02-22-2017, 12:01 AM | #1 |
Drives: 2011 2ss/rs Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,431
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Restoring aluminum
My car had to be parked outside over winter and now the aluminum is corroding. The trans, crossmember and alt/ps brackets are "dusting". Just wondering what you guys do to fix it. It's not real bad, seems to just wipe off by hand, but can't get my fingers into all crevices. Any advice?
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02-22-2017, 08:34 AM | #2 |
Drives: 2012 1LT Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Denver, PA
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All those pieces are cast aluminum. You'll not want to get any type of paste of liquid polish onto them, you'll never get the polish off.
Try in an inconspicuous place, a cheap, acid type, caustic wheel cleaner from the box store chains. You'll need to agitate the product on the metal, so brushes are going to be needed. Bottle type brushes, Daytona Speed Master Wheel Brushes, Trim and Lug Nut Brush, tooth brush, etc... I don't believe you'll be able to get the pieces into a back to new appearance, but most of the white oxidation should come off.
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02-22-2017, 09:11 AM | #3 |
Drives: 2015 BLK/BLK 2SS/RS MN6 Join Date: Oct 2016
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You might experiment with some 0000 steel wool. I've used it on aluminum wheels before with great results.
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02-22-2017, 10:42 AM | #4 |
Drives: 2012 1LT Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Denver, PA
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The steel wool will polish spots it's rubbed on. If you can't get into all the little crevices with your fingers the pieces will no longer have an even appearance.
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02-24-2017, 09:46 PM | #5 |
Drives: 2019 ZL1 Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: New York
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Steel wool will get logged into the aluminum DONT DO IT.
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02-25-2017, 05:20 AM | #6 |
Drives: 2012 1LT Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Denver, PA
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Good point. I'd not thought of that of that one. They're two dissimilar materials. If the steel gets into the aluminum you'll begin to not only see the oxidation from the aluminum, but rust from the steel.
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02-25-2017, 06:26 AM | #7 |
Drives: 2012 SS L99 Converible Join Date: Mar 2016
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Spray it with some aluminum cleaner, hose it off and dry it as fast as you can. Then spray it with wd40 or other water repellent. It will look good again
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03-03-2017, 07:20 AM | #8 |
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Drives: Camaro V6 Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: U.S.
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Blast it with soda. Get a portable sandblaster/media blaster at Harbor Freight and load it up with common baking soda. The aluminum will look like new after that and the soda will help protect it from oxidizing again. Works like a charm!
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03-03-2017, 05:18 PM | #9 |
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Possibly Gringo would like to help you clean up all the mess the soda is going to make everywhere else on your car. Assuming you are not going to take the parts off the car.
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