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Yerboogieman
Nobel Prize Winner
USA
577 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 16 2011 : 04:22:34 AM
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Hey Aaron, what would I use to clean my engine? I suppose I should cover things like the airfilter, distributor, alternator, battery, and PCV valve. What do you think?
(Edit...Move to Vehicles) |
If you don't have the time to do it right, when will you have the time to do it over? |
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Aaron Cake
Administrator
Canada
6718 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2011 : 10:30:57 AM
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If it is very dirty, Castrol Super Clean is my favourite degreaser. Spray it on full strength, scrub the nasty areas. Then rinse, and repeat using Super Clean cut 50/50 with water. It may take a few of these to get it clean but afterwards, all you'll need to do is spray the engine with a mixture of dish soap and water every time you wash the car, and it will always be clean.
As for covering stuff, I generally don't bother. Then again, on the rotary the alternator is on the top of the engine so it's easy to keep relatively dry, and the Insight doesn't even have an alternator. If you can't keep the alternator dry then putting a bag over it would be a good idea. Keep degreaser away from idler pulleys as well. Usually the battery is out of the way and unless you are using something that neutralizes acid, it's probably not a big deal. |
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Yerboogieman
Nobel Prize Winner
USA
577 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2011 : 3:35:54 PM
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| You're right, both the alternator and battery are a fair distance out of the way. |
If you don't have the time to do it right, when will you have the time to do it over? |
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Aaron Cake
Administrator
Canada
6718 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2011 : 2:42:48 PM
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| Oh, forgot to mention that if you have compressed air, you can dry stuff off but be careful about forcing water into places it should not go. |
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Yerboogieman
Nobel Prize Winner
USA
577 Posts |
Posted - Oct 21 2011 : 1:16:06 PM
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| Do Not use Castrol Super Clean on Chrome. It took me forever to finally polish my valve covers back to normal. |
If you don't have the time to do it right, when will you have the time to do it over? |
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Aaron Cake
Administrator
Canada
6718 Posts |
Posted - Oct 22 2011 : 10:34:43 AM
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| That's why it tells you to test it on surfaces before use. It doesn't do well with anodizing either. I don't expect any strong degreaser would. But now that it's clean, all you should need is a spray bottle with dish soap and water. Spray it down and rinse it off when you wash the car. |
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Yerboogieman
Nobel Prize Winner
USA
577 Posts |
Posted - Oct 23 2011 : 02:04:33 AM
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Well, I only did it on part of one when I took it off and it was on the back where no one would really see it. I still have the crevices on the intake manifold to clean out. I think with a toothbrush and paper towel.
My dad told me today when he replaced the carb, he hated the old one so much, he didn't even bother to keep it to rebuild, or even just have around. He just tossed it out. When he put the new carb on with the adaptor plate he hated the sucking sound the old intake manifold made so he replaced that too.
Then he helped me clean the old PCV because he said everyone only sells plastic PCV valves anymore. |
If you don't have the time to do it right, when will you have the time to do it over? |
Edited by - Yerboogieman on Oct 23 2011 02:08:16 AM |
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Engine cleaning
