Engine cleaning-Backyard dip tank?
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From: St.Croix,USVI
Engine cleaning-Backyard dip tank?
I'm in the process of rebuilding a 351W from an 87 Bronco and have it torn down to the empty block.The water passages have a lot of buildup and the block needs a good cleaning in general.After an extensive search that included auto repair shops,machine shops,car dealerships,and the local race crowd I came up empty on anyplace that has a real dip tank to do the job.I plan on doing it myself in a 55gal.drum and I'm looking for a good backyard method to get this done.
-What should I soak it in? How long? Should it be hot? Etc.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
-What should I soak it in? How long? Should it be hot? Etc.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Houston/Hope BC
This sounds like something I would try and then regret later! You do have really good health insurance, right? 
But, if I were so inclined, I guess I would make a solution of caustic using drano crystals (I am pretty sure this is what is part 1 of Prestone heavy duty flush), clamp an electric motor with an eccentric on the side to make it vibrate, and put one of those outdoor propane burners under it. Set the whole thing on "simmer" and come back in like 6 hours and stick a fork in it. I would definitely wear my full chemical suit, respirator, and double eye protection! When you are done and need to dump it, it would be awfully nice to neutralize the caustic with a mild acid before dumping.
But, if I were so inclined, I guess I would make a solution of caustic using drano crystals (I am pretty sure this is what is part 1 of Prestone heavy duty flush), clamp an electric motor with an eccentric on the side to make it vibrate, and put one of those outdoor propane burners under it. Set the whole thing on "simmer" and come back in like 6 hours and stick a fork in it. I would definitely wear my full chemical suit, respirator, and double eye protection! When you are done and need to dump it, it would be awfully nice to neutralize the caustic with a mild acid before dumping.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Littleton, CO
And what would be gained by using a "dip tank" as opposed to having it hot tanked at the local machine shop? Besides, the machine shop wil generally put new cam bearings and freeze plugs in when they are done.
--Mike
--Mike
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From: St.Croix,USVI
MikeG-Nothing would be gained by doing it myself.I would definitely prefer to have it hot tanked however the local machine shop is located on the island of St.Croix in the Virgin Islands.Not Third World but close enough.He has a first class hot tank but I can't get him to actually use it.Chemicals are too expensive,nobody wants to pay 
And he has the only one.The next option is to send it off by boat to Puerto Rico where they have excellent machine shops but it comes down to time and money.
Ecuri-I was thinking along the same lines with the crystal drano but I hadn't considered the use of an electric motor for vibration.It seems like it would work.And,as always,safety first.
Thanks.
And he has the only one.The next option is to send it off by boat to Puerto Rico where they have excellent machine shops but it comes down to time and money.Ecuri-I was thinking along the same lines with the crystal drano but I hadn't considered the use of an electric motor for vibration.It seems like it would work.And,as always,safety first.
Thanks.
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From: Still under the hood in O
You might think I'm crazy but...
Have you tried that stuff from Castrol Oil, called Super Clean?
The stuff is very good on blocks. I just cleaned up the outside of a block and one head (just for a re-ring). They now look new. I actually had a pretty strong mixture in a 5 gallon bucket and had the head sitting 1/2 way in for a week (on accident). Every part of the head that was dipped was like new, couldn't believe it.
I thought this might work better (safer) for you. The only thing about it is, you don't want your skin to have prolonged contact with it. It WILL burn your skin and dry it out. Yep, found out that the hard way too.
Don't forget, whichever way you do it, to change the cam bearings afterwards.
Good Luck.
Have you tried that stuff from Castrol Oil, called Super Clean?
The stuff is very good on blocks. I just cleaned up the outside of a block and one head (just for a re-ring). They now look new. I actually had a pretty strong mixture in a 5 gallon bucket and had the head sitting 1/2 way in for a week (on accident). Every part of the head that was dipped was like new, couldn't believe it.
I thought this might work better (safer) for you. The only thing about it is, you don't want your skin to have prolonged contact with it. It WILL burn your skin and dry it out. Yep, found out that the hard way too.
Don't forget, whichever way you do it, to change the cam bearings afterwards.
Good Luck.
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From: St.Croix,USVI
That's good information on the Castrol Super Clean.It sounds a lot safer than a bubbling drum of drano 
so I think I will try that first and resort to the drano as Plan B. I'll be finished doing this by the weekend and I'll let everyone know the results. Thanks.
so I think I will try that first and resort to the drano as Plan B. I'll be finished doing this by the weekend and I'll let everyone know the results. Thanks.
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Postmaster
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I will second the use of castrol super clean, from my experience it works. It comes in a gallon container and requires you dilute it with water, so you could soak your block if you wanted too with only a couple gallons, if that. If I am not mistaken its biodegradable so its definitely safe(r). Good luck
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
And I will third it! I just used some on my heads, and it's good stuff. And yes, it is biodegradable. I can attest to it drying out your skin though. Standing the heads on end and holding them with the left hand, spraying the Super Clean with the right, I was wondering why my left hand was getting so dried out after I washed up for the day! I bought the stuff in a spray bottle, pre-diluted. Another way to go is with a pressure washer. They have a detergent feed so that you can spray detergent mixed with the high-pressure water. And you can direct the spray wherever you want, such as directly into oil passages. You can also take your block down to the local do-it-yourself carwash...although you might get some dirty looks from the management when you unload your block and start spraying grime eveywhere. I did it right in the back of my truck once...only once!
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From: Iowa
Hey cool, I never thought of using that Castrol Super Clean stuff. I may use that when I assemble my engine. Does anyone know, will that hurt cam bearings? I already had the block cleaned and new bearings / plugs put in, and dont want to screw 'em up when I clean it before assembly.
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That castrol super clean and other purple cleaners I am pretty sure all have the same active ingredient which is sodium hydroxide or lye. Which is what drano is anyway. The super clean is just watered down more.
But another one you can use which has been referred to as" hot tank in a can " is oven cleaner. Which also has sodium hydroxide. It does work, thats for sure.
If you use a pressure washer use a hot water pressure washer. I degreased the whole chassis off my 79 bronco in my driveway with oven cleaner and a hot water pressure washer. Worked great. Just wear a body suit of some kind a cover your head if possible. It does get messy. And now that I think of it I wouldnt do it myself again . But if you have no where to take it, then that is an option.
But another one you can use which has been referred to as" hot tank in a can " is oven cleaner. Which also has sodium hydroxide. It does work, thats for sure.
If you use a pressure washer use a hot water pressure washer. I degreased the whole chassis off my 79 bronco in my driveway with oven cleaner and a hot water pressure washer. Worked great. Just wear a body suit of some kind a cover your head if possible. It does get messy. And now that I think of it I wouldnt do it myself again . But if you have no where to take it, then that is an option.
Last edited by tdg351w; May 19, 2004 at 10:22 PM. Reason: I forgot
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