Chemical Cleaning - Engine/Gearbox etc.

BeardyGit

Feel free to remove this if need be, but figured there's probably a few regulars here who'll be able to use this tip. I stripped and cleaned the heads on my V8 today. Despite soaking them in diesel and using brush on 'gunk' then hitting them with the pressure hose, I just couldn't lift the browned on oil from the alloy. This is on the heads, let alone even thinking about trying to clean the block!

Then I tried Nitromors paint stripper. Nasty stuff - wear your gloves and goggles (splash proof ones) and then be amazed at what it does. I'll put up some pictures when I get a chance, but it'll put a smile on your face just how good a job it does....Can't think of a better way to really clean these kind of parts up. Don't use with any rubber/plastic parts though, and avoid if your heads have the likes of neoprene valve stem seals - I'm sure it'll eat them. But on my old school RV8, it's worked like magic.

Thought I'd share the tip. G'night!

Gil

alpina

Cheers for sharing...

carchaeologist

Good tip!!:)Nitromors is lethal stuff!!!

gn3dr

Might want to be careful using it on alloy heads - I don't know but I'd check a bit more first just in case there would be any longer term issues. (I know your RV8 heads are obviously alloy so it looks like they didn't get damaged at least).

I've never tried it but I've read that a dishwasher is great for cleaning heads and blocks as well. Again though there are some kinds of detergents that will damage an alloy head if it left soaking in it for too long.
When I get a bit more shed space I was considering getting an old diswasher (they must be nearly free now what with the WEE charges etc.) for this very purpose.
For obvious reasons I don't really fancy doing it in the current household dishwasher!

kenneths

i used slicksol toclean my x-flow and it did a great job
sprayed it on left for 20mins and power washed off it was perfect

BeardyGit

Must confess - I stuck them in the dishwasher after that, and they came up marginally cleaner again.

I emptied out the salt and ran a couple of rinses on the washer first, then put both heads in with a bottle of dishwasher cleaner. It's a degreaser and limescale remover in one - Worked a treat and cleaned up the coolant channel in the head too, as far as I can see into it anyway. Don't know how good a job it would have done if I'd put the heads in 'dirty', but as it's the domestic washer I wouldn't take a chance on it anyway....

I think I'll have to stick with the Nitromors and power washer for the block, as there's no way in hell I'll get that into the dishwasher, even with the cutlery tray removed!

manta mad

hey would that stuff work on a roof ?????

just after removing a vinal roof lineing from a manta & need to get it cleaned!

BeardyGit

I wouldn't put it anywhere near your manta lad - Nitromors will EAT your paintwork and door/windscreen seals if you slop it around at all.

The only way I'd contemplate using it would be if I was prepared to redo the paintwork and replace the seals if they react with the hot stuff.

I say 'hot stuff' as this stuff will chemically burn you. Wear your goggles , long sleeves/pants and nitrile (latex free) gloves lads...

Gil