Simple Green
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 169
Likes: 8
From: Suwanee Georgia
Simple Green
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.
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.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 190
From: Baton Rouge LA
St. Jude Donor '14, '16
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
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.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,486
Likes: 1,658
From: Las Vegas NV
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...
Last edited by Kent1999; Feb 11, 2016 at 04:00 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
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
...WW
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 62
Likes: 4
From: Thompsons Station TN
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.
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.
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
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
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...
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.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
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
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