SCOTT42

My Feedback: (1)

Ok, so im about to start my first of two engine rebuilds tomorrow, once I get the engines apart I want to give them a good cleaning. Ive heard of useing a crock pot with antifreeze but have never used it myself. How would I do it? Just add the antifreeze and parts and turn it on and set and forget for a while?I know to keep it away from pets and such, but not sure how to use it as a cleaner. Thanks Scott

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

Use it on LOW

Use the old, plain, cheap, green antifreeze.

Dont ever cook food again in the crockpot and mind the fumes.

eagledancer

and DONT put carb in with the engine!!! ask me how i know!

SCOTT42

My Feedback: (1)

Ok, but how long is normal to cook them? One day? two days? Only hours?

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

usually over night. Some longer. A soft wire brush is a big help too.

SCOTT42

My Feedback: (1)

Ok thank you beard, ill have it out in my garadge which is my hobbyroom, should I worry bout the fumes getting in the house and have to deal with an angry woman?

SCOTT42

My Feedback: (1)

I forgot to ask, do yall use the 50/50 diluted, or prediluted antifreeze? I can get the 50/50 from work at no cost but will have to buy the other.

RCVFR

My Feedback: (7)

I have only used the undiluted version. It is reusable many times over, I have had the same gallon for years. I have never kept parts in overnight, usually a few hours is all that's needed. Especially baked on crud may require a second treatment. A small (non metal) brush is usefull to scrub the part. I use discarded toothbrushes for this.

Be sure to remove any rubber parts (O rings, gaskets, etc) as they don't take the heat too well.

HighPlains

My Feedback: (1)

I run with water added, 50% or less it works fine. Have used the same batch for years. Usually end up cleaning the parts in the ultrasonic cleaner after the antifreeze, then bake in the oven at 225 to quick dry parts before oiling and assembly.

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

Straight old anti freeze. Smell isn't bad but you can never use that crock pot again for cooking. Most people just buy an old one at a swap meet for modeling use. If it belongs to your wife you may want to give it more thought.

bob62

My Feedback: (28)

Electric tooth brush works good

Texas Don

My Feedback: (5)

Use the low heat setting, not high. I purchased my crock pot new at Target for around $9. For that price there's no need to chase one at a consignment store. I've done it with both 50/50 mix and straight antifreeze. I've use the green and orange types. I can't tell any difference at all and some of the engines that I've rebuilt were badly discolored with baked on oil/fuel residue. So just use whatever mix is convenient for you. I currently use the orange at full strength because it's what is most readily available and both my vehicles use it. The reason I use the low heat setting is that I've read some discoloration of the aluminum parts can occur when using the high setting. I can't verify that since I opted to just use the low setting. No need for high anyway since the low setting does the job. I just put the parts into the pot with the solution at room temperature. Turn it on and leave it for 12 hours or so. Remove the parts one at a time and work them over with a nylon toothbrush. The crap just dissolves with this method.

OldScaleGuy

My Feedback: (2)

Another product that works well is Dawn Power Dissolve. I get mine at Walmart. No crock pot needed, safer for children and pets. Let the part(s) soak in a small dish and use a brush to remove the crud. I use an old tooth brush.

mvallyman

My Feedback: (32)

I would'nt recomend using it in the garage atached to the house or otherwise. Set it outside, animals wont drink it if its still hot. I store mine just inside the garage door when cool.

SCOTT42

My Feedback: (1)

Thank you everone for the input, I havent used it yet and will this next weekend, a fellow from my club tried it the other day and it turned his engine black. Is that from cooking it to hot? Or to long or both? Thats what worrys me at this point, what can be done to fix it if it does turn black?

Texas Don

My Feedback: (5)

Too much heat will turn it black. That's why you use the low heat setting. I've gone up to 12 hours on the low setting without any blackening of engine parts. That is plenty long enough to remove even the most stubborn residue. Once the part has turned black, bead blasting is the only thing that I know of that will restore the bright finish back to shiny.

SCOTT42

My Feedback: (1)

Does it do any good just turn the unit on and get it good and hot and then unplug and let set? Im not gonna leave it turned on overnight while i sleep and cant spend the day with it while I work. The crock pot I have is the small one with no temp settings, its on or off thats my choice.

Edwin

My Feedback: (2)

I put mine on an appliance timer. I usually check at 4 hours to see how the progress is. If its heavy, then over night it is and the timer will turn it off. Remove the rubber in the carb. I use a sifter with a fine screen for the small parts.
Edwin

SCOTT42

My Feedback: (1)

Well I cooked my first engine and it turned out nice and clean, Ive got the parts in the oven bakeing right now and about to start replaceing the bearings, wish me luck!Ive got about four more engines that need a good cleaning and bearing replacement soon.

TeamMuir1

My Feedback: (-1)

I just started this process with a muffler of mine...
Actually I started another thread and just ran into
this one.
so I thought I would touch base with what I did.
for the first 2 hours I had on HIGH heat....
I noticed an immediate difference, and the color of
the antifreeze I used was Green.. Prestone.
I CHANGED the Antifreeze....with fresh I could
understand if someone just left it in the crockpot and
didnt change the fluid,,,, MY fluid was NASTY BLACK.
thats what would change the color of the metal
by baking the black into it. all metal is pouras.
so I would look at the color of your fluid and change
it once it turns black.. Now my muffler was so caked on
with grime that you couldnt even see the metal
and in 2 hours I only had small speckles of grime
so I changed the fluid and turned the heat down to
WARM instead of HIGH .
I hope that helped ya some.

warbird lover

Hi Scott,

I have had good luck cleaning my engines with
cascade washing powder.

I bring the water up to boiling, add 2 - 3 teaspoons of Cascade,
put the disassembled engine parts in, and turn the heat to low boil. The length
of time depends on how dirty the parts are until they are clean.
The longest amount of time for one of my engines was 10 minutes
and it was nasty.

DON'T USE CASCADE WITH LEMON SCENT. It will discolor the engine.
I know from experence. An aluminum pot will discolor the parts too.
Use a steel pot and the parts will shine.

Reference:

http://www.airfieldmodels.com/inform...aintenance.htm

Warbird Lover

jetpack

My Feedback: (1)

EZ-Off has oven cleaner that is safe on aluminum now.

Strips carbon and baked castor like nothing else in seconds. Fresh water rinse.

I dont mess with the antifreeze anymore, waste of time.

markhamregular

Jetpack,

Then if I use the EZ-Off I do not need to take the engine apart?
I am not really handy, and I am afraid nbot to be able to make it right after.
I am looking at a simple way to clean.

Thanks,

jetpack

My Feedback: (1)

Oh okay, I gotcha. Yeah i guess the best way is what people been saying then. I've heard nothing but good things about that Dawn power dissolver. Just take off the carb and plug that plus your exhaust and give it a go. Those PVC colored end caps you can find by the nuts and bolts drawers at the hardware store is good for that.