Im f****d. had my aluminum engine cover polished. I was cleaning it today and as I was spraying the degreaser (3M), lots of marks and stains appeared in the newly polished aluminum. what should i do. (Im afraid to use metal polish by hand coz it might dull the appearance). Is there no hope but to repolish the cover again?
Quick help needed. Polished aluminum stained by engine degreaser
- Thread starter tinman
- Start date
SpoiledMan
New member
From what I'm seeing, the Mothers Polishing Ball and some metal polish will take care of you. I haven't used it yet but do plan on it.
SpoiledMan
New member
Probably not. You can give it a try but a metal polish is likely your best solution.
imported_Burlyq
New member
Use mothers mag polish
togwt
The Old Grey Whistle Test
Engine degreasers usually contain strong PD solvents, which will 'dull' polished alloy (as you have already experienced) I'm glad that yo u were able to plosh out the stains
JonM
JonM
Black240SX
New member
I expect that acid or alkaline degreasers could stain aluminum. A neutral (eg: solvent type) degreaser might be a better choice.
Black240SX
New member
Solvent type degreasers can be identified by the label. If it says:
"environmentally friendly" -- not solvent type
"non-toxic" -- not solvent type
"petroleum distilates" -- SOLVENT TYPE
"toluene/xylene" -- SOLVENT TYPE
Kerosene works quite well for degreasing, though it does leave a slight residue that you might want to remove with another product.
"environmentally friendly" -- not solvent type
"non-toxic" -- not solvent type
"petroleum distilates" -- SOLVENT TYPE
"toluene/xylene" -- SOLVENT TYPE
Kerosene works quite well for degreasing, though it does leave a slight residue that you might want to remove with another product.
togwt
The Old Grey Whistle Test
Black240SX- I would like to add to your excellent list of solvent types but to take nothing away from it (as this is the 'university section with many more 'readers' than 'posters') 
Solvents:
Solvents are used for chemical cleaning, and as a carrier system, it also makes products workable and to provide spread ability, as is the case with Carnauba wax, which in its natural state is rock hard. The low surface tension of silicones is sometimes added to solvents to improve the wetting ability and to improve the surface contact.
Solvents require an aerobic cure (exposure to air) to allow them to evaporate (outgas); some solvents contain formaldehyde, which dissolves both natural rubber and synthetic compounds, and some contain petroleum distillates specifically hydrocarbon and oxygenated solvents, which represent most of the total organic solvents used. Organic solvents can be classified by chemical structure, for example water is a solvent, but is inorganic
There are three main types:
1. Oxygenated Solvents - alcohols, glycol ethers, ketones, esters, and glycol ether esters. Oxygenated solvents are synthesized from other chemicals to form the desired solvent. Those solvents are typically of a high purity with specifications ranging from 99.0% to 99.9% purity.
2. Hydrocarbon Solvents (Petroleum Distillates) - aliphatic (include methane, propane, and kerosene, they are flammable and may be explosively flammable).
3. Aromatic hydrocarbons- (are the most toxic compounds found in petroleum products and include such substances as para-xylene (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene), which are all volatile organic compounds (VOC) (See also Petroleum Distillates)
The American Solvents Council represents major hydrocarbon and oxygenated solvents manufacturers and users. American Solvents Council
JonM
Solvents:
Solvents are used for chemical cleaning, and as a carrier system, it also makes products workable and to provide spread ability, as is the case with Carnauba wax, which in its natural state is rock hard. The low surface tension of silicones is sometimes added to solvents to improve the wetting ability and to improve the surface contact.
Solvents require an aerobic cure (exposure to air) to allow them to evaporate (outgas); some solvents contain formaldehyde, which dissolves both natural rubber and synthetic compounds, and some contain petroleum distillates specifically hydrocarbon and oxygenated solvents, which represent most of the total organic solvents used. Organic solvents can be classified by chemical structure, for example water is a solvent, but is inorganic
There are three main types:
1. Oxygenated Solvents - alcohols, glycol ethers, ketones, esters, and glycol ether esters. Oxygenated solvents are synthesized from other chemicals to form the desired solvent. Those solvents are typically of a high purity with specifications ranging from 99.0% to 99.9% purity.
2. Hydrocarbon Solvents (Petroleum Distillates) - aliphatic (include methane, propane, and kerosene, they are flammable and may be explosively flammable).
3. Aromatic hydrocarbons- (are the most toxic compounds found in petroleum products and include such substances as para-xylene (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene), which are all volatile organic compounds (VOC) (See also Petroleum Distillates)
The American Solvents Council represents major hydrocarbon and oxygenated solvents manufacturers and users. American Solvents Council
JonM