Differential Case

[Scrrem]

Just pulled my differential/batwing for some gear upgrades. The case is stained from grease and road grime. Wire brushing doesn't seed to do much. Is there an aluminum cleaner out there that will help bring back the finish?
Scrrem

[secondchance]

Originally Posted by Scrrem

Just pulled my differential/batwing for some gear upgrades. The case is stained from grease and road grime. Wire brushing doesn't seed to do much. Is there an aluminum cleaner out there that will help bring back the finish?
Scrrem

I have Auto Magic wheel cleaner that did wonders to my calipers. However, it is extremely corrosive and I don't know whether it would be wise to use on a differential case.
Did you try Simple Green? Another option I can think of is to clean it real good and spray it with aluminum finish paint spray. I think Mid America sells spray paint for magnesium finish valve covers for L98.

[Scrrem]

Originally Posted by secondchance

I have Auto Magic wheel cleaner that did wonders to my calipers. However, it is extremely corrosive and I don't know whether it would be wise to use on a differential case.
Did you try Simple Green? Another option I can think of is to clean it real good and spray it with aluminum finish paint spray. I think Mid America sells spray paint for magnesium finish valve covers for L98.

Yeah, I don't know if I want to go too aggressive, I'll try Simple Green but 20 years of staining, I may be down to your painting suggestion.

Rich

[flyin ryan]

Sodium Hydroxide. Closest thing to it that they will sell to the public would be '409'. I buy the base chemical by the drum.

[RICHARD TILL]

I`ve used muratic acid to clean parts before but i think i`ll try the sodium hydroxide the next time. Work with it every day and never thought about it. We use about 500 gallons every other day in a vessel regeneration process. The vessel is used for boiler feedwater purification. They`ll never miss a couple gallons.

[Aurora40]

What gears are you going with?

Also, have you tried anything like brake cleaner or engine degreaser? I'd think they aren't damaging to aluminum.

[Jim Nolan]

What has worked for me is once you get the crud off buff it with 0000 steel wool. It also works real well on aluminum parts under the hood and front suspension.

[Scrrem]

Originally Posted by Aurora40

What gears are you going with?

Also, have you tried anything like brake cleaner or engine degreaser? I'd think they aren't damaging to aluminum.

4.10. Hope to get my 1/4 time down a bit for BG next year

I tried engine degreaser, it gets the crude off, but doesn't bring back the case color at all. Jagdpanzer is selling me the gears and installing for me, he may have some ideas on cleaning.

Rich

[flyin ryan]

Originally Posted by RICHARD TILL

I`ve used muratic acid to clean parts before but i think i`ll try the sodium hydroxide the next time. Work with it every day and never thought about it. We use about 500 gallons every other day in a vessel regeneration process. The vessel is used for boiler feedwater purification. They`ll never miss a couple gallons.

I should point out that the Sodium Hydroxide I'm talking about is primarily a de-greaser, but does/can work good on aluminum finishes as well, when used correctly. The acid I use is Sulfuric Hydroflouric, it dosen't do anything for grease but on aluminum it will actually tear a microscopic layer of aluminum off. It's the stuff that some say turns aluminum white, while it does/can turn aluminum white-ish, it's not because it stained the aluminum, it is in fact because it took off the outer surface layer, what's left is the core/base aluminum. Looking back....not sure what all this has to do with diff's, LOL!

[secondchance]

Originally Posted by flyin ryan

I should point out that the Sodium Hydroxide I'm talking about is primarily a de-greaser, but does/can work good on aluminum finishes as well, when used correctly. The acid I use is Sulfuric Hydroflouric, it dosen't do anything for grease but on aluminum it will actually tear a microscopic layer of aluminum off. It's the stuff that some say turns aluminum white, while it does/can turn aluminum white-ish, it's not because it stained the aluminum, it is in fact because it took off the outer surface layer, what's left is the core/base aluminum. Looking back....not sure what all this has to do with diff's, LOL!

Checking the wheel cleaner I had used, it says "Hydroflouric acid". When sprayed on it foamed and ate up all brake dust off the real nasty build up inside face of the wheels. I was cautioned to wear rubber gloves and not to breath the fume. And yes, it turned my calipers sort of white.
This stuff was so aggressive I don't knoe if I would use it on the differential case. Next time, I plan on using it only on the inside of wheels and do so with the wheels dismounted.