Cleaning disassembled engine parts

[marksx]

Hi all,

I am in the process of dismantling my LS2. I am at the point now where I need to clean parts up and dry them for storage.

What are suitable products to use for cleaning? I don't have access to a parts washer, so it will all have to be done by hand.

I do work in the chemical industry though, and have access to numerous solvents!

[DrDeAtH]

Wait until the Mrs is out and pop the parts in the dishwasher..

[TooMany2cvs]

marksx said:

I don't have access to a parts washer, so it will all have to be done by hand.

Easily solved.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cw2d-bench-mounted...

OK, it won't fit a v8 block or heads in, at least not all at once, but it will fit all the other bits.

[996Keef]

+1 for a parts washer.

But an old washing up bowl, white spirit and a paintbrush works wonders

[227bhp]

You could try using something called 'Engine parts cleaner' that would be good.

[Mikey G]

DrDeAtH said:

Wait until the Mrs is out and pop the parts in the dishwasher..

I bought a broken one and modified it with cheap chinese ebay controllers so I can set the temperature and time to what I want

[tapkaJohnD]

I usually do this in our outhouse, that has the benefit of an antique "Belfast" sink, shallow so easy to handle things in and long enough to take a straight six crank. Scrub with engine degreaser, wash off with hot water, spray with WD-40 and dry off with an airline. Don't forget to clean out thethe oil passages with a rifle brush!

My current project is particularly filthy inside, caked with a hard layer of brown deposit under the Black Gunge of years of neglect and no fresh oil. I intend to have the block 'dipped' - Any reason not to do the crank as well?

John

[Andy 308GTB]

I always chuck small items in a bowl of petrol. Is this frowned upon, as no one ever suggests it?

[E-bmw]

Only because petrol is exceedingly flammable whereas there are many other things that are not.

[227bhp]

tapkaJohnD said:

I usually do this in our outhouse, that has the benefit of an antique "Belfast" sink, shallow so easy to handle things in and long enough to take a straight six crank. Scrub with engine degreaser, wash off with hot water, spray with WD-40 and dry off with an airline. Don't forget to clean out the the oil passages with a rifle brush!

My current project is particularly filthy inside, caked with a hard layer of brown deposit under the Black Gunge of years of neglect and no fresh oil. I intend to have the block 'dipped' - Any reason not to do the crank as well?

John

Depends what you're dipping it into, but if it doesn't damage a block it won't damage a crank either.

[227bhp]

Andy 308GTB said:

I always chuck small items in a bowl of petrol. Is this frowned upon, as no one ever suggests it?

You're washing off something which isn't easily disposable or easy to clean off with something else which has the same properties. That's why water soluble engine cleaner is king, it converts one to the other and you can wash clean with water.

[Krikkit]

Must admit though, despite its flammability, petrol is the cheapest and most potent degreaser you can buy easily.

What would you put in a parts washer above? Standard engine degreaser like Gunk watered down a smidge?

[227bhp]

I'd go to the recent parts washer thread and read that

[DrDeAtH]

227bhp said:

Andy 308GTB said:

I always chuck small items in a bowl of petrol. Is this frowned upon, as no one ever suggests it?

You're washing off something which isn't easily disposable or easy to clean off with something else which has the same properties. That's why water soluble engine cleaner is king, it converts one to the other and you can wash clean with water.

Dispose of it by burning..😁

[marksx]

Thanks everyone.

On white spirit, does it leave a residue?

I've about 20l in the garage!

Bench mounted parts washer looks good, if I had a bench 😂 could always use the floor I suppose.

I'll have a look for engine parts cleaner. Didn't know these things existed, it's the first engine I've taken apart properly.

[marksx]

tapkaJohnD said:

I usually do this in our outhouse, that has the benefit of an antique "Belfast" sink, shallow so easy to handle things in and long enough to take a straight six crank. Scrub with engine degreaser, wash off with hot water, spray with WD-40 and dry off with an airline. Don't forget to clean out thethe oil passages with a rifle brush!

My current project is particularly filthy inside, caked with a hard layer of brown deposit under the Black Gunge of years of neglect and no fresh oil. I intend to have the block 'dipped' - Any reason not to do the crank as well?

John

Are the cans of air any good for drying? I don't have a compressor.

[GreenV8S]

marksx said:

Are the cans of air any good for drying? I don't have a compressor.

That would be bonkers expensive, and completely unnecessary.

[PaulKemp]

Diesel less flammable than petrol, safer for general cleaning use in a large parts washer. I found the water soluble stuff next to useless

[tapkaJohnD]

How yu going to get rid of the used, dirty petrol or even diesel?

Let Uncle Rob show you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2O-48KzwVk

John

[VanDiesel99]

I've always used Diesel for parts cleaning. Readily available, Dirt cheap and not as flammable as Petrol. Having finished with it, dilute it with lots of Washing Up liquid.

Some say handling Diesel can cause Cancer, I'm not 100% sure I believe it, but wearing gloves avoids the possibility.

Or you can buy special Parts cleaning solvents & such-like, I've never owned one though and I've been spannering a very long time now.