How can I clean an Engine Block properly??

[somnv]

I am trying to really clean up an engine block. Will prob be an aluminium one. Gonna turn it into a coffee table. Any thoughts on how best to clean it?

Cheers
Norm

[Don1]

Steam clean it.

[TonyHetherington]

shot blast if possible?

otherwise my dad cleaned up an engine block for our kit car using copious amounts of gunk and petrol, before painting it with hammerite. It looks superb.

[Lurker]

Don1 said:

Steam clean it.

I've been told by some mechanics this isn't a great idea, as it can screw the electrics in the engine, if you hit the wrong place.

[shouldbworking]

Lurker said:

Don1 said:

Steam clean it.

I've been told by some mechanics this isn't a great idea, as it can screw the electrics in the engine, if you hit the wrong place.

Oh gawd youre right, I hate it when the electrics in my coffee table dont work right.

[Lurker]

Lurker said:

Don1 said:

Steam clean it.

I've been told by some mechanics this isn't a great idea, as it can screw the electrics in the engine, if you hit the wrong place.

I've just checked your profile for mechanical expertise, and apparently you're a 'cage fighter'.

To clarify, the mechanics thought it wasn't a great idea; I think it's a brilliant idea, and I'd be very interested in any others you have, as I think I could learn a lot from you.

[Lurker]

shouldbworking said:

Lurker said:

Don1 said:

Steam clean it.

I've been told by some mechanics this isn't a great idea, as it can screw the electrics in the engine, if you hit the wrong place.

Oh gawd youre right, I hate it when the electrics in my coffee table dont work right.

Yeah, missed that.

[TonyHetherington]

Clean it up as best you can manually (petrol and gunk) then pay a shot blaster 20quid or so to get it looking all sparkly

[Munter]

OK if your married what you do is put it in the new bath and wash off the oil using kettles of boiling water. Then dry it off using the towels you got as a wedding present, put it on some newspaper on the kitchen table and then use gunk to strip the final grease and oil off.

That should just about prepare the woman for haivng an engine block coffee table. If your not married....well why are you cleaning something. Just slap a piece of glass on it and have done with it.

HTH

[liner33]

shot blast it and have it powdercoated at the same time , the plain ally will just absorb crap and dust otherwise

I knew a guy who had a Buick engine as a Wine rack , guess thats all they are good for

[Don1]

Lurker said:

Lurker said:

Don1 said:

Steam clean it.

I've been told by some mechanics this isn't a great idea, as it can screw the electrics in the engine, if you hit the wrong place.

I've just checked your profile for mechanical expertise, and apparently you're a 'cage fighter'.

To clarify, the mechanics thought it wasn't a great idea; I think it's a brilliant idea, and I'd be very interested in any others you have, as I think I could learn a lot from you.

Credit where it's due! Apology accepted, you spanner!

Edited by Don1 on Thursday 6th December 16:35

[annodomini2]

Get a couple of bottles of Classic Coca-Cola, the stuff in the glass bottles (its a different receipe as if they put it in plastic ones it would eat the bottle), pour over the block, leave for 10-15mins and spray with a jet washer.

Its Ph 2.5 and is technically an acid.

The company use it themselves for cleaning their delivery truck engines.

[Trommel]

annodomini2 said:

Get a couple of bottles of Classic Coca-Cola, the stuff in the glass bottles (its a different receipe as if they put it in plastic ones it would eat the bottle), pour over the block, leave for 10-15mins and spray with a jet washer.

Its Ph 2.5 and is technically an acid.

The company use it themselves for cleaning their delivery truck engines.

Get it hot-tanked.

Edited by Trommel on Thursday 6th December 16:34

[TonyHetherington]

Lurker said:

I've just checked your profile for mechanical expertise, and apparently you're a 'cage fighter'.

To clarify, the mechanics thought it wasn't a great idea; I think it's a brilliant idea, and I'd be very interested in any others you have, as I think I could learn a lot from you.

[kingb]

TonyHetherington said:

Clean it up as best you can manually (petrol and gunk) then pay a shot blaster 20quid or so to get it looking all sparkly

where can one get an engine shot blasted then??

do most engineering places do it? - 20 quid seems like a bargin

[Tunku]

How big is your dish washer?

[Stu R]

Personally I'd take it to be acid dipped, having had a few engines done now I've been amazed at how new they've looked when they come back.
I suppose shotblasting would have the same effect and is fine as you're only using it for a coffee table, so just go for whatever's easiest. You can always go over it with silver paint to give it that ultra new look afterwards

Shotblasting is cheap as chips just look in the yellow pages

[.. al]

http://www.frost.co.uk

I'm pretty sure they do a kit which would be ideal for you, but I've just quickly searched and I couldn't find it. Give 'em a call.

[JWB]

Do not shot blast an alloy block. You want glass beads or sand will do if the blaster is careful.

[Boosted LS1]

Etching/dipping (neostrip etc) is getting hard to get done these days due to the toxic chemicals involved but it'll bring a block back to new condition. That's the way to go, steam cleaning is rubbish in comparison.

Boosted.