ORIGINAL: Kevlar
Hi all, so I have a three part question:
1) Can you or should you tear down your engine to clean any or all tarnish (on the head, around the carb, exhaust, etc). I’ve heard you never want to tear down an engine unless absolutely necessary – call me fickle
, but I like a clean engine – especially one that I got used in trade.
2) If I DO tear it down, what’s the best way to clean w/o impacting the internals? I’d use copious amounts of After-Run oil for re-lubrication of course.
3) If I DON’T tear it down, what’s the best way to clean?
• I have an old Braun electric tooth brush and some acetone that I was going to use to clean up the engine – Anything I should be concerned about before I dive in?
Thanks!
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There is a big difference between tarnish and varnish. You do mean varnish, right? Like the kind deposited from fuel with castor oil?
Don't mind me, but we don't need confusion on this newsgroup. I contribute enough as it is. <G>
Personally, if the engine runs well, I'd leave it together. If you want to clean out the insides, use fuel with all synthetic lubricant and keep your fingers crossed that it also doesn't clean out engine metal too. It works. BTDT.
For external goop on the engine, there is a new product on the market that can be found in the Pots and Pans section of Wal-Mart. The amazing new product is known as, "Dawn Power Dissolver". Fellows, this stuff works. I've cleaned up several really badly caked with castor varnish engines using this stuff and paper towels. It takes a little while if the engine is really cruddy (bought them off eBay), but I promise you that it works, it is inexpensive and it doesn't seem to bother my skin when I get it on me. The spray cleaner 409 always makes my skin itch a bit. This DPD spray does the same thing. It's just very mild irritation (for me) and it doesn't seem to hurt other kitchen objects.
Frankly, using DPD has prevented me from firing up the crockpot loaded with antifreeze so far. It is that good.
If your engine doesn't need new parts, don't disassemble it. Seriously.
Ed Cregger