cleaning/polishing stainless

[sweetbmxrider]

how do you remove yellowing on stainless? also, whats the best way to polish fuel rails and brake lines and the like? and aluminum, like the lt1 intake?

[DevilDougWS6]

2000 grit light sand, polish with mothers aluminum polish.

[sweetbmxrider]

any technique to it?

[The Fixer]

Just an FYI, on stainless, always follow the grain or it will leave scratches and swirl marks. I found this out with my new kitchen sink (before I did any damage, thank God!).

[sweetbmxrider]

thanks this was of concern! scratches don't look good

[DevilDougWS6]

yes with stainless do what he said. follow the grain and sand VERY LIGHTLY. the fuel rails you are going to need to sand down pretty good before they will start to polish. start with like 600 grit or lower to get rid of the paint, and work up to 2000. then clean it off and polish it up with mothers.

[sweetbmxrider]

alright cool, no paint on lt1 fuel rails though. i already hit it with extra fine steel wool too. i just want that deep shine

[WildBillyT]

If you do hose it up or need a place there's a guy in Jackson that supposedly does great work.

[69BirdX]

You can also try 2000-3000 grit sand paper and wd-40. Works great on aluminum I do it all the time at work

[HeadlessNorseman]

like doug said, start rough, get it all super smooth. The key is in the sanding. Having a buffing wheel helps too, but good sanding is how you get it to mirror quality. You can also use jewlers rouge, you can get it at home depot and it comes in a big tube kind of like lipstick. You can also do that in coarse, medium, and fine. If you use that stuff definatley use a buffing wheel. Dremels with polishing bits are also very usefull for tight spaces

[Jam]

I've dealt w/ a lot of stainless steel cleaning and I'll offer you some of my experience w/ discolorations:
1) Baking soda mixed w/ liquid dish soap... make it into a paste and gently rub on the stains. Then make sure you rinse the stainless steel surface thoroughly / dry.
2) If the stains still remain try vinegar.
3) If stains are still there....try a stainless steel cleaner and polisher. Barkeepers Friend is a good formula that can clean without scratching.
4) if your stainless steel is retarded...then sand it down and polish it....

[sweetbmxrider]

well i used the 2000 grit and some polish and the fuel rails look real good. i couldn't really get the intake bars to come up though, going to have to try again.

most of the discoloration came off of the tip with the 2000 grit and polish, but i think i'm going to try one of those home remedies or stainless cleaner to get the last bit.

if i get good at this, i'll polish pretty much anything i can thanks guys

[Jam]

lol well my remedies are good for those yellow stains you were talking about.

[LTb1ow]

Get the SS polish stuff.

[sweetbmxrider]

come again?

[Jam]

i remember when i gave a ***** about my camaro and would steel wool and polish the intake manifold like every day lol.

[sweetbmxrider]

well i really want to do the intake black and just keep the raised bars polished. the fuel rails seem to stay nice. not sure what i want to do with the throttle body though. i think the valve covers will end up partly polished too and black. should look ok.

[DevilDougWS6]

i like the look of my engine bay, when it was clean. mostly black with a few polished/chrome accents like the fuel rails, lid clips and such. you can also polish up the hood struts if you are that bored.

[sweetbmxrider]

i remember you did it and was tempted, but didn't. if i do anything, it will be the strut part and not the entire housing. i doubt it though, i just want them to blend in for now. i saw a pic of a fully polished lt1 motor





i wonder how much it would like the shore? mmm salty air


sooooo HAWTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!



twin turbo lt5

[LTb1ow]

Gooooooooooood luck keeping it that clean. Only feasible way to do that, is not run engine.

[sweetbmxrider]

i would never do that

[//<86TA>\\]

i hate shiney engine parts, such a PITA to keep clean, especially if the car gets driven.