I want to get an aluminum intake cleaned. What are the best options? Is a hot tank too caustic?

Thanks

Yes a true hot tank eats aluminum.
I'd try some cautic cleaner and a pressure washer.

Air conditioner coil cleaner is caustic and will lift the dirt out and then rinse with the pressure washer. Lot's of cleaners out there will etch the aluminum clean.

I don't like bead blasting because the beads/sand can and does lodge into the porous aluminum and will get into the motor when it get's hot.

This stuff does well.

I should have mentioned that I need to remove paint as well. Will that work?

No but some paint stripper first and a pressure washer will work.

Thanks - I'll give it a try

I use paint stripper first to remove the heavy paint then do a clean up with solvent (gasoline, acetone, thinner, or Simple Green for you tree huggers) then clean it really well with my steam cleaner. Makes them look like new again.

I use a soda blast, it strips the paint, cleans the aluminum and dissolves in a water rinse.

I was going to ask about soda blast - thanks.

What are you working on now Bruce?

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I'm not sure if it qualifies on "working on"

I picked up a hemi manifold a few weeks ago and am considering cleaning it up. The previous owner had sprayed a dull aluminum paint over the original orange.

how can you clean it installed?mine is a little dirty but im not going to take it off.