Spoolin4Ever
15+ Year Contributor
- 1,142
- 13
- Apr 24, 2005
-
Moses Lake,
Washington
Head came off but is still good, not wanting to take it to the shop. I want to clean the old gasket material off the bottom of the head. What should I use?
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature currently requires accessing the site using the built-in Safari browser.
This site may earn a commission from merchant
affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Ez-off oven cleaner and a rag, or paint stipper if its really stuck on.
NO!Ez-off oven cleaner and a rag, or paint stipper if its really stuck on.
Never ever ever use one of those on a gasket surface. Guaranteed leaks if you do. Use a razor blade and scrape it like ice/frost off your windshield. If you have the head apart, I like to use some 180grit on a long block. It's important to keep it flat and not dig in anywhere.
I always used a razor blade, scotchbrite pad, and some brake cleaner to clean composite gasket remains. Takes some scrubbing, but works well.
Does it matter which scotch brite pad? As example green scratches stainless steel.
I still wouldn't. It's too easy to remove material from the block. Razor blade and sanding block.I use the yellow one only on the block with composite gaskets. Im at 32psi on my HX40 leak free.
I still wouldn't. It's too easy to remove material from the block. Razor blade and sanding block.
I still wouldn't. It's too easy to remove material from the block. Razor blade and sanding block.
DO NOT USE SCOTCHBRITE PADS. They contain aluminum oxide which destroys bearings.
https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=563163
Lye only would eat aluminum if left on it for days literally , on a rag it works perfect as does paint stripper, been a dealer mechanic for a long while, do it for a living.NO!
Lye eats aluminum.
Yes, lye is what is used to strip anodizing from aluminum in the professional anodizing world, we used it to clean our motocross raw aluminum engines for years when there was baked on mud and they come out pretty nice with it, you can use the aluminum safe version if you want to leave it on for a longer period of time, the regular stuff if left on for very long will turn aluminum black which can be removed with aluminum wheel cleaner that contains phosphoric acid.I used the oven cleaner to clean an exhaust up. Looks new again, minus it took a little of the Apexi purple-ish hue off the surface.
Yeah i get that. I'd be more concerned about what might get in and left in passages unless you're cleaning everything right away. I'm not a fan of the practice.Lye only would eat aluminum if left on it for days literally , on a rag it works perfect as does paint stripper, been a dealer mechanic for a long while, do it for a living.