I have my valve cover off and would like to get it looking good before I put it back on any tricks or products to use to getting it looking spiffy before re-install, got some oil staining... (om 616)

Bar Keeper's Friend works like a champ.

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1983 300d Turbo-Diesel
1972 280SEL 4.5

oof.
it's really hard to remove oil stains from porous metals like aluminum.
grease removers, and absorbers help. polishers do a great job, but then you have a polished valve cover...
I use engine cleaners, and baking soda. does a fairly decent job.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I use simple green to clean mine.

"Foamy Engine Brite". Set the dishwasher on "Pots/Pans".

Clean it up before the wife gets home.

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My occupational hazard bein'
my occupation's just not around...
1980 300SD
1980 300SD

Lol I don't think I would live long if I went that route

That is something I'm seriously intending to arrange when we get a new dishwasher - I'm going to set up the old one in the garage and use it for parts cleaning.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

If the valve cover is too rough, you will have to polish it and this will create a shine that you might, or might not like.

Mine is shown below with 230k miles already but the valve cover has never been polished. Just a quick wipe down with gentle detail solutions (paint cleaner, Simple Green, carnauba wax). I like it this way since it's not too shiny but a raw cleanliness to it.

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

Metal polish digs deeper to release some of the older stains,I use engine degreaser ,steel wool ,then finish it with the metal polish.The polish you want to keep from getting into the cover ,easy to understand why.

Will those cleaning procedures remove corrosion from salt too?

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Doesn't simple green corrode the aluminum?

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1981 300TD 4 speed manual
Euro bumpers, zender valance and skirts, H&R springs, billy HD's, leveled sls, real AMG Pentas 16x8 et11, vdo boost/egt gauges intergrated into ash tray, eurolights, led 3rd brake light

Simple Green has a Deleterious effect on Aluminum and It's Alloys.

Example: Simple Green leaves Aluminum looking like it's been exposed to
Salt Air for 15 years.

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

Use diesel to clean it the sticker adhesive on the passenger side--scrape off with an old plastic debit card or some other sharp plastic edge.

I use engine brite. It makes your car smell for daysssss afterwards though...

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1981 300TD 4 speed manual
Euro bumpers, zender valance and skirts, H&R springs, billy HD's, leveled sls, real AMG Pentas 16x8 et11, vdo boost/egt gauges intergrated into ash tray, eurolights, led 3rd brake light

Depends on which variety of Simple Green is being used. (Maybe it isn't as Simple as it sounds.)