Cleaning Cast Aluminum?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
Cleaning Cast Aluminum?
Picked up a cast aluminum tranny pan off Ebay. Has a couple fluid stains on the outside because it is used. Anybody know of a concoction that will clean that? Being that its cast, it has a very rough texture.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 213
From: The Buckle of the Bible Belt. Joplin Mo
Mag cleaner, or magnesium cleaner. I think Eagle still makes it. Just make sure it doesn’t touch anything else. It will ruin a painted surface. But man it will it brighten the aluminum.Use a soft wire brush to get into the tight spots.
Ray
Ray
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Lots of the "toilet bowl" cleaners will work on aluminum (boat guys using them on pontoons etc forever
One of the ones commonly recommended is called "the works" and another is "L.A.'s Totally Awesome" and is available at the dollar stores in the USA
Personally I use Flitz pre-cleaner
M
One of the ones commonly recommended is called "the works" and another is "L.A.'s Totally Awesome" and is available at the dollar stores in the USA
Personally I use Flitz pre-cleaner
M
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
cast alum is very porous and any caustic will tend to adhere and corrode if not neutralized/flushed well. If not, can darken aluminum.
Oxalic acid (powder) (DAP / Savogran Wood Bleach) mixed in water. This same as the old fashioned OTC radiator cleaners that're no longer available.
Neutralize with baking soda mixed in water then lots of rinse water.
-edit- deal or not, and no doubt plenty do, but I'd hesitate running a cast trans pan on a low-slung street driver.
Oxalic acid (powder) (DAP / Savogran Wood Bleach) mixed in water. This same as the old fashioned OTC radiator cleaners that're no longer available.
Neutralize with baking soda mixed in water then lots of rinse water.
-edit- deal or not, and no doubt plenty do, but I'd hesitate running a cast trans pan on a low-slung street driver.
Last edited by jackson; Jan 9, 2019 at 08:32 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 331
Likes: 123
From: Sandusky, OH
https://www.google.com/search?q=east...EW&pie=plaji-i
This stuff works excellent. But is expensive. Spray on, rinse off. Smells like the old green Metal Prep.
Steve O.
This stuff works excellent. But is expensive. Spray on, rinse off. Smells like the old green Metal Prep.
Steve O.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
cast alum is very porous and any caustic will tend to adhere and corrode if not neutralized/flushed well. If not, can darken aluminum.
Oxalic acid (powder) (DAP / Savogran Wood Bleach) mixed in water. This same as the old fashioned OTC radiator cleaners that're no longer available.
Neutralize with baking soda mixed in water then lots of rinse water.
-edit- deal or not, and no doubt plenty do, but I'd hesitate running a cast trans pan on a low-slung street driver.
Oxalic acid (powder) (DAP / Savogran Wood Bleach) mixed in water. This same as the old fashioned OTC radiator cleaners that're no longer available.
Neutralize with baking soda mixed in water then lots of rinse water.
-edit- deal or not, and no doubt plenty do, but I'd hesitate running a cast trans pan on a low-slung street driver.
Update: Just measured.
For those who care, the 2 Qt extra capacity, deep tranny pan is 1+5/8" lower than stock on a TH350. So, not too bad for grd clearance.
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Jan 10, 2019 at 12:29 PM.
