Boiling aluminium castings ?

[ronan]

I read years ago in one of the classic bike magazines that a reasonably easy method of cleaning aluminium castings like those of the engine or gear box was to put them in a big pot of water, add washing powder and boil them up. I did this with a few castings and they came up like new, a while later i tried it again and they came out black, i asked someone and they reckoned i used the wrong washing powder.
Anyone know whats the best powder to use ?

 

[500e]

Persil Bio Powder
Read Temperature settings

 

[brightspark]

boil them in diluted traffic film remover it works a peach in steamcleaners

 

[Shox Dr]

boil them in diluted traffic film remover it works a peach in steamcleaners

Be CAREFUL the main ingredient is Castic Soda, it eats Ali for breakfast Elevenses, Lunch, Afters, Tea, and Super.

 

[gordon stephenson]

I remember a friend of mine telling me years ago he boiled ally parts in Daz washing powder,

 

[MattF]

Depends what type of powder. If it's got sodium carbonate in it, (like sodium hydroxide: caustic soda), that actually eats away at aluminium, hence 'cleans' aluminium by eating away the outer corrosion. You need to be careful with that method so as to not leave the parts in the solution for too long, and rinse thoroughly when finished. It may have been a different base in the powder you tried second time around.

 

[Sean]

depends on the bike surely

Ariel?

ill get me coat