How do you clean a grimey engine?

So I finally finished swapping the head from my old engine onto my new engine. Now I need to clean it up before I can paint it.

While the head was off, I hit it with my pressure washer which did an alright job, but still left a bit to be desired. Plus, the pressure washer crapped out on me before I was finished. :x

I've messed around with a few different brushes but they don't seem to be very effective. The plastic brushes can get in the tight spots but don't have the umph to remove the muck and the steel brushes can't get into the nooks and crannies.

Also, from the jugs-down the engine is painted (flakey in spots and all chipped to hell) so I don't want to attack it with a solvent that leave a gooey mess.

I'm going to tear into my pressure washer tomorrow and try and get it going but in the mean time, I figured I'd ask y'all about how you go about cleaning a nasty motor.

So... What's your technique?

~Rev.

 

I've had a good experience with Soda blasting. There are plenty of DIY's online on how to do it, cleaned up a couple years of corrosion on the brake calipers off of my Seca 750. Worked like a charm. Beware, when using this it will also take any coating and or existing paint off, but should not harm the metal.

This is the DIY I followed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI_Bnl6l-OY

Takes some time to figure out the in's and out's of the process to maximize efficiency but should serve you good. Even if it doesn't work the investment is minimal. One thing that I don't think is mentioned is you might want something to take the humidity out of your compressed air. I didn't have this on my compressor so I could only use it for a little bit, once it filled up I had to let it sit so I wasn't spraying moisture, which turns the baking soda into a globby mess.

Cheers hopes this helps.

 

Soda blast does a great job, but to do it properly you need to remove the mill & take it to a pro.

 

Carb cleaner is amazing but probably not the most efficient or cost effective

 

Furniture stripper, or "Aircraft Remover", cheap paint brushes, toothbrushes, popsickle sticks, lots of newspaper and proper disposal of the mess - - OR - - Pro Soda Blast for $100

 

Can a complete engine be sent out for soda blasting, or does it need to be stripped down?

I'd hate to go through the trouble of painting the damn thing only to have the paint fleck off because of missed grime.

 

Soda blasting doesn't remove all the grease and oil. Best if you get the oil-ly gunk off it first.

Purple Power or Oil Eater and scrub brushes work well.

 

You are joking, right ?