Engine Cleaning
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Livingston TN
Engine Cleaning
I have pulled out my motor for a complete rebuild. I have decided to change heads for a build I'm thinking about and the used heads I bought are covered in oil and dirt. I'm not interested in taking anything to the machine shop. So my question is:
What is the best cleaner for removing oil and dirt?
I have heard of using kerosene, gasoline, diesel and coleman white gas. Any opinions?
What is the best cleaner for removing oil and dirt?
I have heard of using kerosene, gasoline, diesel and coleman white gas. Any opinions?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Any of those will work as cleaning solvents the issue becomes health, safety and environmental.
Wear protective gloves,petroleum products are absorbed into your skin. You are working with flammable products and what are you going to do with them when you are finished? You see where this is all going.
Wear protective gloves,petroleum products are absorbed into your skin. You are working with flammable products and what are you going to do with them when you are finished? You see where this is all going.
Last edited by Roco71; Sep 15, 2011 at 10:32 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,873
Likes: 27
From: Sonora CA
When I removed and rebuilt the front suspension components on my 73, I bought a plastic tub used for mixing cement, filled it with WD-40 and just let the parts soke. this softens up the grease and grime. It's a little more work, but it's safe to use, won't harm any parts and you can use it over and over again. But use rubber gloves anyway.
M2C Steve
M2C Steve
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 572
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From: Cooksville Maryland
DC Area Events Coordinator
I have found a little secret that a mechanic told me about many years back. The problem with grease & grime is that it just pushes itself around with most cleaners or you need a big production to get rid of it. Power washer, engine degreaser, etc. What I do to clean parts on the car, off the car is to use Brake Cleaner. It hits the grease, dissolves it as it runs off, evaporates so that there is no mess, and the *stuff* that it leaves behind is now a dry flakey substance that can be blown off with an air blast. I usually wait for sales from auto stores where I can get cans of it for $1.29. Then, using the little red straw and a catch tray, focus the spray on the greasy part. The runoff if any, goes into the catch tray. Then I hit it again and watch the clean part shine through. I've done my entire engine like this. I am tackling the oil pan replacement tonight. Going to run a shot of B-Clean around the bolts, get it nice and clean, then re-paint.
Just my .02 but worth a try.
Just my .02 but worth a try.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Livingston TN
thank you all for the replies. very good point about the flammable liquids. I don't think I'm going to use an of those. My brother-in-law told me about purple power and how good it is, but that was some time ago and I have since forgotten. I might use that and/or brake parts cleaner.
UPDATE:
After disassembly, I find a pretty significant lip at the top of my bores. Great, I have to take it to the machine shop and get it bored. So I'll have them clean the block and heads, and I'll clean all other components as mentioned above.
UPDATE:
After disassembly, I find a pretty significant lip at the top of my bores. Great, I have to take it to the machine shop and get it bored. So I'll have them clean the block and heads, and I'll clean all other components as mentioned above.
