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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

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 !!

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

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?

supercheap....autobarn

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

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

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

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

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

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

chubby37 wrote:supercheap....autobarn

Thanks Chubby37!