The Ford Barn

James Phillips · 08-10-2013, 11:30 AM

I learned on here to use vinegar to clean out rust inside of my 8ba block. It does work well. But I've become a little concerned about possible harm I may have done to my aluminum heads and water necks when I ran the vinegar through the block. The reason for this is recently immersed an accelerator shaft in vinegar to remove the rust. The part has an aluminum mount that bolts to the firewall made on the shaft and isn't made so I could remove it from the shaft. When I removed the part from the vinegar the rust was cleaned of the steel shaft but I noticed the vinegar had etched into the aluminum mount. Not really bad but very noticeable. Now I'm wondering if I may have harmed my aluminum heads

19Fordy · 08-10-2013, 12:06 PM

I doubt that you harmed your aluminum parts heads since you didn't leave the vinegar in the block for a long period. Plus, since the heads are sealed against the block with gaskets , the vinegar would not have come in contact with the entire head surface - just the inside water passages. I did find this info.
http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tabl..._metals_1.html It does show that aluminum is not the best "container" for acetic acid. The chemical symbol for vinegar is CH3COOH and it is only 5% acetic acid with a PH of 2-3. Remember, we humans can consume vinegar without harm.
Yes, pure acetic acid will dissolve aluminum over a period of time, but since you are using only a 5% solution (vinegar) for a short period of time, I don't think you damaged your aluminum parts. Plus, your heads are not made of pure aluminum so the alloy metals may effect the corrosion rate. I am not a chemist or metallurgists and surmised this info from a computer search only. I use this stuff. http://www.no-rosion.com/norosioncoolant.htm

James Phillips · 08-11-2013, 12:52 AM

Fordy, That's the answer I was hoping for. Thanks for the reassurance.

mike42 · 08-11-2013, 03:37 AM

Guys....when using the vinegar......is it full strength ? How long do you leave it in ? I have cast heads.

Thx.....Mike

FlatheadTed · 08-11-2013, 06:55 AM

with cast heads Min 14 days at full strength

mike42 · 08-14-2013, 03:48 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Ted......thx......then you're suppose to rinse with baking soda ?

Mike

FLA48 · 08-14-2013, 09:50 PM

yes, rinse with baking soda, then flush the baking soda.

mike42 · 08-15-2013, 08:49 AM

So....drained the rad.....filled with vinegar and took out for a drive to get it circulating. When I came back there was steam coming out from below somewhere. I just could not find out where. I did forget to close the heating system valve, but when I did the steam stopped. Do I have a problem now ?

Thx....Mike

08-10-2013, 11:30 AM	#1
James Phillips Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Hartman AR Posts: 20	Adverse effect of vinegar block cleaning on aluminum heads? I learned on here to use vinegar to clean out rust inside of my 8ba block. It does work well. But I've become a little concerned about possible harm I may have done to my aluminum heads and water necks when I ran the vinegar through the block. The reason for this is recently immersed an accelerator shaft in vinegar to remove the rust. The part has an aluminum mount that bolts to the firewall made on the shaft and isn't made so I could remove it from the shaft. When I removed the part from the vinegar the rust was cleaned of the steel shaft but I noticed the vinegar had etched into the aluminum mount. Not really bad but very noticeable. Now I'm wondering if I may have harmed my aluminum heads

08-10-2013, 12:06 PM	#2
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,951	Re: Adverse effect of vinegar block cleaning on aluminum heads? I doubt that you harmed your aluminum parts heads since you didn't leave the vinegar in the block for a long period. Plus, since the heads are sealed against the block with gaskets , the vinegar would not have come in contact with the entire head surface - just the inside water passages. I did find this info. http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tabl..._metals_1.html It does show that aluminum is not the best "container" for acetic acid. The chemical symbol for vinegar is CH3COOH and it is only 5% acetic acid with a PH of 2-3. Remember, we humans can consume vinegar without harm. Yes, pure acetic acid will dissolve aluminum over a period of time, but since you are using only a 5% solution (vinegar) for a short period of time, I don't think you damaged your aluminum parts. Plus, your heads are not made of pure aluminum so the alloy metals may effect the corrosion rate. I am not a chemist or metallurgists and surmised this info from a computer search only. I use this stuff. http://www.no-rosion.com/norosioncoolant.htm Last edited by 19Fordy; 08-10-2013 at 12:59 PM.

08-11-2013, 12:52 AM	#3
James Phillips Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Hartman AR Posts: 20	Re: Adverse effect of vinegar block cleaning on aluminum heads? Fordy, That's the answer I was hoping for. Thanks for the reassurance.

08-11-2013, 03:37 AM	#4
mike42 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Gaylord, Michigan Posts: 1,606	Re: Adverse effect of vinegar block cleaning on aluminum heads? Guys....when using the vinegar......is it full strength ? How long do you leave it in ? I have cast heads. Thx.....Mike

08-11-2013, 06:55 AM	#5
FlatheadTed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auckland Posts: 4,705	Re: Adverse effect of vinegar block cleaning on aluminum heads? with cast heads Min 14 days at full strength __________________ http://www.flatheadted.com Flathead Ted brake Floaters ,

08-14-2013, 03:48 AM	#6
mike42 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Gaylord, Michigan Posts: 1,606	Re: Adverse effect of vinegar block cleaning on aluminum heads? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Ted......thx......then you're suppose to rinse with baking soda ? Mike

08-14-2013, 09:50 PM	#7
FLA48 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Conroe TX Posts: 170	Re: Adverse effect of vinegar block cleaning on aluminum heads? yes, rinse with baking soda, then flush the baking soda.

08-15-2013, 08:49 AM	#8
mike42 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Gaylord, Michigan Posts: 1,606	Re: Adverse effect of vinegar block cleaning on aluminum heads? So....drained the rad.....filled with vinegar and took out for a drive to get it circulating. When I came back there was steam coming out from below somewhere. I just could not find out where. I did forget to close the heating system valve, but when I did the steam stopped. Do I have a problem now ? Thx....Mike