C2 Aluminum Valve Covers - Mother's Aluminum Cleaner - Any Good?

[Edmund C.]

Gents: My valve covers have some light mold like gunk on them? Nothing major. Is Mother's Aluminum Polish a good product? Any guidance to make them a bit cleaner without media blasting them would be greatly appreciated. Best, Ned

[Bruce B.]

Re: C2 Aluminum Valve Covers - Mother's Aluminum Cleaner - Any Good?

The cleaning of the aluminum valve covers with any polish will make them look nice and shiney.
Not original like the NCRS standards imply.
Polish them if that is what you like, I do.

[Anthony D.]

Re: C2 Aluminum Valve Covers - Mother's Aluminum Cleaner - Any Good?

Gents: My valve covers have some light mold like gunk on them? Nothing major. Is Mother's Aluminum Polish a good product? Any guidance to make them a bit cleaner without media blasting them would be greatly appreciated. Best, Ned

I don't have aluminum covers so I can't vouch but I used to clean my aluminum intake with rim cleaner.

[John D.]

Re: C2 Aluminum Valve Covers - Mother's Aluminum Cleaner - Any Good?

If you want to clean your valve covers the old fashion way and still make them look original stay away from Polishes. I love Mothers aluminum polish and use it on my aluminum fenders on my vendor trailer. No effort at all compared to other products. But no good for NCRS or originality.

Phospheric acid (little bit), water and Dawn or any kind of kitchen dish washing soap. Not the strong stuff you put in the dishwasher.
Scott brite or 0000 steel wool and patience. Mild solution that takes maybe two efforts much better than strong solution.

Ever see fuel injection units that are gray??? Typically that means they were cleaned with strong solutions. Burnt aluminum or aged.
Aluminum wheel cleaner is decent but the best stuff I have found is from NAPA.
Twin-Etch. (Not cheap).
Shot glass of Twin-Etch in a gallon of water with liquid soap. Of course where plastic gloves. Cleans aluminum real nice folks.

Twin-etch is miracle stuff. All kinds of tricks you can pull with it. Say you get your cad plating back from platers and the worker has picked the part up with dirty gloves and it has finger prints on it or brown stains.
Tad of twin etch in water. Hang the part in the solution for 15 seconds. Rinse quickly with cold water. Blow dry. Stains gone.
Get some Pledge in spray can and spray the part. Wipe it off with soft towel. Gorgeous. John D

[Edmund C.]

Re: C2 Aluminum Valve Covers - Mother's Aluminum Cleaner - Any Good?

Thanks guys. John, I think that I'll try your suggestion.

[Tom B.]

Re: C2 Aluminum Valve Covers - Mother's Aluminum Cleaner - Any Good?

Does it take off light corrosion?

Tom

[Richard S.]

Re: C2 Aluminum Valve Covers - Mother's Aluminum Cleaner - Any Good?

John, My FI unit is already dull gray. Would you suggest Twin-Etch?

[Frank D.]

Re: C2 Aluminum Valve Covers - Mother's Aluminum Cleaner - Any Good?

Great info....John D.

I've seen so many valve covers ruined by well meaning blasting/polishing/cleaning its unbelievable...
Its hard (impossible?) to recover the raw aluminum look once its gone.
Even Jerry MacNeish's reskinning process only comes close IMO...

As with chrome; if it says "polish" on it then don't use it (again -- IMO)...

[Jack J.]

Re: C2 Aluminum Valve Covers - Mother's Aluminum Cleaner - Any Good?

John D., does Twin-Etch only come in 1 gallon containers?

[Richard S.]

Re: C2 Aluminum Valve Covers - Mother's Aluminum Cleaner - Any Good?

I noticed the same thing. Only need an
ounce and it's sold by the gallon for $100 plus.

[Bob W.]

Re: C2 Aluminum Valve Covers - Mother's Aluminum Cleaner - Any Good?

John Have you ever let something sit in it for any amount of time ?

Bob

[John D.]

Re: C2 Aluminum Valve Covers - Mother's Aluminum Cleaner - Any Good?

Does it take off light corrosion?

Tom

Tom, I think it does. Don't' quite remember as haven't use the method since The early 90's. That's about the time I started sending castings out to ASL Company. They closed down in Sept '98 or so. You know the rest. John D

[Jack J.]

Re: C2 Aluminum Valve Covers - Mother's Aluminum Cleaner - Any Good?

Tom, I think it does. Don't' quite remember as haven't use the method since The early 90's. That's about the time I started sending castings out to ASL Company. They closed down in Sept '98 or so. You know the rest. John D

John, what was the ASL Company?