Last owner (dealer) used engine degreaser on my mustang which really cleaned up the engine, but made the aluminum intake look really oxidized. Anyone know a simple trick for cleaning it up?
It depends on how rough it is -- you could try an aluminum polish such at Mothers, but you'll have to follow with a brush to clean the polish out of the nooks and crannies. But if it were polished already, then you could certainly use that, even with a PowerBall Mini.
For a stock finish, I'd first try a mild soap solution and a stiff detail brush -- plastic or brass might work best, but experiment in an out-of-the-way place in case you don't like the look. Alternatively, you could try a scrub sponge, or even a fine steel wool.
If you like the way it looks, finish with a careful rinse and a light spray of diluted trim protectant and run the engine until it dries (might as well detail the rest of the engine compartment if you're ambitious).
Your other choice, as I see it, is to remove the intake and have it media blasted, but that's probably too much trouble.
Nope, my profile was really out of date, my 90 2.3 turbo got sideswiped at an intersection 3 weeks after the 2.3 turbo swap. That was about 4 years ago, took a detour with a econobox neon (manual was alot of fun to drive, and it handled really well). Bought a 2002 3.8 with the intent of making a 4.2 stroker, and thats the car its for.
Thanks for your tips, something to think about.
Tommorow i'll post a underhood shot to give everyone a better idea of what i'm trying to improve upon. Its not a show car, but that aluminum iritates me for some reason.