CLEANING ALUMINIUM

Obelix and Dogmatix · Post by **Obelix and Dogmatix** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 9:34 am

Okay as some of you have most probably realised, Obelix ii is in for a heart transplant at the moment.

The problem I have is that there was a ridiculous amount of carbon and oil sludge build up in the motor. The sludge is gone but how do I get rid of the carbon build up?

Remembering that the engine is aluminium block and all. I have tried different degreasers, Aluminium mag cleaner ( the non carbon area's are now very shiny) is there a product out there made for this??

Thanks

JohanW · Post by **JohanW** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 10:04 am

Elbow grease

Obelix and Dogmatix · Tue Sep 06, 2016 10:28 am

JOHAN EK HET SO TWEE WEKE TREUG MY LAASTE VAN DAAI OPGEBRUIK!!! en die winkels het nie nog nie

Stef · Post by **Stef** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 10:33 am

Oven cleaner will remove some of it but the really stubborn bits will take some elbow grease...

Or maybe paint remover...

Obelix and Dogmatix · Tue Sep 06, 2016 10:40 am

Oven cleaner is apparently to aggressive and will cause long term damage. was about to buy oven cleaner when i discovered that. Thanks anyway

Thunder02 · Post by **Thunder02** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 10:45 am

Gentle sand blast

Die$eL · Post by **Die$eL** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 11:23 am

A friend of mine had given me something a few years ago called "Spotter". I'm not sure if its commercially available. Its a clear liquid.

I tried it out this weekend on the casing of gearbox that was absolutely filthy. I only had about 200ml. Put it in a pressure spray bottle thingy and sprayed it on then left it for 5 mins and gave it a little brushing with a plastic bristled brush. The box came out like brand new. Problem is i didnt have enough to do the entire box

I unfortunately dont have the guys number. Will see if i can get it from someone.

Obelix and Dogmatix · Tue Sep 06, 2016 11:29 am

that would be brilliant, and good luck in finding some more

Obelix and Dogmatix · Tue Sep 06, 2016 11:29 am

Thunder02 wrote:Gentle sand blast

Worried about stuffing up the gasket sealing surfaces then

Dirka · Post by **Dirka** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 11:32 am

Soda Blasting.

Pietman · Post by **Pietman** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 2:05 pm

Aluminium Cleaner? I used it to clean my canopy when we were busy building it.

Obelix and Dogmatix · Post by **Obelix and Dogmatix** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 2:28 pm

Thanks Guys,

does anyone have experience with working with ALUBRITE seems like it is the correct stuff use

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 6:37 pm

MEK the aircraft industry uses it clean ? check it out.

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 6:43 pm

http://www.team.net/sol/tech/clean_al.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Also known as Butanone

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 6:45 pm

CAS Registry No.: 78-93-3. Other Names: MEK, 2-Butanone, Methyl acetone ... Thoroughly clean clothing, shoes and leather goods before reuse or dispose of safely. Eye Contact: ... Not corrosive to: aluminum alloys, carbon steel. Hazardous

Post by **FIRSTGEER** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 9:52 pm

A few years ago I was really peed off when the special alu cleaning product,I had ordered for a job,was used by my sons to clean their offroad motorcycles engines.I had a planned service and cleaning of an industrial refrigeration plant made up of a lot of alu components.The buggers had used the product which was not readily obtainable.
I took some of my wife,s " collar and cuff" equivalent product sold around my area called " vanishing liquid" and did the leaning job.It worked as good as,if not better than the specialised alu cleaning liquid.
I still use it for cleaning engines and oil etc today.I understand it has ammonia as part of its formula.

Thabogrobler · Post by **Thabogrobler** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 10:09 pm

Our very own Stephan van Eeden is the owner of A-Z Chemicals in Pretoria and they supply a very lekker Alu cleaner.I use it to clean intercoolers on the inside and outside.

To be honest, all his products work very lekker!

http://www.a-zchem.co.za/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Obelix and Dogmatix · Tue Sep 06, 2016 10:54 pm

Got some alu brite didca quick test and itcseems to work very well. Apparently this was designed to clead alu heads by soaking.

Thanks for all the replies

Mylux · Post by **Mylux** » Wed Sep 07, 2016 7:40 am

Scooter · Post by **Scooter** » Wed Sep 07, 2016 8:55 am

Having just pulled my motor and finished stripping it to get the heads away for recon I sat thinking about the best way to go forward with cleaning.

I'm in two minds on whether or not to strip the block and give it a proper clean as there is quite a lot of sludge and carbon buildup inside.

