How do you guys clean engine parts prior to assembly?

Thanks, Ill bet it is a story!

 

Bearing manufacturers warn that Ball and roller bearings should probably not be cleaned with solvents that evaporated completely, especially chorinated solvents like real brake cleaner, as the machined surfaces are at risk from flash corrosion. The high contact stress between ball and races in operation makes a tiny rust pit or any other surface defect a possible stress raiser. It makes me think twice about cleaning highly stressed parts like con rods and cranks with brake clean, too.

page 292 here -
http://www.skf.com/files/520034.pdf

 

I'm used to washing the big stuff with hot water and detergent(YES, post-machine shop, deburring, chasing threads etc., but pre-***embly). WD-40 and oil stuff down to prevent flash rust.

You know the deal about wiping down the bores with light oil or ATF until the rags come out clean, right?

 

I wondered if anyone would comment about this, especially the chlorinated stuff.

 

Just went to the body shop next door and grabbed a paper rag there looks lint free and pretty tuff and soaked up my blood real good you my check with a paint supply store for some stuff like that.

 

I told a friend of mine that I always put a little beach sand in the crank journals.
You know, to help with the break in process.
I had to scramble down to the beach to fill a little container and have it on the bench the next day when he brought his motor over. His look was worth a million.

 

That is a good point on the bearings. As a rep for Timken,SKF,***,NTN, and Dodge bearings I have visited several of their plants as well as hours and hours of bearing pt training. The SOP for cleaning bearings is using varsol or the like which is an oil based cleaner. NEVER use compressed air on a bearing and never spin them unless fully greased.

 

Mineral spirits

 

I even have a separate mineral spirits parts cleaner bath just for engine bearings. GOD help the ***-hat that puts anything in there except a main, rod, or cam bearings TR

Last step before final ***embly is generally steaming hot water mixed w/Tide detergent. Then filtered air to dry, no different than a paint booth filtration system has. Then immediately into ***embly room either on Stainless table top pre-cleaned with lacquer thinner, or table top covered in lint free cloth and then covered again. TR

 

Simply put, I would never ever use such a product for engine final ***embly pre-clean. I agree with the statement 100%, TR

 

How about throttle body cleaner it has some oil base to it when I use it on stuff it never drys ?