Cleaning a cylinder head with a power washer?

[Randall977]

I need to clean the cylinder heads of the engine I'm rebuilding. They are aluminium, very oily and painted with wrinkle finish paint. My main aim is to remove the oil, once done I think I can do the rest with wire brushes, scrapers etc. I'm thinking about using a power washer - seems like a quick and safe option...

Anyone tried this?

 

[brightspark]

I need to clean the cylinder heads of the engine I'm rebuilding. They are aluminium, very oily and painted with wrinkle finish paint. My main aim is to remove the oil, once done I think I can do the rest with wire brushes, scrapers etc. I'm thinking about using a power washer - seems like a quick and safe option...

Anyone tried this?

providing its a hot water one and use the traffic film remover detergent . cold will be useless

 

[Pete.]

Agreed. I would actually brush in neat TFR first and leave it a while, then give it a blast with hot water/TFR mix. Wear gloves, TFR burns your skin.

 

[Randall977]

So once treated with TFR it would probably be quite clean anyhow? So maybe just better to get oven cleaner as it's more readily available and forget about the power washer?

 

[brightspark]

So once treated with TFR it would probably be quite clean anyhow? So maybe just better to get oven cleaner as it's more readily available and forget about the power washer?

theres no comparison getting oil off with oven cleaner to tfr or jiser or gunk

 

[SmartWerks]

Stick it in the dishwasher

 

[Randall977]

Ha ha, I suggested it to my wife...

 

[Randall977]

...oven cleaner is better or worse than tfr?

 

[500e]

Mate tried that not a good result he now has a dishwasher in workshop A new all singing & dancing one in the house & no rations for weeks. You cant win them all, as he did quite a bit if powder coating in the oven before HID caught him.

 

[CRB]

?Oven cleaner on aluminium?

I have not read the 'dos and don'ts' on oven cleaner recently, but that does not sound like there would be much cylinder head left.

 

[Randall977]

So get some TFR then - it's quite cheap but doesn't look like I can easily source it locally. I'm thinking about getting one of those big builders rubble tubs, putting TFR in and leaving them to soak - will the TFR melt the plastic I wonder?

My wife has banned me from bring any car parts in the kitchen but I still sneak them in every-so-often. The oven is really useful for drying painted items but the smell is a bit of a give-away that I've broken the rules!

 

[CRB]

I'm thinking about getting one of those big builders rubble tubs, putting TFR in and leaving them to soak - will the TFR melt the plastic I wonder?

Think carefully. ?How is the TFR packaged?

Answer - In polyethylene 5l bottles.
The builders tubs are also made from PE.

No problem there then.

Just make sure by looking on the base of the tub that the ones you purchase are PE and not PP. Without the actual make-up of the TFR, you will not know if PP is safe.

 

[Randall977]

Thanks for all your advice and replies - great stuff!

 

[normspanners]

Check the tfr there are many different types lots of types of TFR attacks ally also, it is the caustic, it turns it black, so just brush it on and power wash off after 5-10 mins no longer

 

[jordan1]

I need to clean the cylinder heads of the engine I'm rebuilding. They are aluminium, very oily and painted with wrinkle finish paint. My main aim is to remove the oil, once done I think I can do the rest with wire brushes, scrapers etc. I'm thinking about using a power washer - seems like a quick and safe option...

Anyone tried this?

Pop it in the wifes dishwasher

 

[chunkolini]

My Dad put one in the dish washer.
he was almost murdered for doing it. it came out lovely, the dish washer was a right mess.

 

[Istayinalot]

I do bike heads and castings etc with a (very) hot pressure washer, I normally screw or bolt them to something to stop them moving about, I use D.E.B ultra concentrate T.F.R brushed on neat prior to blasting, its good stuff, and it will burn your fingers,

 

[Randall977]

Will the stuff available from Screwfix be any good - it's 66% off at the mo - there's one near me...

http://www.screwfix.com/p/zenith-tr...tr/42326#product_additional_details_container

 

[Pete.]

Oven cleaner is caustic and might wreck the gasket sealing face. If the engine uses MLS gaskets the finish requirements are quite fine.

Will the stuff available from Screwfix be any good - it's 66% off at the mo - there's one near me...

http://www.screwfix.com/p/zenith-tr...tr/42326#product_additional_details_container

At a quid for two litres I suggest you buy all they have. It's very cheap if it's actually any good.

EDIT: I'd check availability because all the stores near me are sold out.

 

[normspanners]

EDIT: I'd check availability because all the stores near me are sold out.

as usual EH