Engine cleaning an LT1
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 2
From: Ramona CA
Engine cleaning an LT1
I just bought this '92. The engine is a bit dirty. I want to clean it but am afraid of causing problems with the Opti-spark. I'm considering spraying some Gunk on parts of the engine and rinsing it off with water or a power sprayer. Any suggestions or warnings?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 6,461
Likes: 5
From: Ypsilanti MI
Cruise-In 10-11-12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'14
Don't do it! 
Your best bet is to probably just carefully wipe down anything you can reach and take off, or move, parts that are easy to do to gain access to other areas. Water+Opti=
Your best bet is to probably just carefully wipe down anything you can reach and take off, or move, parts that are easy to do to gain access to other areas. Water+Opti=
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 497
Likes: 1
From: Casa Grande Az
Your opti (if it is the original) is also non vented. Meaning if moisture gets in there via condensation , water hose , power washer..... it has no easy way to get out.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
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St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Don't do it--Do it--Use a leaf Blower--just wipe it down.
This is what I've done to all my Vettes to include my 92 wich had no ventilation on the opti.
I've done the car wash pressure, the garden hose and now my personal pressure washer. I hose down the engine every time I wash the Vette but, immediately after I blow all the water away with the leaf blower. Do not hose the opti, the coil, fuel injectors directly.
Some people is going to jump on me for this but, here I go
This pictures were taken the day I bought my LT4 Vette
This is how the engine compartment looked
I took the Vette from the old lady's house to the local car wash and I was ruthless with the sprayer. Knowing
it was a project car I hammered the opti, coil, everything you are not supposed to do.
The engine fired up no problems, no misfires NOTHING bad about and drove home.
This is the best the LT4 looked before I opened the tool box.
LT4 Vette last Sunday
This is what I've done to all my Vettes to include my 92 wich had no ventilation on the opti.
I've done the car wash pressure, the garden hose and now my personal pressure washer. I hose down the engine every time I wash the Vette but, immediately after I blow all the water away with the leaf blower. Do not hose the opti, the coil, fuel injectors directly.
Some people is going to jump on me for this but, here I go
This pictures were taken the day I bought my LT4 Vette
This is how the engine compartment looked
I took the Vette from the old lady's house to the local car wash and I was ruthless with the sprayer. Knowing
it was a project car I hammered the opti, coil, everything you are not supposed to do.
The engine fired up no problems, no misfires NOTHING bad about and drove home.
This is the best the LT4 looked before I opened the tool box.
LT4 Vette last Sunday
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,588
Likes: 10
From: North New Jersey
Use a spray bottle with water and a spray bottle with simple green and go from there. Here is my engine compartment doing exactly that. You use a lot of paper towels and it takes a while, but in the end, its worth it!!!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 92
From: Rochester Hills Michigan
[QUOTE=92ZR1WANNABE;1574337501Your opti (if it is the original) is also non vented. Meaning if moisture gets in there via condensation , water hose , power washer..... it has no easy way to get out.[/QUOTE]
Not quite...This is the bottom of a '92 opti. The three holes vent the inside of the unit to atmosphere.
Are those three holes enough of a vent? Nope. Many problems with the early optis. The later LTXs used a closed system that worked like a PCV. It drew air through the unit to suck moisture out.
I think you could wash the '92 engine and be OK if you could avoid getting condensation inside the opti. I had a problem with condensation inside the distributor when I rinsed my '65 engine with cold water. The inside of the distributor was soaking wet from condenation. I would use warm water to rinse the engine if I absolutely had to wash it. But...am I going to wash my '92 engine? Nope.
Not quite...This is the bottom of a '92 opti. The three holes vent the inside of the unit to atmosphere.
Are those three holes enough of a vent? Nope. Many problems with the early optis. The later LTXs used a closed system that worked like a PCV. It drew air through the unit to suck moisture out.
I think you could wash the '92 engine and be OK if you could avoid getting condensation inside the opti. I had a problem with condensation inside the distributor when I rinsed my '65 engine with cold water. The inside of the distributor was soaking wet from condenation. I would use warm water to rinse the engine if I absolutely had to wash it. But...am I going to wash my '92 engine? Nope.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 7
From: Burleson Texas
To clean off the bottom side of the engine and around the crank, I use brake cleaner. Tons of it.
It cleans the oil and grime right off and leaves no moisture to deal with. Its not easy on plastic parts, so be fore-warned.
Ive also used a pressure washer, on both of my '94s and on my LT4, no problems, yet I didn't spray the Opti or that area directly.
It cleans the oil and grime right off and leaves no moisture to deal with. Its not easy on plastic parts, so be fore-warned.
Ive also used a pressure washer, on both of my '94s and on my LT4, no problems, yet I didn't spray the Opti or that area directly.
