My engine brackets and intake look horrible w all this flakey yellow stuff on them. Im assuming its a clear to protect the aluminum. Any one have any luck removing this crap with out unbolting and sanding?

I know its sounds trivial but it drives me nuts when I open the hood. Im the type that like to have everything clean. Including frame and engine.

 

That stuff, isn't factory normal. Get a second option as to what it is and how to remove it before you do the wrong thing and mark up your engine even more.
Got any pictures of what you are talking about?

 

Its on almost every thing under the hood.

 

Looks like oxidation to me.

 

No this stuff is sticky and flakey. Ive seem aluminum oxidized and its not this.

 

I bet at some point previous owner was a fan of engine dressing.I would see what a engine degreaser and a little scrubbing would do.

 

Yea I was thinking the same. Ive tried simple green purple power. Engine degreaser. Aluminum wheel cleaner. And deluted muratic acid. Nothing budged it. So I sanded it w 100 grit and switched to 220