Cleaning cast aluminum intake

[SUX2BU99]

My cast aluminum intake manifold has some oil and coolant stains on it. When the head/cam swap is done, I want it looking spiffy and new when it goes back on. Any methods or remedies? I know there is an etching raw aluminum cleaner made for older rims like the turbines that Eagle1 I think made a while ago. What else?

[Captkaos]

Is it a coated intake?

[SUX2BU99]

I'm pretty sure it isnt.

[Captkaos]

I would try Super Clean on it.

[VileZambonie]

Simple green will work very well. That's what Edelbrock recommends cleaning their manifolds with too. If it's still stained you can use the acid but it will turn more of a grey color then the bright aluminum... The other options you have is having it blasted and a step further getting it coated.

[SUX2BU99]

Sounds good. Those are the 2 cleaners I use the most: Simple Green most often and SuperClean for tough jobs. I told the shop I'd pick up the manifold after they take it off, clean it up and return it to them to reinstall when the rest of it is ready for reassembly. They also have a sandblasting cabinet but I'll do Simple Green, Super Clean and then sandblasting if I have to, all in that order.

[Blazin]

I have sand blasted them in the past, but I think glass beading them looks nicer.

[SUX2BU99]

Glass beading I would prefer but I don't have access to that. Looks like some degreaser and my pressure washer is what I'll be using.

Oh, anybody got a good low-gloss clear spray paint and some application methods to ensure durability? I was thinking of doing this to my new satin Weiand alum. water pump and my intake manifold to prevent staining.

[VileZambonie]

It may actually make it worse, I wouldn't.

[Captkaos]

I wouldn't clear it.  A buddy of mine did that, and it looked like garbage in about a month.   If you plan to clear it you would need to use Automotive clear, not the can stuff.

[VileZambonie]

Especially with the intake if you spill fuel on it, it's either going to peel or turn yeller.

[SUX2BU99]

Ah hah! The voices of experience and knowledge speak. Done deal; no clear.

Oh yeah, a word of caution if anybody figures on buying polished parts. I was going to order some parts from Summitt for my truck, one being an alum. Weiand water pump. The polished version was only $25 more than the satin. Well it turned out our biggest local aftermarket parts house is also the distributor for most brands in Canada so they have a huge warehouse attached to their storefront. Their prices were almost the same in CDN as in USD from Summitt. Anyway, I bought my pump from there and had settled on a polished one.......until he brought it out to me. It was sealed in the bag, I took it out and it was covered in dings, nicks, scratches and very poor, inconsistent polishing. He brought out a 2nd one to compare too. Same thing. I bought the satin pump. I guess how well could it be polished for only $25 more and it showed. So beware if contemplating ordering a polished part, especially a 'value' priced part. If I had ordered this from Summitt and had to return it, I would have been super choked. I live fairly near the border so crossing the line to pick up mail-order parts can be a hassle and expense.

[SUX2BU99]

So I gave it a whirl last night. It didn't come out as clean as I had hoped, but it's better. Carb cleaner actually worked better than the Simple Green, but the stains at the front of the intake I guess were too ingrained to come out. Ah well, it's better than it was!

[Blazin]

Castrol Super Clean will work allot better than Simple Green.

[SUX2BU99]

And that I know as a long time user of both, but I didn't have any on me   Now that it's all buttoned up, I'll try cleaning it a little more when I wash underhood next.