Easy Off contains lye (NaOH). An "interesting" reaction ocurrs with NaOH + Al.

All bare aluminum has, or almost instantaneously gets, a layer of Al(OH)4 on it, just molecules thick, which makes it moderately non-reactive with H2O, which makes aluminum good for boats but clouds the shine on our window trim a bit. However, if you add NaOH to the mix, you get the following:

2Al + 2NaOH + 6H2O > 2Na[Al(OH)4 + 3H2 (don't check the balancing of the equation too closely )

Essentially on polished or bare aluminum, you would end up with a white antacid [Al(OH)4] and a mini-Hindenberg (H2, hydrogen gas).

This doesn't ocurr because the clearcoat acts as a physical barrier to reaction and the reaction is time-inhibited because the tiny layer of Al(OH)4 must first be displaced by the action of the Na+. So the NaOH is left to react with the organics and metals of the brake pad dust.

These "learn 'em for the test and forget 'em" esoteric facts have consequence for wheel cleaning, particularly for those of us w/o intact clearcoat and might help come up with a way for me to get my 126 window trim shiny instead of cloudy

As a youth, we'd take a soda bottle with a little drain cleaner (lye) and water (OBSERVING ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS), add some aluminum foil and fill balloons with the resultant hydrogen.

......"they blowed up real good" when lit.

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The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

Jay,

Call 1-800-WURTH USA and order the Wurth Silver Paint and Clearcoat. Believe you have to order two cans of each in order for them to ship it.

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Don
'85 500SL (Euro) - 186,000 w/a complete restoration and engine rebuild at 154,000
'95 C280 - 174,000