How to keep an aluminum gas tank shiny?

[Travlr]

I've never put any finish on my Wilcox aluminum tank and bodywork.  Of course, after polishing, it immediately starts to tarnish/oxidate.  What's a quality product to put on and keep the bodywork shiny and not yellow or oxidate.

Mike

[DoubleGuzzi]

To get initial shine, expensive MOTHER'S ULTIMATE MAG AND ALUMINIUM POLISH. It allegedly slows oxidation but hopefully someone else will suggest a good 'top coat'.
HTH
 

[Turin]

I use mothers as well.

[majstevetrevor]

That’s a beautiful bike!

[SIR REAL ED]

ACF-50, WD-40, Amsoil MP, etc.

[DoubleGuzzi]

ACF-50, WD-40, Amsoil MP, etc.

I was waiting on someone mentioning these.  I don't think I'd like the resulting smeared finish and be more likely to choose a polished wax coating.

[Gliderjohn]

I was waiting on someone mentioning these.  I don't think I'd like the resulting smeared finish and be more likely to choose a polished wax coating.

When I first bought my T-3 the wheels had quite a bit of oxidation. To start the polishing process I did use WD-40 along with steel wool. Did a great job of the basic work. Then finished it up with metal polish and a lot of elbow grease.
GliderJohn

[Moparnut72]

I would put a good coat of paste wax on it and buff it out.
kk

[DoubleGuzzi]

.. quite a bit of oxidation. To start the polishing process I did use WD-40 along with steel wool.

For wheels, my starting point would be Solvol Autosol as the cleaner, with possibly P800 Wet & Dry. I can see the advantage of steel wool though.
It's the post polishing protection that OP really wants to know, if I read right.

[Gliderjohn]

With enough manpower and polish about anything will buff out. Before and after for the B-29 Doc.






GliderJohn

[SIR REAL ED]

I was waiting on someone mentioning these.  I don't think I'd like the resulting smeared finish and be more likely to choose a polished wax coating.

You 're probably not using enough of it!!

Think, car wash with oil!!

 

[Travlr]

That’s a beautiful bike!

Thank you.  It's a LeMans 3 with Evan Wilcox bodywork.

Has anybody tried this: www.alumaclear.com?

Mike

[cliffrod]

Polished aluminum is the gift that keeps on giving….   

Aluminum surfaces oxidize, so getting them as perfectly smooth/polished as possible to reduce surface area helps them stay shiny longer.   That bodywork is probably 3003, which easily shaped because it is pretty soft.  That also means it will tend to oxidize easier/more as the surface is more easily scratched, even if the scratches are minute.  I’ve found the best long-term aluminum polish results from proper progression of polishing to a final step of at least 2000 grit wet/dry using something like kerosene as the “wet”.  water may work just as well but I haven’t tried it.  This is followed by using a paste polishing product like Simichrome. 

Beyond that, anything soft like wax only lasts so long but doesn’t interfere with future polishing.  Anything durable like a clear coat in the link will need to be stripped before more polishing can be done.  On harder alloys, that stripping may be less of an issue than it can be on soft alloys like 3000 series which is commonly used for such panelwork

[Stretch]

Polished aluminum is the gift that keeps on giving….

Yep - part of your regular upper body workout routine.... 

Be thankful you don't have an entire car or truck to do!

                                            -Stretch