engine cleaner
 

what is a good engine cleaner to use on the baked on tar? I have seen breif info of "home brews" does anyone have an effective one or should I focus my search for a commercially available cleaner?

RE: engine cleaner
 

I have used antifreeze in a crock pot. I just soak the engine in the crock pot for an hour or so. You just have to use in a well vented area. wash, dry and lube it up good after soaking.
Jonathan

RE: engine cleaner
 

I use Dawn power disolver it works great. Spray it on , let it set for 10 min and rinse it off

RE: engine cleaner
 

The Dawn works for relatively small areas. However, there is nothing like a crock pot to clean a whole engine.

Bill

RE: engine cleaner
 

thanks for the help guys. I think the crock pot method will better suit my needs.

RE: engine cleaner
 

The Crock Pot method is great. My pot has a lid and I use it. I usually leave it overnight. I'm not sure it is necessary, but I do it anyway. The lid eleminates the fumes and keeps my cats safe. After the pot, I dip the engine in denatured alcohol and wash thoroughly with tap water. (The alcohol seems to help remove the antifreeze.) Then use compressed air to blow of the engine thoroughly. The final step is Marvel Mystery Air Tool oil in every nook and cranty.

Bill

RE: engine cleaner
 

I'll vote for the antifreeze and crock pot route. Works great. Then ditch the fuel with castor in it and the 'tar' won't return. Oh crap! I don't have my flame proof suit on.:D

RE: engine cleaner
 

I have a couple of gallons of the 50/50 "ready to use" antifreeze. Will that work or just do 50% of the job? :)

RE: engine cleaner
 

As stated above, should it be straight undiluted antifreeze or is 50-50 mixed OK?

Also, what brands of anti-freeze have you used successfully?

Jack

RE: engine cleaner
 

I don't think the brand of anti-freeze makes a major difference, but it needs to be the older green type not the new purple or reddish stuff. I use it straight out of the jug overnight on low. You'll want to get a crock pot of your own, or you'll be buying your wife a new one. My wife found a small crock pot at a garage sale for about $3.00, it's big enough for a 60 size engine at least.

RE: engine cleaner
 

the tar that the castor oil leaves is a result that many of us like. the inside of the engine is well protected by that 'tar'. there are many who love just as there are many who hate it.

RE: engine cleaner
 

I've found that 50/50 works just as good as straight antifreeze. As stated before I leave an engine overnight. Perhaps, if you usually soak an engine for an hour in straight, it would take two hours with 50/50.

Bill

RE: engine cleaner
 

do you have the crock pot turned on or are you using it because of it's ceramic qualities?

RE: engine cleaner
 

wilbutav,

I have used both method the crock pot/antifreeze and the Dawn Power disolver. Both work, I found the antifreeze to be less sucessful than the Dawn Power Disolver. The Crock pot did attack the anodize on the crankcase and was somewhat of a pain to handle the parts when you checked progress. The Dawn Power disover seemed to work wonderfully and using an apoxy brush assisted in removing the harder stains. Power Disolver you can get in Walmart for under $3. Try them both they both work.

Sledge_78

RE: engine cleaner
 

thanks again. Fortunatly I don't have any engines with annodize on them so that's not a concern. I have some mufflers and motors that aren't in service right now so I will be able to try both.

Mark

RE: engine cleaner
 

Turn it on low heat. The combo of heat and the antifreeze somehow disolves the baked on castor right off. After use, the crock pot will be off limits for any food use as the antifreeze is quite toxic.:(

RE: engine cleaner
 

The crock pot I have is a very small one that was very cheap from Wally World. It is just big enough for a 60 size engine. I leave it on overnight and let it cool for a couple of hours before taking the engine out.

Bill

RE: engine cleaner
 

Bill-
Thanks again. I will make my way down to our local "Wally World" and pick one up. I know just the one you are speaking of.
Mark

RE: engine cleaner
 

I have used both the pot and the Power Dissolver. My wife prefers the Power Dissolver :)

Either way I've found the 3M Scotch Brite green pads very helpful.

And hey, stop knocking castor. I LIKE my tar!!!!

RE: engine cleaner
 

I like Castor too. I wouldn't run anything without at least some castor in the mix.

Remember, Duke Fox used to caution against cleaning the "tar" from his engines. I do believe he thought they wouldn't run afterwards.

RE: engine cleaner
 

Nothing like the smell of castor in the morning. And I won't fly a float plane without it.

RE: engine cleaner
 

the smell of castor oil is one of my favorites. i will always use some amount of castor if nothing more than the smell.

RE: engine cleaner
 

here here, I agree completely. plus the added bonus of all the insect life adheared to the plane after each flight.

RE: engine cleaner
 

These days the electric guys say: "Oh yes, I remember the smell of fuel burning!"

RE: engine cleaner
 

When the electric guys hit me with something like that I bring out the old PAW .19 diesel and really blow their minds!

RE: engine cleaner
 

Has anyone ever tried oven cleaner like easyoff.

RE: engine cleaner
 

I have not used this yet, but its said to be a great engine cleaner.

"Demon-Clean" goto www.bj-model-engines.com

after posting this, I went and order some. I will give it a try and get back.

sticks

RE: engine cleaner
 

Deamon-clean works good, but compare the price to about $2.39 for a bottle of Power Desolver.

RE: engine cleaner
 

DO NOT USE OVEN CLEANER ON ANY ALLUMINUM
Oven cleaner is very caustic and will cause a chemical reaction that will damage alluminum and can be very dangerous .

RE: engine cleaner
 

where do I get the power desolver? Your right about the price.

sticks

RE: engine cleaner
 

I have the demon cleaner on order, will get the desolver and compair the two. believe it or not, I might have an engine or even maybe two that could stand to be cleaned.

sticks

RE: engine cleaner
 

I'm a master hvac tech and use some stuff called grimesolve this stuffis designed specificly and very effectivelyto remove baked on fuel residueand will take baked on fuel oil off porcelin electrodes on contact I tried it on my stuff and it works instantly, but and theres always a but, do not use it anywhere near plastic orrubberit is a chlorinated solvent andwill turn those 2 things into asticky swelled up mush

RE: engine cleaner
 

FYI easyoff is also a fantastic way to remove anodizing whether you want to or not

RE: engine cleaner
 

Bill, I use the crockpot method also and it works great. Although you put a lid on, it does not eliminate the fumes. I highly recommend doing that ina well ventilated area.

RE: engine cleaner
 

Maybe my brain is fried already, but I have never been aware of fumes from antifreeze in a crock pot. The temperature is not high enough for any gassing off, and the lid does keep it contained enough for any appreciable amount to evaporate.

Bill

RE: engine cleaner
 

The one time i have done this so far, i set up the crockpot in the garage and only had it on while i was here during the day time hours. Just as a precaution.......

RE: engine cleaner
 

hi  been flying and repairing glo engines for 20 years   started out using full syn glo fuel and found much more wear in the early days than when i switched to a castor -syn mixkeep in mind that castor oil breaks down from heat  100 PLUS degess over the syn oils-so you are protected  when (not if ) you run you  glo engine a bit lean on a particular day-there now doesn't that make you feel better-better to clean your plane than to cook your engine any day

RE: engine cleaner
 

Hey Stick 40 where are we at with that comparisons we're all interested to see who the winner of the to cleaners is, demon cleaner or the power dissolver

RE: engine cleaner
 

Hi,

been busy, I have not got the desolver yet. Thanks for the push, I will see what I can do.


sticks

RE: engine cleaner
 

Hay stick have you put the to cleaning method's to the test yet