Can pH levels affect the durability of metal car parts?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the impact of pH levels on the durability of metal car parts, specifically aluminum, steel alloys, and magnesium alloy. It concludes that acidic solutions can cause pitting in metals, while basic solutions may lead to mineral buildup. A pH neutral solution is identified as optimal for reducing metal degradation, as it minimizes risks associated with prolonged exposure to harmful cleaning agents. The consensus is that using a pH neutral cleaner is the safest approach for maintaining metal car parts without incurring additional costs.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of pH levels and their effects on metals
  • Familiarity with metal types: aluminum, steel alloys, magnesium alloy
  • Knowledge of car cleaning products and their chemical compositions
  • Basic principles of corrosion and metal degradation
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the effects of acidic solutions on aluminum and steel alloys
  • Investigate the chemical properties of magnesium alloys in relation to pH
  • Explore various pH neutral car cleaning products on the market
  • Study corrosion prevention techniques for automotive metals
USEFUL FOR

Automotive engineers, car maintenance professionals, and anyone involved in the care of metal car parts will benefit from this discussion, particularly those focused on optimizing the longevity and performance of automotive materials.

Cyrus
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I saw this video on a car cleaning product. In it he talks about the improtance of pH balance and how it effects metals. I'm not a chemist, and it's been a long time since I took undergrad chemistry. You can see he does a little lab experiment with the metals in the various pH cleaning solutions and how it effects the metals - so in a sense the proof is in the data he shows.

The questions are:
- does an acidic solution cause metals to pitting?
- does a basic solution cause mineral buildup?
- is a pH neutral solution optimal to reduce degradation of a metal material.

Keeping in mind this would be applied to wheels, the metals are going to be: aluminum, steel alloys, and magnesium alloy.

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I know pure magnesium reacts with water violently, so it be tamed in alloy form. I can't imagine a coating being sufficient because if it gets rubbed off or scratched the first time you drive in rain your rims would catch on fire.
 
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Cyrus said:
The questions are:
- does an acidic solution cause metals to pitting?
- does a basic solution cause mineral buildup?
- is a pH neutral solution optimal to reduce degradation of a metal material.

More or less 3*yes. Details will vary for different metals, but these can serve as a general directions. Note that for pitting and mineral buildup you will need a prolonged use or bath in the cleaning solutions, as long as they are correctly applied and soon wiped out (or rinsed) I don't think you will be able to observe these effects.
 
Thanks Borek! My theory was that even through you will rinse them off, if its safest to use a pH neutral cleaner, then why not hedge my bet in that direction. If you fail to rinse some of it off, yet the cleaner is pH neutral, you don't have anything to worry about. All things being equal, I might as well choose the product that is chemically safest ( Provided it costs roughly the same as any other cleaner out there ).
 
I have no problems with this approach, being on the safe side for no additional cost shouldn't hurt :smile:
 

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