How to remove Magnesium Oxide from engine block?

Discussion in 'Pre Wash, Wash, Decon, Claying, Engine, Wheels, an' started by imaj, May 16, 2010.

  1. imaj

    imaj Any Rag Vehicle Washer

    Hi all,

    I have an 05 crossfire that has Magnesium Oxide on the aluminum engine block. Would anyone be familiar with this? If so, how do you remove it? What product and tools? Thanks!
     
  2. imaj

    imaj Any Rag Vehicle Washer

    Let me rephrase this....

    Its corrosion from salt. Uncoated aluminum turns white when corroded by salt. This is the problem that I have with the engine block. Anyone know how to get rid of it? Thanks!
     
  3. Aesop

    Aesop Jedi Nuba

    An aluminum polish and some hard work would be the easiest way.
     
  4. Your screwed on this one I'm afraid. I've seen this before where a customer cleaned his engine with simple green and it funked up the block and heads. Other then maybe painting with a hi heat silver I don't know what to tell you. I suppose you could get a drimmel tool and get busy thataway :drinking2:

    Can you come back with a simpler question next time :poke:
     
  5. Bentley

    Bentley Any Rag Vehicle Washer

    I did a detail on my cousins 190E 16valve recently and the top of his radiator was heavily oxidized. I happened to have this metal polish in my garage and decided to give it a go to see if would do anything ...and surprisingly it cleaned it up quite nicely back to the original chrome finish with A LOT OF ELBOW GREASE. Be warned that this stuff will likely get you "high" in a bad way because of all the chemicals it's got and is also flammable stuff if you're going to try it on the engine block itself.

    Overall it wasn't bad for a $6.99 OTC product if you get past the noxious smell it has, lol.


    [​IMG]
     
  6. lasthope05

    lasthope05 Jedi Nuba

    There is no way to really safely remove it without effecting the original finish in some way. Aluminium will naturally oxidize over time but it is a good thing as it forms a corrosion resistant barrier. Any type of polish applied will give that part a slight polished look which will effect the look of the metal. To gently remove some of the heavier oxidized areas you could use a brass brush. A brass brush is stiff enough to remove oxidation but not hard enough to gouge and scratch the aluminium like a steel brush would.

    Oxidation on cast aluminum parts is just something you will have to learn to live with unless you bead blast the block and paint it.
     
  7. togwt

    togwt Nuba Guru

    Uncoated aluminium is always in a state of tarnish, the oxidation acts as a protection.

    Coated finish; P21s Polishing Soap – formulated with polishing clay and soap flakes, so it is simple, gentle, and effective, it will return metal to an OEM finish and it will remove most of the tarnish, as well as any other contaminants. It also works on any lightly tarnished aluminium in your engine bay, exhaust tips, or any other metals that are tarnished.

    P21s Finish Restorer - this is a polishing product to refine a cleaned finish as opposed to cleaning, it’s formulated to polish - for any metal or plastic surface with or without a clear coat that is faded, oxidized, water marked, burnt, and dirty or built up with brake dust. This metal polish has some of the strongest restoring power of any metal polish available to consumers. Its deep cleansing formula helps release some of the most difficult build ups. Even on surfaces that look brand new you'll be amazed at how this polish works beneath the surface and removes hard to see contamination, leaves any metal surface with a shine

    FWIW- the older formulation of Simple Green has a negative effect on aluminum
     
  8. imaj

    imaj Any Rag Vehicle Washer

    Here is a picture showing some of the parts affected. Thanks everyone for your help!

    [​IMG]
     
  9. greased

    greased Any Rag Vehicle Washer

    Try Blackfires Aluminum compound. The most aggressive aluminum product Ive used...youll need an aluminum polish afterwards...
     

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