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Engine Detailing Hint

Discussion in '308/328' started by jsumnertx, Jul 6, 2007.

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  1. jsumnertx

    jsumnertx Karting

    Dec 9, 2004
    162
    Austin
    #1 jsumnertx, Jul 6, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    So I read the threads I could find on engine detailing and gave it a stab this weekend. The main recommendation seemed to be simple green (1:1 diluted) so I went with that. The engine has probably never been detailed (and certainly not in the 10 years I've owned it) so this will be a bit of a project. Two areas that could have gone better

    1) The front cam cover got pretty clean but it was probably 20 minutes worth of scrubbing with a brass or steel bristled detailing "toothbrush" around each plug. There are still areas, especially the corners, that are dirty. You can see the difference it made in the picture but there are still areas in the corners of the top where you see dirt that I couldn't get out. You still see dirty patches in the area by the #3 sparkplug. Any suggestions for the next step?

    2) The carbs look rotten and the toothbrush + simple green didn't do much. I didn't want to blast it too hard with water. (that's a "before" pic but it didn't get much better) Any suggestions?
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  2. dinogt4guy

    dinogt4guy F1 Rookie

    Oct 31, 2004
    3,411
    Hewitt, Tx.
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    Kurtis Fordice
    #2 dinogt4guy, Jul 6, 2007
    Big differance on the cam cover! Mine aren't too bad but not as nice looking as the area you've done. Have you tryed carb cleaner?
     
  3. M.James

    M.James F1 Rookie

    Jun 6, 2003
    2,721
    Worcester, MA
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    Michael.C.James
    #3 M.James, Jul 6, 2007
    From what others who 'detail' their engines tell me - the cam covers and the belt covers should be REMOVED entirely, so there are no hoses or wires 'in the way' to really allow you to put some elbow grease into the work. You'll also be able to put on fresh, new hardware like stainless cam cover acorn nuts or refinished/replated studs - no point in polishing/cleaning the cam/belt covers if you're going to leave on the crappy, corroded hardware....

    Its no coincidence that much of this work is attempted during a engine-out major service - the cam/belt covers are coming off anyway to replace gaskets and belts. But so long as you have all the torque specs for the cam/belt cover hardware, you can pretty much do it anytime.
     
  4. don_xvi

    don_xvi F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    2,934
    Outside Detroit
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    Don the 16th
    #4 don_xvi, Jul 6, 2007
    I can tell you one thing that'll clean those carbs up well... Take 'em off and soak them in carb cleaner! The really nasty stuff that everyone loves to complain about the stink of and comes in the 1 gallon can to dip 'em in.

    Got mine nice & clean... for a little while.
     
  5. alberto

    alberto Formula 3

    Aug 25, 2001
    2,404
    San Diego
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    Alberto
    #5 alberto, Jul 6, 2007
    I use simple green a fair amount and until recently swore by it. However, I found recently that the orange based cleaners (forget the brand, but I think it does not matter too much) works better than simple green for hard to clean areas because there seems to be less scrubbing involved. Give it a try, not much to lose. Much simpler than taking the covers and carburetors off. If that does not work then taking them off is the ultimate detailing method.
     
  6. pippo

    pippo Formula 3

    Sep 25, 2005
    1,913
    FL
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    pippopotemus
    #6 pippo, Jul 6, 2007
    My approach might be an idea......first, start with whatever you deem as the "green/environmentally friendly" non "stinky" stuff, as the laypeople refer to, wash down, and air dry completely. This will remove, I am sure (cuz Ive done it many times) the bulk of the dirt/crud. Then, the next day, when dry, go over the more stubborn areas with mineral spirits and brush to remove the harder stuff. Then dry. Lastly, and you should'nt need to get to this step, use the "hi-test" stuff (solvent based cleaners containing the cancer causing agents like toluene/acetone/methyl ethyl ketone/etc) . uSE A STIFF POLY BRUSH. Avoid contacting rubber.

    DO NOT SMOKE CIGARETTES!

    Good luck fellow members.
     
  7. spiderseeker

    spiderseeker Formula 3

    Jul 22, 2005
    1,718
    Colorado
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    Steve
    #7 spiderseeker, Jul 6, 2007
    I've used "Gumout" brand carb and choke cleaner for decades, just spray it on, it will dissolve almost any gunk.
    (Cover painted areas)
     
  8. sammyb

    sammyb Formula 3

    Jun 23, 2006
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    Where wife tells me
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    Sam
    #8 sammyb, Jul 6, 2007
    +1 or brake cleaner.
     
  9. docweed

    docweed Formula Junior

    Dec 8, 2004
    452
    Morgantown,WV
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    Chuck Stewart
    #9 docweed, Jul 8, 2007
    A Dremel with an assortment of brass brushes help in nooks and grannys. Use with caution.
     
  10. jsumnertx

    jsumnertx Karting

    Dec 9, 2004
    162
    Austin
    #10 jsumnertx, Jul 9, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    So thanks for the advice. Here's what I found

    1) Gumout Carb cleaner was amazing. Not sure why I didn't think of it. All of the ugly stuff just disappeared. Didn't remove the airbox but just covered it in plastic. Even the lightest spray worked fine. Used a rag to wipe up the excess. "after" Picture below

    2) Mineral Spirits did the job on the remaining grime. Applied it with a shop towel and just rubbed until the grime disappeared. Still took elbow grease but there weren't too many bad spots left after the Simple Green scrub. Would have tried the Dremel but I didn't have the right attachment. Next time.

    3) This article http://www.fca-se.org/conc_8.htm suggested aluminum cleaner/polish from the grocery store. That'll be next.

    4) Of course, I still screwed up by not checking things over after I was done. The "around the neighborhood shake down" didn't detect that I'd gotten water in the #3 plug hole and so I was down to 7 cylinders. Figured that out 2 days later when the car couldn't get out of its own way on the highway. Got home, pulled the plug wires & extenders & saw the water. A few paper towels & some contact cleaner later, it was running fine again.

    One more note: I cleaned the bottom of the engine & frame because it was all greasy. The citrus stuff wasn't really up to the task on the heavy deposits. Had to go for the more toxic degreaser spray.
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  11. spiderseeker

    spiderseeker Formula 3

    Jul 22, 2005
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    Steve
    #11 spiderseeker, Jul 10, 2007
    jsumnertx : Looks great, nice job !
     

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