Aluminium engine block corrosion correction advice please

D

dan yeates

Active member
 New Forest, Hampshire
Hi,

My engine bay is very nearly immaculate, but I'd like it to be really immaculate! Any tips for me? I've cleaned it with a cleaner we use at work, rinsed, treated all the plastics to UV protective glossy stuff, but I'd now like to get the engine block really shiny and remove some very light corrosion marks on the block. What's the best product and method to do this?

Here's a pic...

6274047600_2e260f7a09_b.jpg
BMW Z4 M 3.2 Roadster by danyeates, on Flickr

It's pretty clean as it is, but I'd like it immaculate and shiny again, like it's been polished. I also plan to dab a bit of paint on top of the usual rusty threads on the struts.

Thanks for any help,

Dan
 
I clicked the photo, viewed it large, then clicked the link to view it at original size (freaken huge!) and still could only just see what you mean... think it's time to close the lid, grab a beer and sit down and relax :cheers:

... in answer to the question, I have no idea what to clean it with, but not sure if it's even possible to clean aluminium corrosion, is it?!
 
solvo autosol however you are talking a lot of polishing, and to be honest it looks clean enough :)
 
:rofl:

Yes, the original photo is pretty BIG!

Quite possibly a bit obsessed with it looking nice and shiny, but I love it!

I would really like it to look as clean as this...

32864d1156266513-red-bull-z4-m-coupe-rbvazilyspatrainingday1dsc0462.jpg


:thumbsup:
 
deka said:
solvo autosol however you are talking a lot of polishing, and to be honest it looks clean enough :)
Click to expand...

I'd happily eat my dinner of the plenum! :lol:

Might give Autosol a go on the front edge of the engine, well, what I can get to anyway.
 
Dan, try 0000 grade wire wool, really fine, sometimes on aluminium you get a powder like oxidation, I used this on the block of my 240Z back in the day, you can also use solvol with the wire wool to apply onto the parts you want to clean, my 240Z won best restored in the Autoglym concours at the NEC back in the 90's so I Know how to polish!! :D
 
Darren Slone said:
Dan, try 0000 grade wire wool, really fine, sometimes on aluminium you get a powder like oxidation, I used this on the block of my 240Z back in the day, you can also use solvol with the wire wool to apply onto the parts you want to clean, my 240Z won best restored in the Autoglym concours at the NEC back in the 90's so I Know how to polish!! :D
Click to expand...

Great stuff, thanks. I'll give that a go if/when I get time!
 
I have some Britemax, yet to try it though but the before and after on DW look good.

http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Britemax_Easy_Cut_1.html

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=225254&highlight=bmw+engine+aluminium
 
Aluminium is a wonderful metal, light, strong and oxidises quickly to form a protective surface layer. It is not such a great idea to remove the Aluminium oxide as it will reform quite quickly I.e. you will have to clean it a lot once you start.
 
Britemax also sell a product to protect against this.

Guess I had getter order some of that a well.
 
Now that I am more awake, the N52 is not Aluminium but Magnesium, with Aluminium liners, the outside is alas Magnesium, I would suggests that you leave this well alone, as once the oxide layer is removed magnesium dissolves readily in salt water
 
srhutch said:
But we are talking about the S54 which doesn't have the mag block :wink:
Click to expand...

OMGosh it's a cast Iron block....how agricultural :D
 
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