gabriel wrote:Steel brushes are a big no no. They damage and remove the original surface finish and starts the oxiddisation process.
It's also a much cheaper option.
That's my opinion.
Feedback is appreciated.
Good luck with your Reno.
Cheers
Gabriel
First, I don't think the aluminum engine parts have a surface finish on it. Just look at old rice cookers and you will see that with age the varnish starts to peel and become yellow.
Even if the BMW had a coating, the oxidation would be the result of the protection being destroyed. Using a steel brush would remove it totally to have a uniform surface.
The only bad think about using a steel brush is that it could leave particles of metal which would be embedded in the aluminum resulting of tiny little spots of rust. (I never had that happening to me)
What ever you do (at the exception of painting) will always be a temporary solution and corrosion will always re-appears.
I polished my engines with a steel brush and finished it with a nylon pad.
Every year, I just have to spend a couple of hours to refinish the engine with a nylon pad.
To clean the engine(and the painted surfaces too), I import a product from France called
abnetIt is incredible but not imported in North America. If you buy some, DO NOT show it to your wife. She will love it and you won't see the container again. -
Do not buy the ready mix one as it has 90% water and 10 % product. - Buy the concentrate and dilute it yourself
This product has the property of going between the support and the dirt (even greasy dirt) and lift the dirt off.
You spray it, let it work for 1 minute and then rinse it. It even work with oxidation.
Imagine, when I go on vacation to France, I prefer to bring back this product in stead of duty free French wine.....
I never found anything better, and it doesn't contain any chemical components. It's even safe to clean your dish with it. The only thing is that the smell is not the most pleasant but it dissipate within minutes.
Look how clean these engines are.... Not shiny like chrome, but just clean and free of oxidation