Any suggestions besides pulling it all apart?

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Mylux · Post by **Mylux** » Wed Sep 07, 2016 9:46 am

Buy some beer and invite Quentin around. He seems to be doing an excellent job

Scooter · Post by **Scooter** » Wed Sep 07, 2016 10:25 am

Now that's an idea Greg.............Quentin, my block is waiting, no rush

Obelix and Dogmatix · Wed Sep 07, 2016 10:52 am

Pull it apart you don't want anything coming loose and blocking your oil passages and then you will just have to re-do everything you just did and more.

If you ask Greg he will be able to get the right stuff to clean the sludge off

Scooter · Post by **Scooter** » Wed Sep 07, 2016 10:56 am

Seems some more stripping is in order, I have run out of space with all the parts lying around.

Reckon my wife wont mind me using the bath

Obelix and Dogmatix · Wed Sep 07, 2016 11:10 am

Don't worry my daughters trampoline and outside patio table has been unusable for a couple of weeks. the major problem is that i have now started packing the braai closed

Mylux · Post by **Mylux** » Wed Sep 07, 2016 11:36 am

Let me know if you need Alubrite. Apparently it works quiet well. Just a pity we do have any before and after pics

Use the dishwasher if you can't use the bath

Obelix and Dogmatix · Wed Sep 07, 2016 11:41 am

Will do the before and after with the oil pick up the one that was posted earlier

Scooter · Post by **Scooter** » Wed Sep 07, 2016 12:02 pm

I've actually got plenty bench space...........its just being used to store other crap and Im too lazy to move it

Lomies · Post by **Lomies** » Thu Sep 08, 2016 2:03 pm

Mylux wrote:

Here a pic of him working on the Hilux

Post by **Mud Dog** » Thu Sep 08, 2016 8:03 pm

I didn't know that he's a plumber!

ChrisF · Post by **ChrisF** » Thu Sep 08, 2016 8:24 pm

you guys are cracking me up .....

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 12:47 pm

Please stop cracking jokes about plumbers!

Obelix and Dogmatix · Post by **Obelix and Dogmatix** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 1:30 pm

Will all of you clowns please leave my crack alone!!!!!

Arne ek kom vir jou!!!!!!!

Mylux · Post by **Mylux** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 2:45 pm

You better watch your crack Arne.............Obelix is coming for you

Post by **Mud Dog** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 9:04 pm

The gent's facilities are open again.

Lomies · Post by **Lomies** » Sun Sep 11, 2016 7:30 am

Obelix and Dogmatix wrote:Will all of you clowns please leave my crack alone!!!!!

Arne ek kom vir jou!!!!!!!

Mylux · Post by **Mylux** » Sun Sep 11, 2016 7:09 pm

Arne....shouldn't you be waving a pink flag?

Obelix and Dogmatix · Mon Sep 12, 2016 11:26 am

Mylux wrote:Arne....shouldn't you be waving a pink flag?

Lomies · Post by **Lomies** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 12:50 pm

Mylux wrote:Arne....shouldn't you be waving a pink flag?

Thunder02 · Post by **Thunder02** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 1:13 pm

Arne, I adjusted your picture......

: Hilux.jpg (42.52 KiB) Viewed 6026 times

Mylux · Post by **Mylux** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 1:46 pm

Thank goodness we don't drive Opels

Obelix and Dogmatix · Post by **Obelix and Dogmatix** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 2:27 pm

AND I CALL YOU LOT FRIENDS!!!!!!!

WOULD NOT EXPECT ANYTHING ELSE!!!!!

MAAR GAAN JULLE ALMAL NOGSTEEDS MOER

Lomies · Post by **Lomies** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 3:05 pm

Yup, looks much better now.

Post by **Mud Dog** » Tue Sep 20, 2016 6:07 pm

Hmmmm .....

Thunder02 · Post by **Thunder02** » Wed Sep 21, 2016 12:01 pm

Mud Dog wrote:Hmmmm .....

Untitled belt.jpg

Scooter · Post by **Scooter** » Tue Nov 15, 2016 10:47 am

I landed up using a quick wash with petrol and then a soak in Prepsol and a power washer.
Worked like a charm.....

The key is to let it soak in the Prepsol for as long as possible.

Inside the timing chain cover...
[img]//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016111 ... c84c41.jpg[/img]

RiyadhFortuner · Post by **RiyadhFortuner** » Wed Nov 16, 2016 9:56 am

I have used Autosol to clean stainless, I think they make an aluminium cleaner as well. I purchased it at a motorbike shop