Engine Aluminum Oxidation - How to Clean - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

chesnut · 08-29-2022

My 1992 ZR-1 engine is showing some black spots.

Is this oxidation?

How to clean without tarnishing?

Thanks in advance for your all's help.

Gary
....

secondchance · 08-29-2022

Looks more like original paint degradation. Over the years, many owners tried various methods with varying levels of limited success.
Most of us eventually had the intake plenum, injector housing, throttle body and the cam covers repainted, powder coated or stripped and polished.

WARP TEN · 08-30-2022

Yun may be correct that the paint is shot but there also have been quite a few posts over the years on how to clean an engine without permanently damaging the finish. So Search could be your friend. But be careful, as using strong solvents will definitely give you much darker paint. The original engine paint does not respond well to many cleaning solutions.--Bob

08-29-2022	#2
secondchance Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: McLean, VA Posts: 3,704	Re: Engine Aluminum Oxidation - How to Clean Looks more like original paint degradation. Over the years, many owners tried various methods with varying levels of limited success. Most of us eventually had the intake plenum, injector housing, throttle body and the cam covers repainted, powder coated or stripped and polished.

08-30-2022	#3
WARP TEN Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lake Bluff, IL Posts: 2,036	Re: Engine Aluminum Oxidation - How to Clean Yun may be correct that the paint is shot but there also have been quite a few posts over the years on how to clean an engine without permanently damaging the finish. So Search could be your friend. But be careful, as using strong solvents will definitely give you much darker paint. The original engine paint does not respond well to many cleaning solutions.--Bob __________________ 2016 Long Beach Red Z06 #10281 "POPS Z" 1995 Polo Green #409 "WARP TEN"--Haibeck 350/510 package, 4.10s, Hurst, Stock Exhaust with QTP Cutouts --Sold but still running strong 1993 Quasar Blue #161 "HIL KING" --Sold but still running strong, now with more than 120,000 miles 1967 Marlboro Maroon/Saddle Corvette Coupe 300 hp/4-spd --Sold a long time ago ZR-1 Net Registry Founding Member #95 NCM Lifetime Member Favorite Quote--Attributed to Mickey Thompson: "Too Much Horsepower is Almost Enough"