Re: What is the best cleaner for aluminum
Just my 2 cents but I would steer away from acid type cleaning products on any aluminum structure unless it is a one time deep cleaning. As an aircraft mechanicI have seen the effects of wrong chemicals having been used on aluminum structures. One of the biggest things you have to worry about is hydrogen embrittlement of the structure which can lead to fatigue stress and corrosion. With these acids you take a chance on leaving some of the solution in any skin splices or even under rivet heads, this can be enough to start the electrlytic action and allow corrosion to start. You may want to check your warranty from the manufacturer concerning corrosion. The dull surface and slight staining of aluminum is the alloys way of protecting itself. The dull protective layer aluminum forms on the surface is harder than the base metal and seals it from the elements. Another factor to consider is aluminum does not corrode like steel or other common metals, by the time it is discovered it is usually too late and the entire structural member may need replacement. If you want your aluminum hull to look great there is no substitute for buffing with a mild polish. If you polish and keep up the finish through a regular routine the aluminum will stay looking good but it takes work there is no short cut. If you want to know how good, look at an American Airlines aircraft, they don't paint thier aircraft to save on weight, but they do spend time and money to keep the exterior of the aircraft polished.
I'm not a marine mechanic and don't make any claims to know nothin' about anything, all I'm saying is consider the possible consequences of using the product first.
