Parts Cleaning Techniques

[RWebb]

(not me)

[DRACO A5OG]

That is Love of the 911,

[jpahemi]

A v8 911??

[RWebb]

it is a 928 block that someone posted

think of it as a bent boxer design if you need to

[doros911]

I did that once with my 72Ts oil cooler. Still regreting

[GH85Carrera]

You might be a redneck if you have ever heard the phrase

"Honey could you move the engine so I can take a bath"

[SpeedracerIndy]

I can relate! I just cleaned my fan and housing in the dish washer. It did an amazing job at removing all the grime that scrubbing and purple power wouldn't get. It really is an addiction. I'm contemplating putting the valve covers in there next.

My better half just looks at me and shakes her head. I'm thinking about putting a second dish washer in the garage for cleaning parts now.

[3.2 CAB]

Pick up cheap used one and put it to use at the shop. I have had many people ask me why I had a dishwasher in my shop, once explained, some of them use them now also. Tony.

[widebody911]

Check out Parts washers: immersion/dishwasher

[djpateman]

You had better clean out the traps in the dishwasher fully before she complains it is not working. Most wives are not very understanding, nor patient.

[Tim K]

Originally Posted by widebody911

Check out Parts washers: immersion/dishwasher

Do you have any updates on the effectiveness of the new air agitation holes?

Tim K

[RWebb]

I agree - a dishwasher makes a highly efficacious parts cleaner and will be of significant value when used as directed in a conscientiously applied program of automotive hygiene and regular professional care...

[jluetjen]

Washing the stuff that comes off of engine parts down the drain I suspect is a huge environmental issue. If you have a septic tank, I would expect it could be an even bigger problem. Not to mention what sort of cleanser/solvent are you using? I've found that most water based cleaners (like Simple Green and the purple stuff) have a tendency to oxidize aluminum and magnesium. I suspect that would have a similar affect on steel too.

After trying a bunch of different cleaners, I'm now a big believer in unscented mineral spirits. My local Hazmat recycling happily takes the stuff when I'm done.

[RWebb]

I agree. But the magnitude of the problem...

[1] relates to the quantity of waste
and...
[2] to the toxicity of the waste.

re [1]:
I always remove everything I can mechanically (scrapers, wood wedges, etc.)
Then, I use limonene ("orange oil") cleaner with a brush and rag.
Next, I use a polar solvent such as Castrol Purple or 409 to get off as much of the polar residue as possible.
The dishwasher is the final step, and not much waste is left.
It DOES produce an excellent surface finish.

re [2]:
I have not cleaned engine parts this way, and do not intend to. (note the cleanliness of that guy's block in pic#1 -- dunno what it looked like before...). In the engine, there are large-chain nasties (organic molecules) generated during combustion, as well as many many different nasty metals (from wear of metal surfaces, and additions to motor oil). This is why fresh motor oil is no big problem if spilled, but USED motor oil is a hazardous waste (and needs to be disposed of accordingly). The common oil leaks on 911 motors are part of this problem.

In contrast, the parts shown in my dishwasher pic had nothing more than road "dirt" and grunge on them. Those contaminants would have run into the storm sewer system anyway ("Drains to Salmon Streams"). I interrupted that and sent some of it to the landfill, and a small amount to the sewerage plant.

There are any number of bad things in our wastewater and stormwater -- both flow into our lakes, rivers, streams and the oceans. Our kids swim in these waters, we drink it, and much of our food comes from there... Anyone with even the slightest residual guilt, or who cares about this in general, is advised to work for, or donate to organizations that concern themselves with, stormwater pollution, pesticide use - esp. on farms - and industrial pollutants. Not to mention breakdown products from drug metabolites, and even "natural organic" clothes washing detergents....

[RWebb]

And, I ensure that the cleaning (limonene & 409 + grit, road crud grunge, etc.) is done where any waste runs NOT into the street but down the hill (via the drain in front of the garage entrance) and into my backyard. I don't grow vegetables down there (or anywhere to be honest) and this ensures that there is plenty of time to break down the detergents before they reach any streams.





Thx for the tip re mineral spirits! I sometimes wish I had access to a parts washer -- when I did the engine I did have access.

Like John, I encourage everyone to reduce their car cleaning pollution as much as they can. That includes the detergents used to wash dirt off the car. It is a good idea to wash the car on your lawn and not where the detergents will drain into the street gutters.

[RWebb]

PS - there have been several posts on this issue before for those who want to run a search