tempus

the current engine i am using has become fairly encrusted with carbon etc and i am thinking it's a good idea to clean the buildup off. What is the best method for this job? Also will a heavy buildup interfere with engine cooling?

pettit

My Feedback: (23)

Buy yourself a small crock pot. Maybe at a yard sale. Then get a gallon of auto antifreeze, the cheaper the better.

Put the engine parts in the crock pot, add antifreeze until covered.

Simmer for 24 hours at LOW setting. Outdoors please.

The carbon and other crud will be gone.

The antifreeze can be reused.

Don't cook any chili or stew in that crock pot any more.

tempus

I am using a double boiler with the antifreeze in a jar in a pot of warm water. It seems to be working like this although it is not outside. The water temp is quite low, not boiling and the jar with antifreeze will be kept for later use.

Campy

My Feedback: (1)

I would suggest doing this outside since the antifreeze does generate fumes while "doing it's thing".

Ejiro

My Feedback: (4)

I would like to jump in here, if you do not mind and ask what chemical is the active ingredient in auto anti-freeze? Is it glycol? The reason I need to know is that here in Saudi Arabia we really do not use anti-freeze (anti-boil would perhaps be more appropriate!), and so I doubt that I can just find it off the shelf. I would like to clean my glow engines as well. Perhaps if I know the proper chemical, I can lay my hands on it.

Thanks!

FenceMagnet

My Feedback: (2)

Ethylene Glycol

[:-]

Ejiro

My Feedback: (4)

Thank you Sir.

kdheath

A less toxic alternative is to boil the engine in a solution of water and automatic dishwasher detergent. We tried this last night for the first time and it worked nicely. Boiled a partly disassembled OS for 20 minutes in Cascade, dried it in the oven for another 20 minutes at 250F, and reassembled with air tool oil. Slick.

ecmiller

Yes, the build up can interfere with engine cooling.

britbrat

Don't use the dishwasher detergent very often, or for very long, -- it is an alkaline compound that will eventually eat the aluminum castings. The antifreeze method works well without trying to dissolve the engine.