Anyone use C02 (dry ice) blasting to clean a crankcase?
 

Hi guys, took most of my '79 SC core motor apart today. Lots of fun, must admit I agree with Henry, if you want to learn about a 911 engine, take one apart. It is pretty neat inside. I was not planning on boring you with pictures, only exciting part was the 5 head studs that were broken...no wonders it didn't run all that well.

Anyway, question about cleaning. I am planning on using C02 (dry ice) blasting to clean the chassis of my project, no beads or dust to get in every crevice, and from what I have seen, it is an excellent media. Plus they come to the house and to it in my garage/driveway!

Anyone ever use it to clean a crankcase? Seems like it would be ideal, no residue, only stuff flying around would be any crap that was already inside of the engine.....still would need to clean the living daylights out of it of course....

Not sure what I am going to do with this crankcase (and crankshaft, P/C's etc)....can't imagine there is much of a market for that kind of stuff. I have a brand new crankcase, crankshaft, P/C's, rods etc to use on the project....just thought it would be neat to get it all clean....


Comments?

Dennis

Dennis, it's odd, but I was just thinking this the other evening, even to the point of looking for a local contractor who could do it.

This process was heavily researched by Boeing a few years back as an alternative to chemical strippers or other abrasive. Then again, with all the controversy over carbon emissions I wouldn't think it would be too popular.

But you asked, "does it work" and the sites I checked suggest it does. I do believe, however, that it is pretty expensive.

The media sublimates directly leaving no residue, only what has been dislodged by the blasting process. I wouldn't trust the oil galleys, would definitely have them unplugged, cleaned and plugged again, due to the likelihood that a chip of dry ice would dislodge sludge or something inside which would then stroke the engine later. And if you're sending the case out for a galley clean, why not have the shop clean it?

So you see it's an ongoing quandary. I also considered Soda blasting, a dip in vinegar would turn the bicarb into gas. . . I think. TimT? (Tim used to work in the soda blasting biz as did I approximately 100 years ago)

I don't think they generate any extra C02, other than the engine power required to extract C02 from the air and chill it. Ought to be a net zero process....take C02 from the air, blast it all over my car and put it back in the air.

I must admit I am a skeptic when it comes to C02 as a greenhouse gas (whole global warming thing seems to me to be bad science), but then again, since I am in the C02 capital of North America, my view is likely predjudiced somewhat.

The oil galleys are the worry arent they....hate to find something screws up the engine...

Alternative is to send the case out for a cleaning, but since I had no plans to reuse it (I have the brand spankin' new case just sitting there, waiting to be played with), not sure why I'd do that...other than I am somewhat nuts afterall...

Thanks for the POV, neat to see how great minds think alike.... or something like that...

Dennis