Heat exchanger cleaning

[SteveT]

I have the heat exchangers off the engine- for top end.......wondering what the best way to clean the inside is? They are full of oil from the motor leaking - I did a search.......torch heat, oven cleaner, carb cleaner. I was thinking of hot tanking them.......would that work? Not too concerned with the outside.........planning to go ssi in a while....Any ideas, suggestions appreciated. Thanks - Steve '81SC

[Doug Zielke]

Steve,
I had some *really* grungy mufflers for a m/c I was restoring.
I took them to a local automatic transmission shop for cleaning.
These guys had a super-hot, solvent vapor tank that dissolved years of baked on carbon and oil. Don't know if all shops have this sort of equipment, but it's worth asking around.

[SteveT]

Thanks Doug

[Doug Zielke]

Re-read my post, Steve.
I had the mufflers from a motorcycle vapor-tanked.
Don't think they smelled, but then I was the one riding the bike!

[jwetering]

I just went through this. I had an old oil soaked set of pre74 HX and went ahead and cleaned them in a regular old parts washer. With filthy heavy duy mechanic shop used Varsol no less.

I figured (incorrectly) that the solvent would be good and evaporated by the time I installed the HX on my car. (No wise-acre remarks from the peanut gallery there DougZ)

To make a long story short, I had to run the car for about a week before I could direct the hot air into the cab without gassing myself. A week later you can hardly tell. I expect in another week or two the smell will be gone for good.

The mech at the shop said I should have steamed them...

[SteveT]

Thanks J,
You confirm my suspicions...........I think I might have the machine shop the heads are at bake 'em in their oven. I definitely won't use solvents or such. Thanks again, Steve