How can I clean the valve covers

Hi guys im having problems cleaning the valve covers they are aluminum ford racing ones I washed the engine bay and sprayed then with degreaser,now they are stained.I tried a couple of cleaners on them but dont work,any idea what cleans them?

 

Aluminum wheel cleaner?

 

I tried meguiars aluminum wheel cleaner....didnt work.

 

See http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=74582&highlight=hair+grease

I wouldn't use the hair and grease remover with the covers on the engine but if you want to remove them it might work. Its a really strong alkaline product and would probably remove any engine paint.

I used that stuff on aluminum wheels (no tires mounted) and it did not darken the aluminum.

 

If they are polished aluminum, " Mothers " will shine them up! Takes some elbow grease too!

 

Best thing to do to them after you clean this is to Clear Coat them. It will help with the fingerprints and such in the future.

Bobo

 

They are polished aluminum and I tried a good polish I bought at a swap meet,but it dont get rid of the white resedue stains.

 

use Eagle One wheel cleaner. I don't think it is specific for aluminum I think it is for alloy wheels. it sprays on and washes off with water. Then buy a bottle of turtle wax chrome polish and rust remover. and polish the hell out of them. It will definetly take some elbow grease but it will work. They will shine almost like chrome

 

mothers powerball i clean some alloy wheel that had chocked up and it made they shine the only bad thing is that they are pitted really bad

 

Once you get them clean I highly reccomend removing all the polish and shooting them with a high heat clearcoat. Once that stuff bakes on its really nice. I've got fabricated aluminum valve covers that I bead blasted then clearcoated and they still look new a year later.

 

for the time, effort and expense of trying to get these back like new...a new set of valve covers may be money best spent...

 

do you have a pic. of these covers?

 

I see what 71 gold is saying but getting a new pair of these is gonna cost me,they dont have to be new looking just wanna get rid of the stains left by the degreser.I do have pics but cant post them in this thread or dont know how.

 

Update on the covers.. .used turttle wax chrome polish and rust remover and the power ball and they cleaned up pretty nice..im still looking to do what b ryce70Mav said but in the future....Thanks for the advice guys I appreciated it

 

Go to a truck stop, get you some wheel polish. Wash the valve covers with some aluma brute, get you a terry cloth rag, rubber gloves and rub until the surface turn grey. Get you a buffing wheel on a drill and go to work. After you are done, wax with a good carnuba wax.