Look at this weird substance on my block!?!?

[Peyton300TD]

Hey, I drove my 1985 300TDT from richmond, va to raleigh, NC and left it in NC while i went to san fran for a week. when i got back there was this weird substance on my block in my engine and on a few other things. any idea what it might be???

it looks like salt but has no taste. all my fluid levels seem to be fine. this is just bizarre as it is only covering specific areas of the engine.

thanks a lot! i hope it is okay.

eric

[Peyton300TD]

another

[Peyton300TD]

entire

[Peyton300TD]

head

[tabasco85331]

Looks like it`s only aluminum parts it`s on . Is that right ? Aluminum oxidises very quickly when exposed to salt water .That could be oxidised aluminum salts , that would not taste salty . Just a guess ...

[Early Bird]

It looks like what happens to aluminum and some other parts when left in a damp area for a while. I've seen this on my Boat engine after setting through the winter, dampness from rain off and on. But it sits for months not a week. If left too long on aluminum it will cause pitting, metal pieces will start rusting

[engatwork]

That is how aluminum corrodes. Can't tell what would have caused it. You can try spraying it with WD40 and wiping it down. A good coat of oil would prevent it entirely. Personally, I would not worry too much about it.

[G-Benz]

I had brand new Weber (aluminum) carbs on my VW do the same thing after exposing them to a couple of weeks of winter (i.e. slush) driving...as others stated, nothing to worry about.

[Peyton300TD]

thanks everybody. i think you're right... it was probably from our recent winter and efforts to keep the roads clear... left some film on the block that corroded. i washed the car but not the engine so that would explain why it formed there.

you all are great1

eric

Sombody said WD-40 would keep aluminum from oxidizing in the first place, but what can be used to get the white stuff off once it starts?

How about:
- CLR (cleaner)?
- Vinegar?
- Club soda (it works on carpet)?

Do we want to use an acidy product or an alkaline one?

Or is a polish such as Wenol the way to go?

I'm not kidding...

A 10 percent solution by weight of chromic acid, activated by a small amount of sulfuric acid, is particularly effective in treating exposed or corroded aluminum surfaces.

Helps to have a strong Chem background tho!

That was less than helpful.

I only took a year of high school chemistry in '62-63 (before most elements had been discovered!), but I don't remember anything about activating one acid with another.

What would be useful is directions:
"In a glass container, stir ___cc of _________ into a cup of __________ with a glass stirrer. Wear _________gloves and eye protection; dilute with ______________ if you get any on your skin. Brush on aluminum parts with a _______________ bristle brush, let stand until the bubbling stops, rinse off with _________, and blot dry with ______________. Immediately (and every _______ weeks) coat with ____________ to prevent reoccurance. These chemicals should be available at a ____________ store."

You're offhanded and rude writing style irks me... :p

Sulfuric acid is a stronger acid than chromic acid, so sulfuric acid protonates (donates a proton) chromic acid. That is what I meant by activation . After protonation, water is eliminated and the chromium ion is generated.

These can be found at any chemical supply store and I’m not going to post step by step instructions since these are dangerous substances and proper disposal procedures need to be followed.

[tabasco85331]

oxidized aluminum is aluminum oxide ! Vinegar wipe down followed by clear water . Let dry . Wipe down with WD-40 . No dangerous chems . WD-40 keeps the surface from combining with Oxygen to form the oxide . Mark

Thanks Tabasco...

That's the sort of useful info I was asking for.