Cleaning the engine

[possum70]

Been cleaning the engine lately. The intake still looks dingey. (Never had to spell that word before.) Anyway, what do y'all use to get it looking like new again? I want it to look good before putting it back together.

possum

 

[sweetk30]

cheep doller store oven cleaner . about 2 bucks a can easy off brand if I recall.

that will get all sorts of gunk off.

 

[mofugly13]

Don't use easy off on aluminum parts, it'll oxidize them immediately. GTG for steel and iron though.

 

[diesel4me]

Mag wheel cleaner spray works good on aluminum intakes,but dont leave it on too long..

 

[1-ton]

Take your intake manifold to a machine shop, and have them bead blast it down to shiny aluminum again (about $25 to $30), then paint it with hi-temp aluminum (or what ever color you like) spary paint. The spray paint will seal the pours in the aluminum, thus not allowing oil, dirt, and coolant to stain it. Also, make sure you clean the manifold completly of any glass bead dust after you get it back from the machine shop before you paint it.

 

[possum70]

What about these plastic intakes on the 5.3? At least it looks plastic. Aluminum I can do. The black plasticky stuff is looking dinghy.

 

[rebelgregory]

You could probably just shoot it with any plastic-friendly spray paint. They don't get tremendously hot.

But I'd bet a can of Landau Black SEM Color Coat would make it look purty. More of a dye than a coating.

 

[4xcrazy]

It's just going to go back to the way it looks like now in short time. I had ours out of the truck for a rebuild a bit over 2 years ago now. I try to keep it clean, there's just to much "stuff" all over the engine to be able to keep it clean looking though.

Everything looked almost brand new when I re-installed the engine, today? Looks the same as when I yanked it out. That plastic intake is a pain to keep clean, impossible to keep the valve covers clean with all of the coil packs.. just too much crap in the way.

Maybe a light spraying with some cleaner and a hose, don't think I'd use a power sprayer on it like I used to do with older engines though.

I used to use that purple power stuff in a pretty strong dose, it too will also dull out aluminum though, don't think it's good on plastic either. Got things clean though

 

[possum70]

In another thread someone suggested I put the wiring harness sans tape and wire loom and toss it in the dishwasher.. Well, no dishwasher but would it be ok to put it inside a mesh gym bag and toss it in the washing machine? It's a front loader so there's no agitator. Wouldn't be any messier than my work clothes.

possum

 

[evolve991]

cheep doller store oven cleaner . about 2 bucks a can easy off brand if I recall.

that will get all sorts of gunk off.

That and good water pressure will even take paint off

 

[ashman]

In another thread someone suggested I put the wiring harness sans tape and wire loom and toss it in the dishwasher.. Well, no dishwasher but would it be ok to put it inside a mesh gym bag and toss it in the washing machine? It's a front loader so there's no agitator. Wouldn't be any messier than my work clothes.

possum

Can't imagine that would hurt the harness. I'd think it would be ok.

 

[ryoken]

That and good water pressure will even take paint off

oven cleaner has always been a decent paint stripper for non-catalyzed paints.. enamels specifically.. we've used it for YEARS removing handpainted names off boat transoms...