Can I ask how do you clean the top of the engine aluminium

Hi John, welcome to YOC...

Errr, I don't...

and a warm welcome from me too.!

as regards to cleaning aluminium .....errr, i do!😂

Now to be fair you've not giving much away to what you're cleaning!!

Equally, the question of How do you clean the top of the engine , is open to interpretation!! Are you asking , how do you clean it? as in "How do you get in all the nooks and crannys?" With a hose? a jet washer? a toothbrush? take the tank off?, that sort of how...or... do you mean "How do you clean it when it's dirty?", as in what products do we owners use?

I'm not being funny, its just that I can read it both ways! and I'm sure others would agree. Nonetheless, I'll answer on the basis you're asking what do we use (products) to clean it.......

I've got two bikes; both with aluminium heads. However one is painted black and the other is polished ali, but both need cleaning!

The DT 175 MX has a black painted ali head. Over time , despite being painted, little areas of oxidisation can break through the paint film, I keep it clean with soap and water, you have to be careful not to use anything too abrasive as the paint can dull, nonetheless, I don't go overboard on it! although if you left it the oxidisation creates little mounds of crystals which you can rub off in the early stages, leave it too long and you'll need a wire brush!!! however, sometimes it needs a bit of a touch up with a rattle can of Engine black satin enamel paint.

My 400/4 , that's a Honda not a Yamaha!!, has the polished ali head, which when new probably had a clear lacquer coating on it, but that went yellow with the heat and was removed years ago, thereafter, I polished the ali with Autosol Chrome cleaner paste and a lot of elbow grease!!!, again, I keep it clean with soap and water then apply the polish, over winter a spray of ACF50 protects it.

Both simple routines, but I've been doing that for over 40 years and it seems to work for me!

Incidentally, don't waste your money on fancy named cleaners that cost a lot, I just use washing up liquid and hot water! Elbow grease is cheap and effective.!

If you're asking How? jet wash?, hose?...I'll leave that for later depending on what you think of my first answer!

Hope that helps.

hello john

what bike have you got and where abouts are you please, just roughly.

Ian

This is my thunderace, I don't have to worry too much about cleaning the engine as it is largely hidden lol.

I'd think any deep cleaning with aluminium as the subject is rather a dodgy business, I'd try Youtube on that as alloys in general can be damaged fairly easily

Buy some WD-40 Specialist Degreaser, it's citrus based so isn't an alkaline so won't damage the aluminium.