This is my first tech week post so here it goes. When I was building my Ford 352 I forgot to take the lifter valley splash pan to get cleaned. Well, I was bored and figured I would clean it. So I tried everything to get this grime that was caked and practically baked into the metal. I tried Ether, Gas, Diesel, Kerosene, Gasket remover, engine degreaser, paint thinner, and countless other stuff. It would get the stuff that was loose but not the grime that was baked on. Well, I thought what the hell and got out the Hand Cleaner. The stuff I used is the Gojo Natural Orange Pumice Hand Cleaner. This is the peice I tried it on after I tried every other cleaner I had. And after about 15 minutes. Okay, what I would do is get a good clob on my hand or on the metal and start to rub it with my had. I would rub it in a circular motion in one area till the cleaner was diluded with the grime then rub it off with a clean paper towl or rag. I just gave it a once over and got the results in the picture. BUT!! If this is an mechanical component, be sure to give it a good rinse to clean all the pumice that might be left over as the pumice is prolly not good on components. I know that it would have prolly been easier to use a wire wheel but I didn't have one at the time and I could get my fingers down in to where the wire wheel couldn't. I didn't use as much as I thought I would to get the results. Maybe about as much as it would take to clean my hands 5 times.
The citrus based products work better than I expected. I rigged up a small metal tank that sits on a heating element. If you heat the solution up to about 120deg and allow it to soak overnite you should be pleased with the results. Simple Green, Simple Green carpet cleaner, try a cup to a gallon of water. Does good work on aluminum too. Many other brands out there too.
The US consulate in Stuttgart, Germany used to have an old mechanic who learned his wrenching while in the Afrika Korps...His cleaning tip: Swizzle part in Gasoline. Place in parking lot. Light. Have a cup of coffee and part will be clean and cool enough to pick up... Not suggested, just noting history... Any of the TSP type cleaners really wake up when heated to above 100 degrees...the change is on the order of going from dishwater to carb cleaner.
Nice. Maybe you could use the type that doesn't have the grit in it? But maybe that would also reduce it's secret voodoo. Thanks for the tip. Bruce, that is awesome, I'm going to give it a shot tonight. Except with a beer.
I have a box of the powdered TSP I got from cleaning out my FIL's garage but didn't know what to really use it for. How well does it work for greasy parts? Would it be good to use in a parts washer?
My old roommate would load up the dishwasher with parts & degresser. Select "Ultimate Scrub" and hit START! The parts would come out looking great. I am not sure how safe the dishwasher will be after this???
Just used some tsp this weekend to clean up the out side of an engine block.Mixed it per directions,heated up in the microwave and was suprised to see how well it worked.Used some brass brushes to get in the tight areas and scrub.Had some other solvent but didnt even need to use due to the great job it did.
The story about putting the parts in the dish washer reminded me of a repair I did for a buddy. About 40 years ago, a friend of mine put a hole in the oil pan of the 428 CJ in his 68 1/2 Mustang GT. I told him I'd fix it for him. So, I rolled around in the snow and got it off. Well, at the time we worked in a casino at Lake Tahoe. I took the pan in and had them run it through the dishwasher. Wonder if the food tasted funny for a few days. One of the maint guys patched it for me and I rolled around in the snow to get it back on. Only charged my friend for the gasket. He appreciated it so much, he sold me the car for $800 (as I recall). A week later, the oil embargo happened.
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