Cleaning product recommendations

Dan Gurney · 03 July 2018, 00:08

What do people use to clean the outside of their engines?

I want to polish up the top cover after 2 weeks of pretty hard use in Ireland; I think the heat has caused some water-marking whilst exposed.
I've also had a long-term problem with deposits of some kind on the port side between the lower casing and the cav plate. I'm pretty sure it's a deposit rather than paint finish damage because when i scrape it with my thumb I get a kind of white buildup under my thumbnail. Was wondering if T-Cut might do it? Mild abrasive?

Pikey Dave · 03 July 2018, 04:41

I use ordinary car polish on the paint work. I had some similar sounding white deposits on mine. I used a product called Alltrans to clean them off which is a mild acid we use for cleaning stainless. Vinegar or Coke would work too, given a bit longer.

Dan Gurney · 03 July 2018, 06:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I use ordinary car polish on the paint work. I had some similar sounding white deposits on mine. I used a product called Alltrans to clean them off which is a mild acid we use for cleaning stainless. Vinegar or Coke would work too, given a bit longer.

Thanks Dave. [emoji106]

Dan Gurney · 03 July 2018, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I used a product called Alltrans to clean them off which is a mild acid we use for cleaning stainless.

Found the stuff for sale online, but the useage descriptions all seem to involve bare metal. Is it safe for use on paintwork? Dilute down and apply with a clean cloth?

Pikey Dave · 03 July 2018, 13:26

I sprayed it on neat, the white deposits fizzed up, which told me they were some kind of calcium scale. As soon as it dissolved I hosed it of, about 30 seconds in total. It's probably overkill for what you need, but I had it to hand. I'd try vinegar or citric acid from the chemist or homebrew shop. It'll do the job & be less risky.

Dan Gurney · 06 August 2018, 09:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I sprayed it on neat, the white deposits fizzed up, which told me they were some kind of calcium scale. As soon as it dissolved I hosed it of, about 30 seconds in total. It's probably overkill for what you need, but I had it to hand. I'd try vinegar or citric acid from the chemist or homebrew shop. It'll do the job & be less risky.

Worked a treat (citric acid) Dave: ta. It also got the baked on residue from two weeks sat out in blazing sun off. It feels like it’s stripped of any protective coating that may have been on there and we’re back to paint. I’ll give it a turtle wax next time I’m down.