile Command (AMCOM) Depot Maintenance

> Engineering Team that numerous units are using the

> commercial product SIMPLE GREEN as an aircraft wash.

> STOP! This product has been through Department of Defense

> (DOD) testing and was determined to be highly corrosive

> on aircraft aluminum and also a catalyst for Hydrogen

> Embrittlement in high strength aircraft alloys.

>

> While a highly effective cleaning agent for floors and

> non-aluminum / non-high strength alloy vehicles this

> product is not approved for aviation usage. If your unit

> has been using SIMPLE GREEN on a regular basis, it is

> recommended that a thorough fresh water wash with the

> approved cleaners per the appropriate airframe maintenance

> manuals be accomplished as soon as practicable. This

> should be followed up with a corrosion inspection /

> treatment and application of approved Corrosion

> Prevention Compounds (CPCs).

>

> Mr. Richard Cardinale, corrosion@amcom-cc.army.mil

> (361)961-4041, DSN 861-4041

>

> http://safety.army.mil/pages/lessons...plegreens.html

> ============================

>

> AOPA advised caution with any cleaner and stated that "No

> cleaner should be left on an aircraft for an extended

> period; any cleaner should be promptly and thoroughly

> rinsed off the airframe with water."

>

> It`s Simple -- Don`t Use This To Clean Aluminum

Just a heads up.. Now keep :waxing:

Edit- I threw this up here because I see lots of people using it on engines etc..

**AeroCleanse** · 01-31-2010, 09:31 PM

Simple Green regular or the Simple Green for Aircraft that`s billed as safe for aluminum?

**YeboGoGo** · 01-31-2010, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by AeroCleanse

Simple Green regular or the Simple Green for Aircraft that`s billed as safe for aluminum?

I believe only For aircraft. on the FAQ`s it says normal simple green contact should be brief and rinsed very well.

**AeroCleanse** · 01-31-2010, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by YeboGoGo

I believe only For aircraft. on the FAQ`s it says normal simple green contact should be brief and rinsed very well.

The only one Simple Green says is safe for aluminium is: Extreme Simple Green® Aircraft & Precision Cleaner

Extreme Simple Green® Aircraft & Precision Cleaner

**nosbusa1700** · 02-01-2010, 02:06 AM

Simple green Pro HD is also safe for aluminum. You can buy it at home depot. I have a couple of gallons of both the Extreme and Pro HD.

**BobD** · 02-01-2010, 06:24 AM

I`ve been arguing this for years to the guys that use it to clean engines and wheels.

**Poordude** · 02-01-2010, 06:48 AM

Get some ph test strips. If the diluted product has a ph over 9.5 it,s gonna nuke aluminum unless it,s a buffered product.

**dublifecrisis** · 02-01-2010, 07:58 AM

I used to use it often for wheel wells but never for wheels or engine bays. I suppose their could be some aluminum that could get hit in the wells somewhere but springs and such are steel. I think it`s time to find an alternative. I have plenty of APC+.

**Accumulator** · 02-01-2010, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by BobD

I`ve been arguing this for years to the guys that use it to clean engines and wheels.

Yeah...you messed up an aluminum engine part and another guy messed up the clearcoated wheels on his Jetta.

**BobD** · 02-01-2010, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by Accumulator

Yeah...you messed up an aluminum engine part and another guy messed up the clearcoated wheels on his Jetta.

Yeah, I had a polishes aluminum strut brace on my old Honda and it was white after that engine cleaning. LOL

**Accumulator** · 02-01-2010, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by BobD

Yeah, I had a polishes aluminum strut brace on my old Honda and it was white after that engine cleaning. LOL

Ah, *strut brace*...my mistake. Knew it was something in the engine compartment.

**BobD** · 02-01-2010, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by Accumulator

Ah, *strut brace*...my mistake. Knew it was something in the engine compartment.

Well the strut brace was where I first noticed it but it made the aluminum block white too and you are not going to be able to polish that back to original without taking a lot of stuff off thats int he way. LOL

**Chazman** · 02-01-2010, 02:35 PM

Interesting. I`ve been detailing my engine compartment for years with Simple Green - and yes, I have noticed some white residue on my aluminum intake runners etc. So I just ordered some Meguiars APC+ today.

Hope I don`t hear that`s bad too.....

**gofastman** · 02-08-2010, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Chazman

Interesting. I`ve been detailing my engine compartment for years with Simple Green - and yes, I have noticed some white residue on my aluminum intake runners etc. So I just ordered some Meguiars APC+ today.

Hope I don`t hear that`s bad too.....

probably gonna be just as bad on aluminum, sorry

I like the Extreme version of SG but its like $30/gal, gonna try Pro HD when it runs out.