Cleaning an engine

[Ivan]

What do you pros use to clean your engines?

Mine is apart to replace the bearings again, and it could use a good cleaning while I am in there, I am fairly sure that carb cold dip woudl remove the nice black anodizing ofthe CSpec.

Let me hear what you use.

[WayneBrown]

You used that 4 letter word again... pros.
I use alcohol, dish soap and water, and denatured alchohol.
Not a pro, but I do clean my junk when it's apart.

[ArthurKnowles]

I use my can of Demon Clean. It's still available. I saw something about it in a magazine's engine help section just a while ago. There was also a good article in MAN for devarnishing an engine. Complete disassembly and cleaning.

[RC-Bearings]

An old crockpot full of old style antifreeze will clean all the burnt on stuff and leave the engine shiny. No rubber or plastic parts, though!

[alexis007]

An old crockpot full of old style antifreeze will clean all the burnt on stuff and leave the engine shiny. No rubber or plastic parts, though!

Can you give some procedure how to do this and also a specific brand of antifreeze to be use. :)
I don't have a crockpot, any substitute? Is an ordinary pan or pot can do the job... :idea:

[RC-Bearings]

Any ethylene glycol based antifreeze will work. This is the slimy green stuff. It is also usually cheaper than the newer stuff. Also, if it has something called Aluguard in it it seems to work a little better without as much spotting. The last gallon I got was Mobil.

I would not use a pan or similar as the heat would be too great and you need to leave the stuff on heat for about 12 hours. Look around the garage sales for an old one. I got a small one for $3.00.

[LAMAR COOLEY]

Hi guys,
May I add a word of caution.
Please use the antifreez technique in a " WELL VENTILATED AREA".
The fumes can be harmful to your air bags and detrimental to those grey cells.
" Keep the right side up or down. Depending on your grey cell viscosity. "
Regards :D

[alexis007]

Thank you very much for the the information and warning guys.... :)

For all the dads out there
Happy Father's Day!!!... :D :D :D

[malc1]

Is this method going to be ok to free up a carb that has been left for some time.?
Several years with what looks like old fuel residue,not burnt on stuff.

[LAMAR COOLEY]

malc1
I would not hurt to try the antifreeze method. What have you got to lose :?:
Well you will probably distroy any "O" rings that may be in the carb. :(
But as Mr. Clarence Lee ( U.S.A.'s glow engine expert) would probably say" you don't know till you try". :wink:
I would first try straight boiling water. But be aware that the parts will expand
so let it cool down before trying to free up the barrel. In either case you are probably going to have "O" rings that are not useable.
If the barrel is still rotatable try cleaning with rubbing alcohol and tooth brush first.
I hope this will help in some small way.
Regards :lol:

[malc1]

Well I`ve cleaned my engine up a treat and also freed the sticky carb as well.( An OS four stroke )
Used oven cleaner the sort that `shifts those baked on stains`.
I just sprayed it on ,left it for 10 minutes and gave it a good going over with a tooth brush.Rinsed it off and its now not looking too bad.
You need to wear your rubber gloves though and be very careful where you spray the stuff.
Remove those `o` rings as well before you start too. :wink:

[ferincr]

Well I`ve cleaned my engine up a treat and also freed the sticky carb as well.( An OS four stroke )
Used oven cleaner the sort that `shifts those baked on stains`.
I just sprayed it on ,left it for 10 minutes and gave it a good going over with a tooth brush.Rinsed it off and its now not looking too bad.
You need to wear your rubber gloves though and be very careful where you spray the stuff.
Remove those `o` rings as well before you start too. :wink:
I thought you shouldn't use that kind of product on aluminum :dontknow May be if you only leave it 10min is not too bad. But I guess over time it will chew the alu away...Make sure you rinse it very well

[malc1]

Yeah, you may be right,don`t leave the stuff on the engine for too long and I think things will be ok.