Cleaning Aluminum Valve Covers

Have you tried Berrymans carb dip? It gets crusty AL carbs spotless clean after about 2 hours. Doesnt seem to damage the AL either. The stuff is 27 bucks a gallon out here but you only need enough to cover what you need. go out to your sand box and wet the sand. Put a valve cover in a plastic garbage bag and make an impression in the sane so it sits top down, flush with the sand. Line the casting with a garbage bag and place valve cover upside down in it . Put a few empty plastic water bottles inside the valve cover and lay something on top so they dont float out like a 2X4. Fill with Berrymans so it tops off. Now it should be submersed in the cleaner with very little waste. soak 2-3 hours. reclaim all the cleaner with a turkey baster or a wet vac into a container and check your status. I would clear coat them after you get them nice to preserve their shine. Even water spots on AL leaves spots that are hard to get off. Eagle has "etching mag cleaner" and it turns everything a white-grey with very little shine. Its acid based so it should only be used for as cast covers or old school Slotted Westerns. Scotchbrite rotary pads on a drill work very well on those too.