Alternatives to engine steam cleaning

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Dabbler, Sep 14, 2008.

  1. Dabbler

    Pszemol Guest

    I saw some corrosion on the aluminium alloys after using tire cleaner once.
    This green stuff. Not from soap and water. But corrosion in this case is
    just
    discoloration of the surface and not peeling off rust, like you have with
    the iron...
     
    Pszemol, Sep 18, 2008
    #21
  2. Dabbler

    Tegger Guest


    Your "green stuff" was probably a chemical reaction between the tire
    cleaner and the metal. I'm talking about something different.

    Aluminum in the presence of salty moisture acquires a whitish bloom
    (aluminum oxide), and eventually the aluminum simply... disappears.
    Just like iron.

    People who think aluminum doesn't rot are mistaken.
     
    Tegger, Sep 19, 2008
    #22
  3. Dabbler

    Pszemol Guest

    The green stuff what I was talking about is the tire cleaner which is
    simple green fluid. My engine did not turn green, it turned from shinny
    to gray with minimal white spots here and there. It did not happened
    when I did not overdo it and clean only with soap and water...
    Yes, I know exactly what are you talking about - I have saltwater
    fishtank at home and aluminium light fixture over it with white
    corrosion marks.
    Yes, they are mistaken if they say this way...
    But, aluminium is much, much better than iron because a thin layer
    of oxidation, which forms on the surface of the aluminium, inhibits
    further oxidation - unless harsh chemicals dissolve this Al2O3 layer first.
    Which was probably the case with my green tire cleaner incident...

    It is late now but maybe this weekend I will take some pictures
    of the engine bay...
     
    Pszemol, Sep 19, 2008
    #23

  4. A good example is the thermostat housing/filler necks on later model cars.

    I've seen 'em when they became totally useless...

    JT
     
    Grumpy AuContraire, Sep 20, 2008
    #24
  5. Dabbler

    Dillon Pyron Guest

    In my 40+ years of gasoline powered self-motivation (cars and
    motorcylces), I've only steam cleaned two engines. The one on my
    Husky 250, after every Sunday, and my F500 race car, after every race
    weekend. NOTE!!!!!! Each received a tear down and rebuild on a very
    regular basis. Like monthly or so.
     
    Dillon Pyron, Sep 21, 2008
    #25
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