Chemically cleaning an engine block

[Bryan]

Is there anywhere capable of cleaning an engine block?

I've spent the past 3 hours with a can of gunk trying to clean my Rover V8 block but it just isn't doing the job. It's a lot cleaner than I started but it's not clean enough.

I did a search about ultrasonic cleaners on here but found that no one has a machine large enough over here to do an engine block.

 

[stevieturbo]

OD cars definately have something that cleans them well.

I'd think any big engine work place would have similar ?

Gunk isnt very good anyway though. I find a cheap gallon of degreaser far better, and far cheaper.

But you do need some sort of acid or other much harsher cleaner. Or if you can get a large tank, caustic soda or something might do it

 

[Bryan]

I'm afraid of damaging it with something because it's mostly aluminium though.

Will give OD a ring tomorrow...

 

[PeteMoore]

is it bare/stripped

what about soda blasting?

 

[Bryan]

Yes it's totally bare.

The outside (part you will see when it's built up) came up ok with the Gunk but it's the internal parts I want cleaned. I've already had the block honed but I suppose I should have cleaned it first.

 

[OLLIeCrX]

Andrew mercer at momentum cleaned my Renault 5 block and it was minging

 

[PeteMoore]

In that case, i cant really reccommend anyone more so than OD cars

They have done a few a-series for us, but when you get it back be thorough when inspecting it to make sure all the crap is out of it, we found flakes and sludge in a fewof the oilways once the bath fluid had dried out.

 

[VDub2008]

not too sure on the matter but this might help

Cleaning Aluminum Engine Components.

and aqua blasting looks good

Aqua Blast Cleaning

 

[stevieturbo]

What about the DIY soda blasting jobbie suggested here a while ago ?


Although a good strong acid or similar product will clean it up a bit better than it is now

 

[Gambit]

Andrew mercer at momentum cleaned my Renault 5 block and it was minging

done mine also for the golf v easy to pay also

 

[Bryan]

I phoned OD cars and he said they don't have the facility to clean it properly. He said it would need to be rotary brushed or something.

Looks like another tub of gunk is in order...

 

[Bryan]

Been reading about that DIY soda blasting thing....

Surely if you just filled this with baking soda it would do the same job?

 

[stevieturbo]

Been reading about that DIY soda blasting thing....

Surely if you just filled this with baking soda it would do the same job?

I think that's basically what was suggested in the other thread. Maybe just opening up a larger nozzle.


Ive used chrome cleaner on aluminum before. But as already said, it's basically just an acid.

Or Ive seen people strip alloy wheels in caustic soda before which seems quite aggressive.

Or heard other people mention hydrogen peroxide or oven cleaner.

 

[chunky]

That we gun wont look at that block Bryan trust me, unless you have a monster comressor and blast pot don't even think about soda blasting yourself.

Have any machined faces taped off with duct tape or covered with wood and have it glass bead blasted.

 

[PeteMoore]

Put it in your bath

fill the bath up over the top of the block

add some washing powder

get a heavy duty battery, and a sheet of steel

attach the positive to the sheet of steel and slide down one side of the bath

attach the negative to the block

dont allow them to touch

attach a good charger to the battery to keep it topped up

Sit back and watch all the crap float off the block,

I use a smaller version of this for cleaning calipers and engine parts as it is non-destructive to metal unless you are using salt

when removing, rinse in cold water and dry immediately

 

[Bryan]

That gun I pictured above doesn't work with Soda. Tried it earlier - it won't pick it up for some reason.

If I did that with the bath my life wouldn't be worth living - although it sounds like a plan!

 

[Alan_B]

Get some Cillit Bang! Bound to be worth a shot. Stripped a layer of skin from my mates hands so bound to be able to clean up a block!

 

[Bryan]

Doesn't Cillit Bang eat aluminium for breakfast??

 

[Alan_B]

No idea lol.

 

[stevieturbo]

You'll be keeping an eye on it. If things look messy, hose it off.

 

[Mark_C]

Sodium Carbonate would probably be the best bath ingredient in bath tub electrolysis (Washing soda)

And the anode wont get corroded because you wont get your chlorides turned to gas.

That bath electrolysis sounds like best solution to me, with washing soda!

 

[Bryan]

I'll have to get hold of an old bath from somewhere to give that a go. Sounds like a plan!

 

[stevieturbo]

even a big old plastic water tank like in the roofspace would do ?

Would be a better shape for it anyway.

 

[johnm]

So you could do that in a basin really then for calipers?
Using a small car battery.

 

[PeteMoore]

john, yup

asi think i mentioned above, i use a metal bucket with foam on the bottom to rest the calipers on