Rear diff leak question
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,869
Likes: 2
From: San Diego CA
Rear diff leak question
Just celebrated paying off my 2003 by taking her in to have the rear diff leak repaired......for the second time in 12 months. They had to replace the mount as well because they said the diff fluid had caused some reaction that degraded the mount. Question: What is the best cleaner to remove the remainder of the diff fluid on the underbody? Obviously I'll need some elbow grease, but wondered if anybody has a favorite product since I'm not much of a wrench monkey myself. Thanks. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,179
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
Originally Posted by sdef
their is an updated seal kit they should be using. did they use the updated kit?
Also a bulletin for using anarobic sealant on the flange of the side cover as well.
-=Rick
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,864
Likes: 0
From: Stuck in Paradise
I would be careful using Simple Green on your car. There has been a lot of controversy about what it might do to aluminum. I understand that there is a new Simple Green called "Extreme Simple Green" that is said to clean as well but safe for aluminum. I really don't know myself, if there is a real danger but I figure why take the chance. And since Simple Green as addressed the issue with a new product, it sounds like there is some validity to it. This is from the Simple Green Web site.
"Aluminum - Is it safe to use Simple Green on aluminum?
Simple Green products have been successfully and safely 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 or Crystal Simple Green can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times of All-Purpose Simple Green and Crystal Simple Green with 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/Crystal Simple Green residues. Unfinished, uncoated or unpainted aluminum cleaned with Simple Green products should receive some sort of protectant after cleaning to prevent oxidation. "
"Aluminum - Is it safe to use Simple Green on aluminum?
Simple Green products have been successfully and safely 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 or Crystal Simple Green can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times of All-Purpose Simple Green and Crystal Simple Green with 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/Crystal Simple Green residues. Unfinished, uncoated or unpainted aluminum cleaned with Simple Green products should receive some sort of protectant after cleaning to prevent oxidation. "
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,179
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
Originally Posted by CoastalRAP
I would be careful using Simple Green on your car. There has been a lot of controversy about what it might do to aluminum. I understand that there is a new Simple Green called "Extreme Simple Green" that is said to clean as well but safe for aluminum. I really don't know myself, if there is a real danger but I figure why take the chance. And since Simple Green as addressed the issue with a new product, it sounds like there is some validity to it. This is from the Simple Green Web site.
"Aluminum - Is it safe to use Simple Green on aluminum?
Simple Green products have been successfully and safely 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 or Crystal Simple Green can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times of All-Purpose Simple Green and Crystal Simple Green with 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/Crystal Simple Green residues. Unfinished, uncoated or unpainted aluminum cleaned with Simple Green products should receive some sort of protectant after cleaning to prevent oxidation. "
"Aluminum - Is it safe to use Simple Green on aluminum?
Simple Green products have been successfully and safely 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 or Crystal Simple Green can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times of All-Purpose Simple Green and Crystal Simple Green with 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/Crystal Simple Green residues. Unfinished, uncoated or unpainted aluminum cleaned with Simple Green products should receive some sort of protectant after cleaning to prevent oxidation. "
Yep, I noticed it is great on rubber and plastic but causes corrosion on the aliminum pieces. makes like a white dusty spots on it.
-=Rick
