dr bob

It got my attention, and seems to be in time-stamp order OK.

I need a 5-gallon can of that stuff for a clinic here soon. )

S4ordie

Dr bob, You can order Brown Royal in 5 gal amounts for $59.00. I just read at the bottom of their description "Do not use full strength on uncoated polished aluminum wheels/surfaces." It also says "non-acid". I am no chemist but that stuff sure irritated my eys and lungs like it was acidic (mildly).

Also noted on the same web page a description for a concetrated engine degreaser "Ultra Violet". It has similar similar warning about using on unpolished aluminum. Perhaps this product would work better on Cosmoline.

http://www.flashwax.com/wheelcleanerpolishers.html

Hilton

If its an irritant, and corrodes anodised coatings and aluminium, its likely got a very strong base, rather than acid, as a component. The manufacturers can still claim "non-Acid" based upon the pH of the cleaner, but that doesn't make it non-corrosive.

Lots of modern wheel cleaners for painted rims etc. use sodium hydroxide, which will also destroy anodising.

dr bob

I made a comment to a Royal Brown that users should carefully read the label since most degreasers are high pH (caustic). The inventor/purveyor assured us that it is not caustic. If there's doubt, do a litmus test (swimming pool test kit is easiest source) and see.

When researching the Zep degreasers, they also sell a brown soy derivitive degreaser that's brown. No easy access for testing. With the successes reported from the Royal Brown, I'd rather support that seller than the local janitor supply store.

dr bob

Spent a surplus hour under the front of James' '85 Euro this morning, doing some more front-of-engine cleaning as prep for a TB replacement probably next weekend. His car is sitting in the garage workshop on stands right now, so cleaning exuberance is somewhat limited compared to doing it outside.

I went shopping first and bought a case of Foamy Engine Brite at the local CarQuest place that carries the G-05 Coolant. Got home and decided to try the method with the trays underneath recommended in the 'cosmoline blues' thread, but did it with the citrus degreaser rather than the Gunk solvent-based stuff. The fragrance from the Gunk product is tougher than the citrus smell. Squirt bottle first, let it soak in some. Spray again, this time with a stiff nylon parts-cleaning brush added. Spray again and let it soak some more. Meanwhile, fixed a plastic dray with a dilute citrus degreaser solution, and added a couple scrubby-sponges from my 'too tited to use in the kitchen sink any more' collection. Sponge n te solution, and scrub/wipe as much as I could easily get to that way. Then spray another film on everything and let it soak some more. I'm in to the project mabe half an hour at this point. During the final soak period, set up the garden hose with a throttle-valve spray nozzle so I can use just enough water, and started rinsing into the trays. Almost all of the chems ended up in the trays, and the results are pretty darn impressive. The citrus is slightly acidic and brightens the aluminum parts nicely, so the clean places look really clean. There is still some crud in lots of places, but my initial goal of finding and cleaning all the places my tools might touch is achieved. I had put down a painter's plastic drop cloth under the trays, andthat caught the stuff that didn't go right into the trays.

Results are very good so far.