How to brighten aluminum in the engine compartment

I was just looking at my new catalog of the "Racer Parts Wholesale" and saw Aluminum Brightener, VAL-71664, $14.49. Tel: 1-800-397-7815. "Shines all aluminum in two easy steps. Spray on and hose off, thaht's all! Great for trucks, tanker bodies, race cars & boats. 1 liter."

I've never used this stuff so I don't know anything about it. But the write up in the catalog sounds pretty good to me. If you try it, let us know how it goes. Some of those tanker truck are pretty bright.

Bob Wassam

 

Rub n Buff. I'm sure some of the old school guys will remember this stuff. Used to make the aluminum on your engine look great.

See this old post in the archives:

http://70.85.40.84/~ferrari/discus/messages/256120/164778.html

Dom

 

NevrDull Wadding, though not a spray, would be a good choice. I think you would be able to get around some of the crevices with the wadding.

Used by a number of people on Borrani wires also.



http://www.nevrdull.com/index.htm

 

Castrol SuperClean, spray on, let it sit a while, hose off with lots of water.

Gerrit
http://dino308gt4.com

 

I remember that thread, & Magoo too!...I tried this stuff on my 308 2V & would not recommend it. It goes on like paint but it's waxy..(best I could describe)..later I had the valves adjusted and that stuff rubbed off & was everywhere!..Dave helms did the valve job & I felt sorry he had to deal with it!! It was like one step forward (shiny) and two steps back (the mess) when working on the engine.
I ended up having the covers "cleaned" & bead blasted, didn't paint them just left them as is..shiny.

 

I agree Rub abd Buff is not the way to go.

 

it's an acid I'm pretty sure. It's sold in most auto parts stores as aluminum wheel cleaned. I like it for car stuff....but it seems like it works great the first time, than prety good the sencond, and but the third it seems to do nothing. I'm thinking it leaves an oxide layer of some kind that builds up.

I use (when I actually find time to clean) aluminum pot and pan cleaner and a nylon/sponge kitchen sponge and it does a great job on any of the smooth parts. Then follow up with a light coat of WD-40 to keep it nice. The down side is it's messy and dripps down, so obviously clean the top of the engine first.....

 

Best way is to use normal rest room paper....beleive me it works very well and is cheap!

 

But is the sheet metal on the firewall and above the muffler aluminum or stainless? I thought it was all stainless. And is it supposed to be polished?