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Old Dec 21, 2006 | 09:17 PM
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Engine cleaning

I'm wonder what the current state-of-the-art is for engine cleaning. I've heard of a mechanical-type methods using abrasives. Something like shot blasting and soda blasting. But that won't clean oil passages and other internal spaces. They used to do something called hot-tanking, but environmental regulations don't allow some of the chemicals to be used any more.

I've tried to make my own hot tank using a 55 gallon drum, a turkey fryer burner, and lye. It worked ok, but not great. My next step it to use a reverse electrolysis method. I'm still hunting for a plastic barrel that's large enough.

I've heard of the spray booths, but the only one I've seen was in bad shape. It looked like it had self destructed from the caustic chemicals.

Any ideas?
 
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Old Dec 21, 2006 | 10:58 PM
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Is this your last project:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...ls-needed.html

I have seen institutional type dishwashers used.
 
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Old Dec 22, 2006 | 12:04 AM
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Hi, Eric. I've got two 312 blocks and it's time to get going on building an engine for my truck. I've given up on the 223.

I soaked a 312 in the hot lye but I still see some heavy scale in the water jackets. I'll cruise by the recycle yard to see if they have the 55 gal plastic barrels.
 
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Old Dec 22, 2006 | 01:11 AM
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I have used Easy-off oven cleaner and Lime-away to desolve the grease and scale. It is pretty dirt cheap not to mention you can pour it down the drain when you are done. Just be wary of the fumes it gives off.
 
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Old Dec 22, 2006 | 08:08 AM
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Getting rid of that scale down in the water jacket is tough. I have seen a lot of engines hot tanked that were still full of crud down in the water jacket. Electrolysis won't get rid of it either because there usually is no electrical connection to the chunks of crap. Muriatic acid will do the job, just keep checking it. Lime-Away is acid also just $$$...
 
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Old Dec 23, 2006 | 11:36 PM
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I buy oven cleaner in bulk from the dollar store. I've got about 15 cans of a good brand out in the garage right now. It works great on the grease. But the scale in the water jackets is what's bugging me.

I was thinking that using stainless rods stuck into the water passages in an electrolysis setup would help with descaling the water jackets. But I was hoping that there would be some magic bullet hot-tank, spray booth, steel shot process that would save me the trouble.
 
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Old Dec 27, 2006 | 10:52 PM
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Have you tried CLR?
 
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Old Dec 28, 2006 | 01:38 AM
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Muriatic acid, CLR, anything with acid will dissolve the rust.
 
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 09:23 PM
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HOw necessary is this hot tanking process? I have my 302 torn apart but I can not get any shops to hot tank my motor unless they build the motor.
 
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 11:10 PM
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Usually the machine shop is the one that hot tanks the motor. You can take the engine to a car wash for preliminary cleaning then get out the soap and solvent along with bore brushes etc.
 
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Old Jan 26, 2007 | 12:30 AM
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Go to the local oil/gas distributor for the 55 gal plastic drums. I get them at will here in Missoula but have a connection. If all else fails what would it run to send you one? or next trip down to reno i can drop one off. Do you ever travel up North?
 
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Old Jan 28, 2007 | 12:56 AM
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Hi Roger. I wish I got up there more often. Thanks for the tip, I'll check with the oil company. There's a tank farm nearby.
 
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