Cleaning Engine Block

[sniperelite]

Ok I picked up a machined 6 bolt with brand new Ross pistons still in box and used Eagle rods. The block is in great condition but the guy used it for about 1k miles so obviously it had oil and everything in it. I currently have the block sitting in my garage but need to move it to my room and before I do this I want to get the whole block nice and clean inside and out.

So my question is, what can I use to make sure the block gets very nice and clean and that won't hurt the block itself. I was seeing some people saying they use acetone but I don't know how that would be on the inside of the block? I just basically need a safe cleaner to use on the entire block.

 

[Rabbi]

they cleaned my block at the machine shop for $20 bucks

boring/honing/decking etc was extra


but just a hottank shouldnt run you much more than $20 and they look CLEAN as no other after words =)

 

[hdoerr]

If you can't get it to a shop then try simple green. It works very well and is non toxic, a point that you would need to consider if your going to clean it at your house.

 

[sniperelite]

Ya rabbi I know its real cheap to hot tank it but I dont wanna go thru the trouble of hauling it there and back in my eclipse . I was just looking for something quick and easy to degrease/clean the engine real good and not have any harmful effect on it. Hdoerr, thanks for the advice i might give that a try.

 

[knochgoon24]

Do you have a friend with a pickup?

 

[sniperelite]

It isn't harmful to hot tank a block that has been o-ringed correct?

 

[blcknspo0ln]

Ya rabbi I know its real cheap to hot tank it but I dont wanna go thru the trouble of hauling it there and back in my eclipse . I was just looking for something quick and easy to degrease/clean the engine real good and not have any harmful effect on it. Hdoerr, thanks for the advice i might give that a try.

Engine degreaser, let it sit for 15 min, wash off with water, then use simple green a couple more times until you're happy.

 

[turboglenn]

Engine degreaser, let it sit for 15 min, wash off with water, then use simple green a couple more times until you're happy.

Another good thing you can use is oven cleaner (easy-off works great) but make sure that you don't get it on anything that's polished aluminum as it will make it fog over white with corosion, but can be cleaned off if you feel like re-polishing the parts.

I will normally use oven cleaner and engine degreaser before doing the "final clean" with some Wheel-brite by turtlewax or using some plain old 409

Good luck, and if you do plan on if using oven cleaner, also make sure to keep it off any rubber seals you don't want to replace as it can dry them out and eat them up pretty fast. Your other gaskets will be fine though.

 

[gsxAWDdsm692]

You could put the block in a plastic container like an oversized clothes bin or tupperwear, maybe even a trash can. Put some concentrated simple green or you can mix it with water and let it sit.

 

[sniperelite]

ya screw cleaning it theres a lot more oil and crap on it than i thought there would be. It is going to be well worth the 20 bucks to have it hot tanked . Thanks for the suggestion rabbi. Now how bad is it that i have the block sitting upsidown on a block of wood with a rag inbetween the two? I have it laying on the top where the head would be in contact with the block.

 

[gsxAWDdsm692]

it's iron. Just dont drop it or smash it.