Engine 850: B5254S/2.4/20v: - Alloy rust

dinky1 · Nov 1st, 2013, 22:54

Hey guys..

I'm sure there must be a few others who've had a laid up volvo engine for a year or so and I'm hoping you can help me out

The engine has only recently been started after a 1.5 year period of non-starting. Unfortunately it's got white bits of powdery crap all over various bits of aluminium.. to think.. it used to look like new

I know it'll never look like new under the hood again but is there anyway to clean this white crap off and stop it coming back? Someone said alloy whee cleaner does a half decent job but I wouldn't mind hearing a few more opinions before I even try it!

Thanks

dinky

AndyPants · Nov 1st, 2013, 23:28

Can't offer much advice, but I'd be careful about some cheaper products (particually ones with acid) as my brother used some on his old SEAT (which became mine) and it made it worse

mikealder · Nov 2nd, 2013, 09:43

Take the plastic covers off the top of the engine then use These to clean up the alloy - Mike

Luxobarge · Nov 2nd, 2013, 09:44

Rub it over with scotchbrite or a wire brush.

Not much you can do to stop it coming back, other than keep it dry. You could wipre a thin smear of oil over it, but this will attract dust and mae it look dirty, or you could paint it, which IMHO will look carp especially after a while, and may peel off - unless paint is applied very well indeed, it might well trap moisture underneath and hide even more corrosion, I wouldn't do it myself.

krussel · Nov 2nd, 2013, 17:30

You can polish it with a wire brush in a drill or better a angle grinder but its hard to get a uniform finish. Tried all this before and these days I wire brush back clean down with meths and give it a spray coat of Silver spray Hammerite. Comes up like new.

mikealder · Nov 2nd, 2013, 18:12

If you go to town with the dremel it is possible to get some good results with an almost chrome like appearance to the aluminium when polished up:

- Mike

dinky1 · Nov 2nd, 2013, 18:35

Stunning job there chaps but I'm afraid I'm suffering badly in various spots of the block (eg on the front where the cylinders are etc), sump etc. In fairness it hadn't been run up for over a year so maybe the heat will drive out the damp enough to halt it getting worse. I'll have to mull it over and decide what to do with it. At the moment it's under observation for the head gasket so I will keep an open mind. If the gasket has gone it's going to be an engine replacement (i have a spare) as the HG is too much hassle for my liking. On the renault its actually easier to remove the entire lump and box lol

Nov 1st, 2013, 22:54	#1
dinky1 Volvo lump in a renault!! Last Online: Jan 11th, 2024 18:06 Join Date: May 2010 Location: England	Alloy rust Hey guys.. I'm sure there must be a few others who've had a laid up volvo engine for a year or so and I'm hoping you can help me out The engine has only recently been started after a 1.5 year period of non-starting. Unfortunately it's got white bits of powdery crap all over various bits of aluminium.. to think.. it used to look like new I know it'll never look like new under the hood again but is there anyway to clean this white crap off and stop it coming back? Someone said alloy whee cleaner does a half decent job but I wouldn't mind hearing a few more opinions before I even try it! Thanks dinky __________________ Renault Safrane 2.5 with the Volvo B5254FS 850 2.5 20v engine. It's the same block using Volvo parts but with a few 'adjustments'

Nov 1st, 2013, 23:28	#2
AndyPants VOC Member Last Online: Nov 22nd, 2018 18:25 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Over there. View Photos By: AndyPants	Can't offer much advice, but I'd be careful about some cheaper products (particually ones with acid) as my brother used some on his old SEAT (which became mine) and it made it worse __________________ Current: '96 850 2.5 20v GLT Estate & '17 Skoda Rapid 1.0 Sport Prev: '04 V40 1.9D Sport '98 C70 2.3 T5 GT Coupe '89 760 Turbo Intercooler Est. '95 850 2.5 20v GLT Saloon '96 460 1.6i GS

Nov 2nd, 2013, 09:44	#4
Luxobarge Premier Member Last Online: Today 12:29 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Horne (Nr. Horley)	Rub it over with scotchbrite or a wire brush. Not much you can do to stop it coming back, other than keep it dry. You could wipre a thin smear of oil over it, but this will attract dust and mae it look dirty, or you could paint it, which IMHO will look carp especially after a while, and may peel off - unless paint is applied very well indeed, it might well trap moisture underneath and hide even more corrosion, I wouldn't do it myself. __________________ Some people are like Slinkies, they serve no useful purpose but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them downstairs.

Nov 2nd, 2013, 17:30	#5
krussel Premier Member Last Online: Apr 28th, 2023 19:21 Join Date: May 2013 Location: hertfordshire	You can polish it with a wire brush in a drill or better a angle grinder but its hard to get a uniform finish. Tried all this before and these days I wire brush back clean down with meths and give it a spray coat of Silver spray Hammerite. Comes up like new. __________________ 2005 C70 2.4 GT Conv (LP Turbo) 2008 Seat Ibiza FR 1.9 Tdi "When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car".

Nov 2nd, 2013, 18:35	#7
dinky1 Volvo lump in a renault!! Last Online: Jan 11th, 2024 18:06 Join Date: May 2010 Location: England	Stunning job there chaps but I'm afraid I'm suffering badly in various spots of the block (eg on the front where the cylinders are etc), sump etc. In fairness it hadn't been run up for over a year so maybe the heat will drive out the damp enough to halt it getting worse. I'll have to mull it over and decide what to do with it. At the moment it's under observation for the head gasket so I will keep an open mind. If the gasket has gone it's going to be an engine replacement (i have a spare) as the HG is too much hassle for my liking. On the renault its actually easier to remove the entire lump and box lol __________________ Renault Safrane 2.5 with the Volvo B5254FS 850 2.5 20v engine. It's the same block using Volvo parts but with a few 'adjustments'

Nov 2nd, 2013, 09:43	#3
mikealder VOC Member Last Online: Nov 6th, 2016 10:18 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Blackpool UK	Take the plastic covers off the top of the engine then use These to clean up the alloy - Mike

Nov 2nd, 2013, 18:12	#6
mikealder VOC Member Last Online: Nov 6th, 2016 10:18 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Blackpool UK	If you go to town with the dremel it is possible to get some good results with an almost chrome like appearance to the aluminium when polished up: - Mike

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