My car has aluminium side panels and rear tub. Before my IVA at the start of November I polished all the aluminium with meguiars metal polish which I understand protects the metal.

After all the mucking around with the dvla, I finally got the car on the road on Xmas eve and since then I've done 230 miles.

Putting the car away last night I noticed some spots on the aluminium. Cleaned the car down today and it is covered in spot marks on the ALU - the car looks like it has got measles. The marks don't wipe off and need a hell of a polish to get them to become less visible hopefully they will disappear with more elbow grease.

I am guessing that this is road salt eating the alu? What can I do to protect the ALU after I polish it again? Any tips for polishing the marks out?

[Edited on 30/12/13 by davidimurray]

Lacquer it. Bare metal will corrode unless constantly cleaned and polished

I plan to paint mine....

Dave B

If you want to keep the bare look, either lacquer or maybe a clear paint protective vinyl??

I wipe mine over with wd 40 or duck oil after polishing or washing, it lasts for ages.

As a fellow Alui locoster, I was not aware of any lacquer that could be applied to a polished finish, hence my car does not go on the roads at this time of the year

I would use "Peek" to go over the alui, to get it back to an all alui finish, even " t cut" works, but do it soon, as the salt will EAT the alui in a very short space of time

Steve

The best polish I have found,way better than Maguires is akalifornia Customs Original Purple Polish, the only problem is finding it

Thanks everyone

Unfortunately pant or vinyl are not options at the moment.

I've done a quick experiment on a bad area tonight, t-cut with a hard polishing pad on the drill. Marks seem to be clearing slowly although I think it is going to be a slow job, particularly on the back panel.

Remembered I had a can of acf50 in the garage that I normally use to coat the motorbike in winter. Tried it on a polished area and while it took the shine off the panel still looked clean and if it neutralises the salt and protects it then it will be worth it.

Numpty question - Can you wax polished aluminium? If so, I presume this would protect it?

[Edited on 31/12/13 by stevebubs]

Nothing other than a proper adhered or anodised finish will protect a highly reactive metal in the presence of salt. Even the best waxes will only last an outing or two at best.