Detailing Experiences: share your tips or ask your questions...

xwray

I wasn't very clear in my question ...actually I was referring to those "rough casting finish" items such as intake manifolds, alternator housings, exposed engine components, etc. It just irritates me to open the hood and see this stuff. I live in Houston so there's no salt issues but it is humid and that is probably contributing to the problem. The "powder" is analagous to the light rust that forms on unprotected steel or iron. Probably overkill but I would like to make things look a bit better if reasonable and possible.

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bretfraz

OK, I gotcha. Those type of parts are a bit different and need a different approach.

If you want to clean them up, an acid-based wheel cleaner will work fine. Use something like Eagle One A2Z wheel cleaner and a stiff nylon brush. Remember to rinse very thoroughly all around the part as neutralized acid will be everywhere. This will work on all rough cast parts as they are not clearcoated or polished.

Speaking of polishing, that's another method to make them look great. Remove the part and send it off to a local metal polisher and they'll come back looking like a mirror. Granted, this is not the most practical thing but if you are showing the car or just want to add some dazzle to the engine compartment, polished aluminum looks spectacular.

On the parts that have a smooth finish you may want to try a little hand polishing with the Mothers product. Clean first then try the polish and see how you like the results.

protegextwo

Jim, may I ask what are you driving?

-Larry