Engine Cleaning (When out of the truck)

OGMB2K

So I am faced with having to remove tons of grime off this engine .. What is the best way? Not what to use, I'm pretty sure I have the chemicals for that, but do I just tape over the open ports (Intake, exhaust, etc), and hit this with a pressure washer or tape over all open ports, scrub block with a brushes and gently wash off with hose?

Best practices appreciated .. Pics to follow ..

MazdaMitch

OGMB2K that's what I plan on doing. I have some foil tape I'm going to use over the major ports and I'm going to spray it with mineral spirits and use a wire brush and try to get most of the gunk off and then go after that with some simple Green and a light pressure wash.

And this is on the engine I plan on doing the backyard rebuild on, I'm just going to clean it first before I get into it.

OGMB2K

MazdaMitch Foil Tape ... Good Call ..

Mrcrowley

MazdaMitch that's what I did and took my power washer to it and it worked out fine then I cleaned each part as it came off now I'm on the rebuild end of mine

Axel-Breaker-Earl

I usually don't use my pressure washer. If I am disassembling the engine for a rebuild, I will usually put gloves on and take it down to the block, and then clean the engine manually with a variety of brushes.

If I am planning on just repairing something on the engine and reinstalling it without rebuilding it, then I tape up as much as I can, to keep the cleaners & water out of it. I have a hot water hose bibb that I use to help remove the grease & oil also. I built my own home, and did the Plumbing myself......so I planned for this from the start! 😉

Axel-Breaker-Earl

You can get the bulk of the grime off to begin with, then to a final cleaning in sections, in order to keep the junk out of the engine also.

itsthuts

This has been working out for me, Salt and Alcohol

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NzB826KUtrA

OGMB2K

itsthuts This has been working out for me, Salt and Alcohol

Isn't that a Margarita? LOL

OGMB2K

Ok .. phase two completed today .. this is what it looks like after a heavy dosing of mineral spirits, a simple green chaser and a ton of scrubbing ...

Tomorrow mask/tape/spray ...

Got a head start on the new valve cover today ..

Axel-Breaker-Earl

Keep in mind when you're cleaning any portions of the engine that have BEARINGS.......either removing them or cleaning around them when using any cleaning solution that cuts through grease.

The bearing that is mounted in the engine fan bracket is one to either tape up, or clean sparingly around it.......if you dissolve any permanently applied grease it will eventually start making noise. The timing belt pulleys also, and the V-belt tensioners as well.

OGMB2K

Thanks for the heads up ... I was going to tackle those tomorrow. Fortunately I have already replaced the water pump, so the front of the engine is cleaner than the rest. I was going to mask it off before painting, so basically that is not being touched. But, the engine fan bracket is one I am focusing on tomorrow and I will therefore keep that in mind. I will therefore keep it out of the solvent bin I made and scrub it by hand.