engine soaking

[robwizard]

I'm cleaning my engine up as I am about to change the headgasket and give it some paint.. I was wondering, as I scrub away, if I could soak the whole cylinder head in something like paraffin or thinners? the valves and everything still in it.. or would they have to be taken out to do this?

Would be nice to see it clean inside and out before rebuilding..?

Cheers

 

[tigler]

Brake cleaner is the stuff for that but it probably won't remove carbon from the valves.

 

[bigbadbugga]

I'm cleaning my engine up as I am about to change the headgasket and give it some paint.. I was wondering, as I scrub away, if I could soak the whole cylinder head in something like paraffin or thinners? the valves and everything still in it.. or would they have to be taken out to do this?

Would be nice to see it clean inside and out before rebuilding..?

Cheers

If the head is already off I would strip it and re grind the valves in anyway, it should be alright in a parrafin bath. Just rinse it thouroughly and re-lube the valves as you reassemble it.

Just out of interest, what engine is it?

 

[robwizard]

MH engine out of a polo coupe s.. 8v 1.3!!!!

I would rebuild it but I don't have the money to spend on tools to do the job which I don't already have unfortunately Since posting this a couple of hours ago I read a few things which made me think it wasn't such a great idea, so instead I have been cleaning the surfaces and the exterior with thinners and that seems to be working pretty well

cheers

 

[Balders]

Dr Beckman's Rescue (oven cleaner) is ACE. Tesco's sell it.
No horrid pong, watery eyes etc like Mr Muscle!

Scrub with an old toothbrush, then leave. Scrub, apply more as required. Leave overnight - I've used it on Beetle heads (proper Beetle)