Engine surface corrosion

[LuvDaBlues]

1-2 months ago the east side of Dallas was engulfed with, for lack of better words, a humidity storm. Everything in the garage was covered with mist and dripping. The floor slab was slippery as snot. Within days, anything steel not covered or enclosed that misty day had a bit of rust or small corrosion. Tools, car parts, metal boxes, etc..

Inside the cars engine bay, the new aluminum intake, linkage on the carburetor and the canton oil pan are now spotted with white surface corrosion. Most of the exposed bolt heads now have a light layer of red rust. I keep a cover on my car in the garage just to keep the dust out. But it looks as if it may have trapped the moister inside the bay. My family thinks the moister may have come up from the Gulf of Mexico....... i.e. salty.

Anyone recommend anything to clean this crap off? Tricks of the trade?

Thanks

[Fordzilla]

I'm glad we don't have that problem up here in the North. I'm just guessing, but maybe wiping with a rag wet with transmission fluid? Or spray a clean/lube/protect product like G96 & wipe it down?

[LuvDaBlues]

Originally Posted by Fordzilla

Or spray a clean/lube/protect product like G96 & wipe it down?

I looked at the g96 website, and it mentioned oxidization. Maybe that's the corrosion on the aluminum.

Great idea, but will it stain the cast aluminum? It was an absolute adventure to remove the Cosmoline off when I first bought the engine. Tryed numerous chemicals to remove. Eventually had to use a floride cleaner. And I for sure DO NOT want to spray that stuff into the engine bay.

[Fordzilla]

I've never used it on aluminum. Maybe try it on a small test piece. I use G96 exclusively on firearms. (That's what is was made for). It's a great product.

[madmaxx]

A couple things will work some more permanent than others. First you could have the valve covers and intake manifold clear coated, needless to say you would have to remove. Depending on the component you could spray silicone on it. Any bolts or nuts etc just remove a couple at a time and spray paint with engine enamel. I will try to find the name but there is an aluminium protectant spray big in the motorcycle industry that will protect, just spray it on and it last 24 months. I had the same thing in Houston right before Christmas, I had thought it rained in the garage. I do not use a car cover, heck let it get dusty, unless you are protecting from accidental bumps or storing for a prolonged period the car cover is kinda a pain.

[FWB]

for cosmoline removal kerosene works the best. for oxidation on aluminum wd-40 on a rag will remove it, and protect from future corrosion. it will probably take the rust off the bolt heads too and its not harsh on painted parts. i would be careful with floride it is an oxidizer. unless you want stuff black oxide'ed. i also have the aluminum oxidizing over the winter on my intake and valve covers, the wd-40 usually does the trick.

fred

[jshel1]

Steve,

John R. told me to get some Zoop seal for the aluminum. I think I saw it at Cobra Valley when I bought my safety wire pliers. Kind of pricey, but I will get some eventually. The Zoop seal is supposed to be permanent.

[LuvDaBlues]

MadMax, I think you're right. It was just before Christmas. We probably were "hit" by the same weather front.

Fred, I tried everything to clean that cosmoline off. This was when the engine was in it's "short block" stage. Kerosine, WD40, gasoline, comet, Zymol Strik. But nothing worked. Then I found "Metal Clean" from Metal Wax.com. It is a floride metal cleaner for aircraft. Boy did that work. Spray it on, sit for a few minutes, hose it off and sit in the sun. Looked great.

But I'll try the WD40 again.

John, if I understand correctly, the Zoop is not ment for unpolished cast aluminum.

[jshel1]

Didn't know that it was only for polished cast stuff. Still good for my valve covers, my air filter, your overflow tank, and any other polished aluminum we might have between us.

[FWB]

well the kero did require elbow grease i remember getting a new lathe that was dipped in cosmoline i scrubbed that baby for a week.
i was a little scared to use anything on my cast aluminum valve covers, they took too long to get and were not a cheap date. so the wd was my juice of choice. maybe the moisture did have salt in it and its now etched. no salt in the air here so i may have an easier time than you.

[LuvDaBlues]

John, note: My expansion tank is chrome.

FWD: I worked until my fingers bled while scrubbing with the other stuff. About three weeks of trial and error. Turns out the cosmoline actually stained the cast aluminum.

The Metal Wax fluoride has specific instructions on use. Heavy rubber gloves, face mask, eye protection and lot's of ventilation. Really nasty stuff. But worked beautifully. I didn't catch a couple of drips down the side of the aluminum block, and it did leave some darkened streaks. But they are covered mostly by the engine mounts.