Aluminum Cleaner

[mrmatt]

What works to clean cast Aluminum? I'm not looking for a polished finish. I just want something that will take the stains off of the transmission case, without too much work.

[superchicken]

on my jugs that are bare cast i use carb cleaner and it seams to get them pretty clean.

[Cotton eyed Joe]

Pretty much any soap will oxidize aluminum...aluminum + anything alkali = tarnish. Simple Green cleans it, but expect it to turn in some cases...brown. I use a light solution of dish soap (or hand soap no grit though) and water or better yet..Windex if it doesn't have big gritty shit on it, followed up with a light coating of mothers and a terry cloth rag.

Its what I use on my side case.

What I used to clean the cases though was ScotchBright greenie thing followed with some 400 grit. Just scrubbed it real well. They might get polished this winter. Depends on if I feel like it

[mrmatt]

I have been using ScotchBright and mineral spirits in my parts washer, but it just isn't removing the dirt/grease stains as well as I would like. I tried brake cleaner, but I didn't think about using carb cleaner. I heard that truckers use a spray on their aluminum parts that works extremely well at cleaning the aluminum. The only downside is that it leaves that parts with a dull finish. I may head up the interstate to the truck stop and see what I can find.