Scottish Elises

Hi guys. My 111R needs some engine bay tlc. The engine cover is tarnished (?) - can this be polished out? The car is booked in to be detailed but this won't be done and I'd like it looking as good as possible.

I was looking at mine last night putting on the trickle charger and thought the same lol - keep me posted!

Will do - still searching for an answer!

There was a thread somewhere a few months ago about the same issue with the plastic side air intakes.... something for peanut butter IIRC....

Found it! I assume the same tricks would work for the engine bay plastics...

http://www.scottishelises.com/phpbb/vie ... ut#p484829

Handy thread mate but I was actually meaning the metal top of the engine!

Is it aluminium? That looks like aluminium oxide. Try a polish (such as Mothers Mag & Aluminium Polish) to remove the oxidized bits, then a good skoosh of ACF-50 to protect it.

graeme wrote:Is it aluminium? That looks like aluminium oxide. Try a polish (such as Mothers Mag & Aluminium Polish) to remove the oxidized bits, then a good skoosh of ACF-50 to protect it.

I have started working on it with Autosol as that's all I have just now but it's working very nicely. I'm now looking for an attachment (steel wool) for my drill to get to all the hard to reach places - any suggestions?

Autosol wil do nicely. Same stuff pretty much.

NOT steel wool though... jeezless cripes, you'll scratch the blazes out of it.

Try something like this? http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing ... _1429.html

Out of stock there, but that kinda thing. https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid ... +for+drill


Use it with the Autosol as an abrasive and think about splatter before you start! Don't touch anything plastic. If in doubt, stick to using a cloth and elbow grease.


Most importantly, get the ACF-50 on asap afterwards.

Some after pics please.

graeme wrote:Autosol wil do nicely. Same stuff pretty much.

NOT steel wool though... jeezless cripes, you'll scratch the blazes out of it.

Try something like this? http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing ... _1429.html

Out of stock there, but that kinda thing. https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid ... +for+drill


Use it with the Autosol as an abrasive and think about splatter before you start! Don't touch anything plastic. If in doubt, stick to using a cloth and elbow grease.


Most importantly, get the ACF-50 on asap afterwards.

That's great advice- the attachment is exactly what I'm looking for - just wondering how to get right down in to the engine bay and get to the alternator etc without some serious dismantling!

If you can't reach it, you can't see it. Stop cleaning and drive the thing.

graeme wrote:If you can't reach it, you can't see it. Stop cleaning and drive the thing.

Haha. It's in the garage for the winter so I'm having to find other ways to amuse myself!

I used a mild degreaser and a wee detaling brush on mine. Then gave it a wipe down and dressed it with an engine dressing(303 aerospace if memory serves).

Before


After


Sorry the pictures aren't very good it's all I have at the moment!

It depends if it's just dirty, or if it's corroded. Looks like corrosion, so the more aggressive-ish method that Graeme talks about is the one to go for. Remember that ally holds up best when it's basically got a light layer of corrosion protecting the material (that's all anodising is) so polish it up to a shine and you'll be cleaning it weekly for ever more. ACF50 on a rag and wipe over halts existing corrosion and stops further happening - it's essentially just aerospace WD40 that lasts and clings a lot better.

The engine cover was designed to sit under a bonnet in the dry, not under slats that dribble water onto it - so unfortunately, it will end up looking a bit rough unless you get OCD about keeping on top of it.