Can I clean an oil separator by immersing it in petrol?

[AVR2]

I'm going to have to remove the oil separator from under the cat on my 2.0L Zetec in order to fix its leaking gasket. While it's off the car, can I just immerse it in a bucket of petrol overnight to clean it internally (after removing the PCV valve and rubber grommet of course), or is that a really bad idea? Do separators even need cleaning out?

Edited by AVR2 on Wednesday 31st March 00:03

[hman]

A bucket of petrol is not an appropriate container for a very flammable liquid (it will probably melt a hole thorugh it anyway) and is a good way of accidentally burning down a lot of property combined with self immolation.

either buy a new oil seperator or use a non volatile cleaning agent

[buggalugs]

Diesel and a paint brush is quite decent for cleaning parts and much safer and less fume-y

[dontlookdown]

Parrafin would be a less controversial choice of solvent, if you can't find a big enough sealed container to satisfy the fire warden;)

Should work if the separator is just a bit cruddy. But if it is properly gunky with that thick tarry deposit, my experience is that you will strughle to get it properly clean. Buy a new one if you can, so long as they aren't crazy money.

[Captain Answer]

Clean out a oil drain pan (or large paint try/bucket) then go over the outside with some diesel/thinners/white spirit/petrol and an old paint brush, use a funnel and fill up the inside and swish it out a good few times, rinse and repeat then leave it to drip dry somewhere - tip off whats in the oil pan into an old paint tin/oil container and dispose of correctly

[CrutyRammers]

I normally use white spirit for this kind of thing. Petrol is rather more dangerous and damaging to various materials.

[AVR2]

Cheers all. Ford discontinued the part years ago, so it's either flush it myself or leave as-is - nobody seems to make them on the aftermarket, so a new one isn't happening.