|
|
Post by Garf on Apr 30, 2005 12:03:10 GMT -7
I am trying to clean some parts using the crockpot/antifreeze method. It doesn't seem to be working very well. I was wondering about the type of antifreeze. There are at least 3 types I know of. 1-old style ethylene glycol, 2- "safety" type, not harmful to animals, 3 New style (blue) GM "improved" type. There may even be more. Are all of these effective?
|
|
|
|
Post by RetNavySuppo on Apr 30, 2005 16:04:23 GMT -7
I have been using this method for years and swear by it. I have tried various "engine cleaners" and have found them as useful as teats on a bull.
I have been using the old ethylene glycol stuff (Prestone) and can't even remember how old it is. I just periodically filter it and it keeps working. I use the "low" heat setting on my crockpot rather than high. Some modelers I know that use this technique have found that the "high" setting may actually bake the crud on the engine even harder.
Some modelers say to dilute it 50/50 with water and some use it straight. I have tried it both ways and find no difference. I just use it straight.
However, a buddy asked me to clean his O.S. Max 40 FP a few weeks ago and some of the crud would not come off. The other engine I was cleaning at the time, a K&B .61, came out immaculate, so there was nothing wrong with the antifreeze. I wonder if it could be that some fuels leave more stubborn crud than others.
One thing I have found that helps with stubborn crud is to decant off some hot antifreeze, wait until it is cool enough to handle with my hands (wearing rubber gloves), and use it with a stiff scrub brush to attack the stubborn crud. This has worked well, except for my buddy's engine.
After the crockpot, I clean the antifreeze from the engine parts with hot water and mild dishwashing detergent and then clean warm water. I dry the parts as much as possible with a paper towel and then the parts go into the oven at about 210 degrees for a couple hours to completely dry them. Then I reassemble, lubricating with after-run oil (a mixture of half automatic transmission fluid and half lighter fluid). Works like a charm.
|
|
|
|
Post by Garf on Apr 30, 2005 21:01:51 GMT -7
As far as fuels go, I run straight castor based fuels. After a while, the engines get pretty bad. The antifreeze I use is starting to thicken up. I may have to try some good stuff and see if it makes a difference.
|
|
|
|
Post by jehold66203 on May 2, 2005 15:26:32 GMT -7
I have just tried the crockpot antifreeze cleaning idea with an old Fox 35 stunt that was really bad. Had to cook it over a day. Started at four hours and it had not even started to soften the crud. Still have a few places the nylon brush would not reach. I am sold on it. DOC Holliday
|
|
|
|
Post by downunder on May 2, 2005 20:20:52 GMT -7
I've been experimenting with dishwashing powder in warm water. It cleaned a very badly castor baked Stalker 61 and muffler very nicely and also a Rossi 45. I prefer not to use anything poisonous just to clean an engine.
|
|
|
|
Post by Garf on May 2, 2005 21:02:26 GMT -7
I used to use laquer thinner to clean engines. Worked pretty good. Liked the smell. I decided that between the explosion hazzard, and the possibility of brain damage, I'd better find something else.
|
|
|
|
Post by RetNavySuppo on May 2, 2005 21:52:48 GMT -7
downunder,
A few years ago, there was a discussion of engine cleaning methods on the old Flightlines site or maybe it was RCOnline - I don't really remember for sure.
One of the posters used the dishwashing powder cleaning method and reported that this method caused color changes in the metal of SOME of his engines and caused some pitting in the metal of others.
Did you have any experiences like that? Are you soaking the engines for minutes, hours, days? Did you have to do a lot of scrubbing?
|
|
|
|
Post by downunder on May 4, 2005 8:18:26 GMT -7
RNS
Before I tried it with an engine I scrounged up every cruddy old muffler I could find plus a few odd engine parts like broken crankcases and heads. The only colour change I had was with an old Enya muffler that I left to soak while the solution was boiling. Another identical Enya muffler left to soak in warm solution wasn't affected.
Generally I'd leave them to soak for a few minutes in a warm solution before scrubbing with a toothbrush. "Warm" means not uncomfortable to hold the parts in the solution while you're scrubbing. Most of the parts cleaned up with almost no effort at all. The castor varnish on the Rossi piston skirt practically fell off within seconds but the Stalker muffler took about an hour because it was simply dreadful.
