PaulEddie

There was a thread some time ago about engine cleaning. Several posts said that they used Simple Green to clean their engine and wheels. There is a significant use of bare aluminum on our cars and one should use caution when using Simple Green IMHO.

Aluminum - Is it safe to use Simple Green® on aluminum?
When used with caution and according to the instructions, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner has been safely and successfully used to clean aluminum. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner, Crystal Simple Green® Cleaner/Degreaser, Simple Green Pressure Washer Concentrates, and Pro Series™ Simple Green® Automotive Cleaner have been used on aircraft, automotive, industrial and consumer aluminum items for over 20 years. However, caution and common sense must be used: aluminum is a soft metal that easily corrodes with unprotected exposure to water. The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times for unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes. Large cleaning jobs should be conducted in smaller-area stages to achieve lower contact time. Rinsing after cleaning should always be extremely thorough - paying special attention to flush out cracks and crevices to remove all Simple Green® product residues. Unfinished, uncoated or unpainted aluminum cleaned with Simple Green products should receive some sort of protectant after cleaning to prevent oxidation.

AORoads

Good post; seen the caution in different forms before.

RC4G

Use it all the time on aluminum parts, just don't let the product dry.

sevinn

I use this one:

http://simplegreen.com/products/extr...ner-degreaser/

gsflyer2011

Never had a problem with it. Have been using it on all my cars for years but like some one here said, maybe if you spray it in and let it dry.

cclive

Good post...I just figure that in general, leaving any cleaner on the aluminum for a long time is a bad idea...I rinse quickly. As stated, aluminum is a fairly reactive metal, so lots of things can have an effect on it...especially anything even slightly acidic. I've always had good luck cleaning the engine, I just cover the alternator and the fuse box and keep the water away from the big connectors behind the fuse box... and never use high pressure water. I am lucky though because it is very dry where I am, so things dry very quickly.

Kent1999

I'm no metallurgist, but I thought one of the reasons aluminum was used extensively in the marine industry was its *resistance* to damaging corrosion from water exposure?

I thought that aluminum reacted with water/air and formed a thin skin/surface layer of oxide, preventing further corrosion? (so in effect, technically, yes, it does corrode, but its self-limiting to an almost cosmetic level)

Maybe Simple Green removes the oxide, and allows further corrosion?

We've probably got some folks here that can shed some light...

billyboy47

What about the barrels of the wheels that were powder coated? Is that extreme simple green safe on powder coating? If not, what would be?

Z0HS1CK

I use super clean. The purple bottle.

Works great. But on wheels I just reg soap and water.

WW7

The one you have to be real careful with is "Purple Power".. I used this on my engine and it corroded my aluminum valve covers so bad , I had to remove them to buff it out and they never shined the same again........WW

1RB

PE - I use the aircraft quality Simple Green on the engine and wheels. Does a great job, better than regular SG, and safe.

Check these links:

http://industrial.simplegreen.com/in...ts_extreme.php

http://simplegreen.com/pdfs/TDS_EN-U...tPrecision.pdf

http://industrial.simplegreen.com/in...ts_extreme.php

cclive

But the key word in your post is 'cosmetic'...which is what Corvette owners are usually all about. Wheels and valve covers being the prime examples.

AORoads

Interesting writeup. I read them and wonder if you can answer this question: does this mean it does not corrode or change aluminum in any way? I ask because washing/degreasing aluminum parts on industrial or aircraft may not be a beauty contest type of event. As "cclive" Chris says, for many C6 owners, cleaning is also about keeping/preserving the wheel's original condition, i.e., shine, "chrome" look even if it's merely polished metal.