Entered 560SL in car show

[affab]

I just returned from a car show that my "87 560 was entered into. I got a 3rd place,but I was deducted 8 out of 15 points on engine cleanliness [I did very well on all other categories]. Does anyone know the best way to clean and or polish the air filter housing? It apears to be aluminium and has whitish splatter marks on it. I can't seem to find anyplace that I could purchase a new housing.
Any help would be appreciated!

Affab

[dmorrison]

http://www.autogeek.net/motmagalpol.html

Mothers Aluminum Polish. It is a very mild abrasive that you use on a wet rag. Aluminum will oxidize and produce a haze look. At American Airlines we polish our aircraft aluminum instead of painting it. It saves about 350-500 lbs of weight per aircraft. Weight is something we have to pay to move. So the less the aircraft weights, the less fuel we use to move it.

Degreaser will cause the spots on the aluminum. I'm not sure of a cleaner that will not spot aluminum.

Your local auto supply shop should have this. We just bought some today for my sons 65 Mustang Fastback at O'Reillys.

Dave

[Strife]

I polished mine, and it came out very well. I don't think that Mother's can do the entire job. I got a kit from Caswell Plating and I did my air cleaner,valve covers, and fan also (the valve covers were a LOT more work than the air cleaner). The picture of the results is on my website.

[affab]

Thanks folks! I'll give those suggestions a try
I'll let you know the results.Any other suggestions would be great!

[rickjordan]

When I bought my SL the airfilter cover was frost white basicly. I started out with a wire brush and worked my way down to using #0000 steelwool with some aluminum polish by Bluemagic (small blue can/jar) It really made a difference. I can't say it got to where it was from the factory, but it definetly shined it up.

[matt7531]

I've also found that industrial strength "graffiti remover" really cleans up engine junk too. Mother's and small brass "toothbrush" sure do the most work, tho!

[Strife]

There is no point in cleaning the engine compartment until you ensure that the valve cover gaskets are not leaking. The mess from leaking gaskets on my engine and throughout the compartment was spectacular. If you do this, definitely use a torque wrench and observe the specs. Using new copper crush washers for the bolts is also important.

Once you've established no more leaking, I've used mass quantities of brake cleaner (very cheap) to clean everything. My underhood paint responded very well to polishing.

A new hood blanket (both front and back) also makes a difference.

[affab]

Thanks to everyone for the help! I Used the mothers aluminium polish on the air filter cover,with a little bit of "elbow grease" it worked very well.I acheived a nice shine. Where can I get one of those small brass detailing brushes for other small parts of the engine?

Thanks again,Affab

[Walrus]

affab,

Congrats! To place is a great acknowledgement to the hard work you have done to maintain your beauty... I was honored earlier this year at a show (I took first),and am still riding on the "high" it gave me (pictures can be seen at benzworld.org, galleries, 107, walrus which is page 3, I think on the list of R107 galleries).

Like you, I was knocked a few points here and there. I had just recently detailed my engine compartment, but I lost points for peeling paint on my brake booster, one item I did not address.

I used basic elbow grease with fine scrubbing pad, and polish. I did not want a mirror shine, just a satin sheen. Worked for me!

Once again, congrats! Keep up the good work and enjoy...