E39

Used some engine degreaser which after it dried left white stains on mostly metal parts like the alternator for example and some rubber parts. Tried soapy water and rinsing but after it dries the stains are back. I'm not sure if I've permanently stained the metal. Are there any negative effects to this aside from cosmetics? Any way to reverse this?

WDPanda

So did you wash your engine?

shmobby

Did you leave the degreaser on the engine or wash it off with water while it was still wet?

tk2k6

You're not supposed to wash your alternator with anything. I always covered it with a plastic bag when I detailed the engine. Harsh chemicals could exfoliate the wire coils inside. You could blow some compressed air thru it if you really think it needs a cleaning that bad. Try to dress up the rubber parts with something that'll take off the white residue and wipe them clean.

WDPanda

All you guys who washed the engine should consider changing your ground wires. I imagine a wash would have started the corrosion process. I like my engine dirty.

E39

Left it on for a bit then used compressed air to blow it off. When I saw the white stains I used a garden hose and some diluted dish washing soap to wash away what I think is residue from the degreaser but the white stuff keeps coming back. I'm not sure if the degreaser caused aluminum parts to oxidize because the weird part is the white stuff isn't only on metal parts but also on rubber parts etc.

E39

I made sure to be careful of the alternator and electrical components.

E39

It's funny because my ground wires were the original reason I even decided to wash the engine bay as the ground wires looked like they had some blue coolant caked on them or something so I figured I'll just give the engine a quick hit of degreaser. Now everything looks like shit lol.

shmobby

That was corrosion.