Maybe I was lucky with the brand of powder I chose but if it says on the packet that it's suitable for aluminium (and mine doesn't) then it has to be OK.
|
|
|
|
Post by Britbrat on May 4, 2005 11:07:28 GMT -7
When you say "diswashing powder" are you referring to detergent powder for diswashing machines, or is this stuff for washing dishes in the sink by hand (in theory of course)?
|
|
|
|
Post by highflyinguy on May 5, 2005 12:10:22 GMT -7
Two years ago there was a post on Stuka about using crock pots and antifreeze to clean engines. one of the replies was to set the temperature of the anyifreeze at 200 degrees. I used this method and left the engine in a pot on and adjustable electric burner for 12 hours. It came out very clean, it had a bit of crud left on it which came off with a mear toothbrush while holding the engine in my hand covered with a latex rubber glove.
I dont know how important the temperature setting is, but it worked great for me.
By the way, the antifreeze used was, Sirra.
If I were cleaning another nasty, dirty engine, I would deffinetly use the same procedure again.
Jerry Bohn
|
|
|
|
Post by Garf on May 5, 2005 13:42:48 GMT -7
If you are talking about Sierra, that is the "saftey" type.
|
|
|
|
Post by highflyinguy on May 5, 2005 15:20:12 GMT -7
Garf, You are correct, sorry about te misspelling. I dont think it works any better than regular antifreeze, but it's fumes are not as noxious or bad for the health.
Jerry Bohn
|
|
|
|
Post by Garf on May 5, 2005 20:35:19 GMT -7
In my experience, generally speaking, anything designated as "enviornmentally friendly", or "safety" etc, never works as well for the intended purpose, as the old, "unfriendly" stuff. Just an observation on my part.
|
|
|
|
Post by fox4ever on May 5, 2005 20:49:23 GMT -7
Reading all these posts engine cleaning fired me up. I sneeked in the kitchen and swiped my wifes little crockpot. I used Prestone, and I am empressed with the results. This engine was cooked from a couple of real lean runs. Enough it tossed a rod on about the 5th flight. Anyway the head and upper cylinder was brown to black. I cooked the engine in the pot for 20 hours at about 220 and it is like new again. Thanks guys.
Lee TGD
ps. the lil crockpot is hidden very well in my shop now.
|
|
|
|
Post by RetNavySuppo on May 6, 2005 0:38:05 GMT -7
For those of you who may not be aware of this, once you introduce antifreeze into your crockpot, its days of cooking food are over, period. The lining of the crockpot absorbs poisons from the antifreeze and will reintroduce them into any food you cook in it thereafter.
A wise thing to do is to clearly mark your "cleaning" crockpot with a skull and crossbones, the word "poison" in big letters, or whatever way you wish so as to ensure that no one will use it for anything but cleaning engines.
Even though you intend the crockpot never to leave your shop, it might. For instance, Lee might kick the bucket tomorrow and his grieving widow might sell all his stuff at a yardsale or fleamarket, including the crockpot.
People aren't the only ones you need to protect from antifreeze. Dogs love its sweet taste and it is deadly to them. I store the antifreeze right in my crockpot and the crockpot stays in a corner of the garage (I have good ventilation in my garage) and the cooking is done there too. Well, I have four dogs to worry about and a neighbor's dog that gets lonely and comes over sometimes when I am working in the garage and "supervises" what I am doing. For their safety, I sprinkled a liberal amount of black pepper all around the crockpot and on the cover (it stays there because of the lip on the cover). They all have sniffed around the crockpot and after a couple minutes of violent sneezing, they now stay the heck away from the crockpot.
|
|
|
|
Post by fox4ever on May 6, 2005 4:20:42 GMT -7
Point well taken and noted. Actully, my wife knew about the crockpot and fully understood its use and it not being to be ever used again for cooking food. I have seen animals that have consumed antifreeze before and its not good. Rest assured, this is in a safe place. Thanks for the heads up for my concerns and for anyone that doesn't know the hazards.
Lee TGD
|
|
