Aluminum oxidation
 

I'm very familiar with aluminum oxidation on boats, parts etc.. I've always used amonia products to clean oxidation.Is this the case for the motor components for my car? or is there something that everyone is using that works better? It just bothers me having that scaley powder potentially floating around in the motor compartment.How about installing 'zincs', will this curb oxidation.I'm just curious as to what causes this on aluminum and how to keep it from happening.In my many aluminum boats, this condition was tied directly to electrolisis and was contained(somewhat) using zinc anodes as sacrificial lambs.......ha. Anyway, just thought I'd see if anyone has a good remedy or is this just a condition that everyone has to just deal with.
Thanks...Mc.

RE: Aluminum oxidation
 

Hi
In a past life I used to do a lot of restoration work on Aston Martins (Lots of Alluminium). Nitric Acid is also an effective cleaner, but more tricky to use than amonia products, but OK if you plan to do a bank raid as it does tend to remove your finger prints:D.
Depending on where you are worried about the corrosion, and I assume you can remove the affected parts for treatment, you might want to think about bead shotblasting and then annodising. Or certainlyfor crankcases and gearbox, diff housings etc I went for the acid scrub, wash in demin water, then wash in thinners, spray with alluminium etching primer, then spray with heatproof alluminium paint. This treatment stood the test of time and I had no problem with Concours Judges.
Hope this might help.
Regards Big Bob

RE: Aluminum oxidation
 

that's interesting, I'll have to try that

RE: Aluminum oxidation
 

Excellent information Big Bob, thanks.