Engine Cleaning

Frosty2086 · Post by **Frosty2086** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:01 am

Alright,

Got another question. Engine Cleaning. My new engine has a reasonable amount of gummy oil and power steering fluid on it (the power steering resivoir leaked). So i would like to get it nice and clean before i put it in to the beast, this will also help keep all my work clean as well. What i intend to do is seal up all the holes (exhaust, carby, air intake etc) with rags/duct tape. Then cover the distributer and take the alternator off. After this spray with ct18 and let stand for a while, and then pressure clean the engine. I figure engines get wet, and as long as i do it on a nice sunny day and let it stand their should be no issues. What have other people done? Will i destroy all the electrics? Just thought i would check, and i should let you know there may be alot of questions over the next few weeks as i work on my new engine and try and get it in my car (first time i have ever done anything of this scope).

Cheers

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:20 am

Well, when cruisingbrumby adam commented that I had the cleanest subaru engine he'd ever seen - I feel qualified to answer

cheapy version of a Dremel from Clints/The Warehouse/Sams and their wire brush out of the kit no longer available there for $7 yet Bunnings have for twice the price

engine stand helps

lots of time and patience , rags

and secret ingredients called wax and grease remover in open air space PLEASE !!

chubby37 · Post by **chubby37** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 11:50 am

be careful with ct18...its costic and will dull the alloy real fast.....citrus hand cleaner and a good stiff brush works well.....wax and grease remover is really good as jono said too

Subyroo · Post by **Subyroo** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 11:58 am

chubby37 wrote:be careful with ct18...its costic and will dull the alloy real fast.....citrus hand cleaner and a good stiff brush works well.....wax and grease remover is really good as jono said too

To ask the obvious ....... where do ya get it?

chubby37 · Post by **chubby37** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 12:05 pm

supercheap....autobarn

CPOCSM · Post by **CPOCSM** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 5:50 pm

Go to Bummings and grap one of those pump up garden sprayer things(not the hosed ones - the one I have is a 2 litre one) and just use washing detergent - about 3 capfuls in 2 litres(I use Morning Fresh...

). I use warm to hot water and put the detergent in AFTER the water as it will foam up - you want it to mix without the foaming.

Turn it end on end a couple of times and then pressurise and spray the motor with it...let it sit for 5-10 mins and then hit it again. Then using a small medium brush(I use a dunny scrubber!!)go to it....then using a mist spray for the hose - lightly wash the detergent off. Get the bay looking pretty spiffy without too much expense(a bit of elbow grease though)

hooroo

chubby37 · Post by **chubby37** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:29 pm

just need to watch using dish washing stuff....contains salt....rust

dibs · Post by **dibs** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:41 am

my ct18 says its non costic
used to be yrs ago but i think they had to change it
dibs

r00fi · Post by **r00fi** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:59 pm

I use diesel for washing car parts. Smells though.....

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:45 pm

r00fi wrote:I use diesel for washing car parts. Smells though.....

Ditto that... I often let it soak overnight as well... I did that once with CV joints and came up nicely, otherwise kero with pressure wash (with compressed air) and sometimes I would clean the engine with high pressure at the car wash bays but not often tho.
Cheers
AP

dibs · Post by **dibs** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:37 am

another trick i use is wash of parts with realy hot water . this helps dry of important things that need to be instantly dry.

dibs

Subyroo · Post by **Subyroo** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:45 pm

chubby37 wrote:supercheap....autobarn

Thanks Chubby37!