Does Your Oil Filter Housing Look Like This?

[Marc08EX]

Is this normal? I'm looking at pictures of N54/N55 engines online and all of them look smooth. I don't know what the white spots are or what caused that. I don't know if it's corrosion or not. I find it hard to believe that it's corrosion because the car has lived in AZ all its life.

Thanks for your time and input.

[135Pats]

Just looks like accumulated crud and debris, I wouldn’t stress. Absolutely does not look like rust to me.

[Marc08EX]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

Just looks like accumulated crud and debris, I wouldn’t stress. Absolutely does not look like rust to me.

I tried wiping it off but it wouldn't budge. I'm just worried that it might eat up or degrade the aluminum...

I haven't lived in states that get snow but it looks like corrosion from salt? I'm not sure - it's a total guess. The weird part is that this car has lived in Sunny AZ all its life...

Thanks for the response man!

[jordantii]

Yeah mine looks the same. No worries.

[1911A145]

Same. Live in FL

[lakylester]

I see this corrosion all the time caused by simple green. Aluminum is about all it's not good for...

Aluminum polish will do the trick

[jordantii]

Looks the same as yours. Live in FL too.

[RimasRS]

Could be also from some chemical when washing the engine

[Billup]

Originally Posted by RimasRS

Could be also from some chemical when washing the engine

This.

Its generally a mix of all kinds of things, soap from a wash lightly spraying over the aluminum, regular contaminants in the air can even effect the appearance of unfinished aluminum. Where aluminum that is polished and ground doesn't get this, because there aren't imperfections in the surface finish allowing foreign molecules to attach to and spread (at least not as severely given a time duration). It is a cast, so there are microscopic pits that can't be seen to the naked eye that allow this to happen, and make these little white marks.

Nothing is going to happen, and is perfectly normal. Nothing to worry about.

Cheers!

[rking117]

^ +1

[Andrewcoja]

Technically you are looking at corrosion. Aluminum is highly reactive. The good thing is that it readily reacts with oxygen creating Aluminum Oxide. Aluminum Oxide is very strong and the very thin outside layer protects the inside aluminum. What you're looking at could have been something breaking down the outer corrosion layer and it reforming afterwards. Corrosion is good for aluminum, so you should be fine. Just keep mercury away from it.

[Marc08EX]

Thanks for the input and suggestions guys!!! I really appreciate it and all your responses made me feel very relived.

[rking117]

you could give it a good scrubbing wth steel wool or something and then give it a clear coat of paint. This will prevent any further corrosion. pain in the butt to do though has to be really clean and free of blemishes. too time consuming for me but for those who are OCD this will work

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by rking117

you could give it a good scrubbing wth steel wool

You shouldn't use steel wool on the aluminum because it causes galvanic corrosion, I believe.

[rking117]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

You shouldn't use steel wool on the aluminum because it causes galvanic corrosion, I believe.

yeah that is a good point. Maybe a copper brush or some other no reactive metal to scrub the casing. Thanks for the correction.

[Billup]

Aluminum wheel cleaner will lift it. Use a softer brush, like nylon, and wear gloves. If you can't locate wheel cleaner, soaking it with concentrate simple green and a soft rinse should lift it as well.

I wouldn't use any type of metal brush, though, because you can still score the surface of the aluminum. Nylon, or a horse hair brush would even work.

[rking117]

Originally Posted by Billup

Aluminum wheel cleaner will lift it. Use a softer brush, like nylon, and wear gloves. If you can't locate wheel cleaner, soaking it with concentrate simple green and a soft rinse should lift it as well.

I wouldn't use any type of metal brush, though, because you can still score the surface of the aluminum. Nylon, or a horse hair brush would even work.

Likely the soft brushes will remove the corrosion but if there is piting below that it is not likely to get removed as well with a soft brush like this. I do agree start of with as soft of a brush that will remove the damage.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by rking117

Likely the soft brushes will remove the corrosion but if there is piting below that it is not likely to get removed as well with a soft brush like this. I do agree start of with as soft of a brush that will remove the damage.

Maybe a medium-bristle toothbrush with a small head, like a kid's toothbrush... Or one of those small, round-headed electric toothbrushes.

[lakylester]

Originally Posted by Billup

Aluminum wheel cleaner will lift it. Use a softer brush, like nylon, and wear gloves. If you can't locate wheel cleaner, soaking it with concentrate simple green and a soft rinse should lift it as well.

I wouldn't use any type of metal brush, though, because you can still score the surface of the aluminum. Nylon, or a horse hair brush would even work.

Yeah don't do what this guys says. Simple green + aluminum = corrosion. The water and alkalinity of SG will accelerate any corrosion that is there already.

[Billup]

Originally Posted by lakylester

Yeah don't do what this guys says. Simple green + aluminum = corrosion. The water and alkalinity of SG will accelerate any corrosion that is there already.

FYI, direct from Simple Green's website;

Originally Posted by http://www.simplegreen.com/solutions_faqs.php?search_query=aluminum

Aluminum - Is it safe to use Simple Green® on aluminum?
When used with caution and according to the instructions, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner has been safely and successfully used to clean aluminum. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner, Crystal Simple Green® Cleaner/Degreaser, Simple Green Pressure Washer Concentrates, and Pro Series™ Simple Green® Automotive Cleaner have been used on aircraft, automotive, industrial and consumer aluminum items for over 20 years. However, caution and common sense must be used: aluminum is a soft metal that easily corrodes with unprotected exposure to water. The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times for unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes. Large cleaning jobs should be conducted in smaller-area stages to achieve lower contact time. Rinsing after cleaning should always be extremely thorough - paying special attention to flush out cracks and crevices to remove all Simple Green® product residues. Unfinished, uncoated or unpainted aluminum cleaned with Simple Green products should receive some sort of protectant after cleaning to prevent oxidation.

I have used simple green. So have others. If you are unsure of an aluminum protectant, Sharkhide is used a lot with marine and aircraft aluminum, along with guys rebuilding aluminum heads.