Cleaning out shavings after a Port & Polish.

[IsaacHayes]

Curious as to what everyone uses. Mainly talking about DIY.

I should of got the oil out of the 3500 plenum first, as the shavings stuck a lot more and where harder to get out. I got a new can of O-Rielly's carb cleaner, and they changed the formula!! It now leaves an oily residue like the gum out stuff. I was wondering why it wasn't working as good as the can I just sat down. Looked at the label and they removed methalyne chloride. The previous can would suck the oil out of anything like acetone. The new stuff leaves a film...

Any who so I got some dish detergent and the garden hose and went at it. Then I put it in a bucket and filled it up with the plenum full of pure soap. Then I took the air compressor with a flexible hose on the end of the blow gun and put it underwater and let it make turbulant air inside the plenum.

That seemed to work as I can't feel any oil or shavings/grit/dust anymore as far as my fingers can reach. The 3500 plenum has lots of stuff inside making it hard to get at every angle. Heads or a 3400 lower are easy to clean as it's a straight shot...

So what does everyone else use? I hope I'm good. Spent about 2 hours blasting the piss out of it!!

[bwwelk]

When I cleaned the oil and dirt off of my valve cover on my other car 97 aspire ,, I just used Wal-mart brand carb cleaner and it didn't leave a residue .. I thought it actually cleaned it up pretty good...

[IsaacHayes]

Hmm. I'll have to check it out. The can says Wal-Mart on it? Or is the Sams brand/etc? Hmm. I like the stuff that doesn't leave a residue. Great for when you need to clean gasket surfaces/etc.

[RacerX11]

Chalk up another fan of the water/soap. I never use carb cleaner when I need the surface residue free, only brake cleaner. It will evaporate better.

For cleaning the plenum, you would go through a lot of brake cleaner trying to flush out all the shavings. The water is cheap, and the dish soap will cut the oily residue.

[IsaacHayes]

Yup, I blasted it with the carb cleaner just to dislodge the baked on and pooled up oil that was thick, let that run out, then gave it soap approach.

Funny thing, I was *this* close to getting their brake cleaner, as the can was bigger and the same price. I should have!!

Their original carb cleaner was just as good as brake cleaner. Not anymore. It now has a different smell too that gave it away.

[Syn]

after porting my plenum heads and ect i took it to the car wash and sprayed it out real good, worked for me

brake cleaner is about all i use as well

[geoffinbc]

Castrol Super Clean man. Very strong water based de greaser. I use it for engine washes and any other cleaning. Check it out it is in a purple bottle. Has 1001 uses.

[IsaacHayes]

I've used that stuff before. Cant let it sit on aluminum though it will pit it.

I'm pretty sure I'm good, but these are good ideas!! Keep em coming!
I'd have to strap the manifold down at the car wash as it'd blow it away! hehe but I bet that would get in there good with that high pressure!

[SE'sarecool2]

I have a machine shop quality parts washer at work. When I need to clean anything I just throw it in there for 20-30 minutes. Heads, oil pans, inake manifolds, valve covers, you name it - comes out clean, dry, and residue free! Woohooo!

[IsaacHayes]

Stuff uses kerosene I think right? It doesn't evap right? Small parts shop washers/tubs are all I've been around, wouldn't even fit my intake manifold lol. Must be nice to be around serious tools/equipment. No such luck for me. I'm litteraly a shade tree mechanic.

[1988GTU]

I use the Air Craft Remover stuff that Murrays sells... I turned my one friend on to it and it did a great job on his 3.4DOHC alloy parts. Follow the directions & it should work as well as it did for me.
Sorry I dont remember the brand name of it...

[IsaacHayes]

the paint stripper stuff? That stuff will eat through anything!! lol. That stuff is amazing I used it before. Strips paint in like 15 secs. Cool to watch a whole hood just peel off the paint across following your brush strokes hehehe

[Syn]

haha x2 i am guess i am a shade tree or storage unit mechanic hahaha

[napatiger]

Machine shop I used had VERY hot steam/ soapy water oven thing.

[gpse3400]

Foamy engine degreaser and carb cleaner....