How do I get engine clean

[jayhawk25]

I am doing a ground up build of a 97 300ex. The engine has alot of red mud stains but runs super stong. What can I use that will clean the aluminum. I could tear it down and throw it in the bead blaster but I don't want to tear a good motor apart, I just want to clean it.


1997 300ex
powder coat frame
powdercoat a-arms
powdercoat swingarm
new race plastic
ITP Beadlocks
Holeshot tires
cobra nerf bars
duncan racing graphics
dyno jet kit

[bwamos]

Try some engine cleaner from the autoparts store.. and get a hard bristle brush and scrub her. Works well in the cooling fins.

[T.Hopp]

I used a dremel tool with a 1/2" diameter cotton wheel.(comes 6 to a pack). I used a powder used to clean stainless steel (comet could work). I mixed a little water to form a paste. I dipped the cotton wheel in the paste and went at the cooling fins. The arbor of the dremel allowed the cotton wheel to get in deep. I then hosed off the dry residue of the paste and wiped with a dry rag.

[honda400ex2003]

Gas or brake parts cleaner may work also but you will still have to scrub it. Maybe power wash it with a good washer, with some heavy duty degreaser. Just be careful with where you spray the washer so it doesn't get in the motor like in the air cleaner and in the carb and wexhaust ports if it is out of the machine. Just my two cents though. Steve

[HondaRacing23]

I work at a dealership and they cover up all the wholes and sandblast them then paint that will PJ1 Satin SIlver Bearel paint 500degree. Doesnt melt off if you let it dry 24 hours or more..

[honda400ex2003]

I just used brake parts cleaner on my stuff tonight and it took off all of the burned on mud stains and gunk like that. Steve

[honda400ex2003]

Did you get the engine clean? Just wondering how it came out and what you used. Steve

[jayhawk25]

no I have not I am still checking my resources. I may just plug everything and put it in a bead blaster.

[polaris bob]

Try finding some of this cleaner. It really works at getting aluminum clean! Just be careful it works almost too good! DO NOT let it dry on your motor!!


http://www.biokleen.com/store.cfm/biodegradable/action=details/CatID=6/ID=227#browse

click here (http://www.biokleen.com/store.cfm/biodegradable/action=details/CatID=6/ID=227#browse)

[300exdragracer]

i use brake clean n a clean rag n works pretty good

[polaris bob]

Brake clean is great at getting the oil and grease off, but some times you need an acid style cleaner to get the stains off of aluminum.

[Kilabanshee]

Simple Green works wonders!

[awsomeaussies]

Use some steel whool, it works real good.

[Scro]

simple green, a couple steel wool soap pads, and a little elbow grease

[HondaRacing23]

other than aluma clean what else would clean aluminum rims and oil tank to get it looking like new again..?? thanks

i would use brake clean, that stuffs pooooowerful

[HondaRacing23]

it will take the corrosion away and make it look new?

im almost sure it would, that stuff takes grease out of clothes

[HondaRacing23]

i can get SHOP SHOLV by CASTLE have u ever heard of that stuff. I cant get it by the case from work it is bascily the same thing i think. it is more watered down though then brake clean ill try brake clean tomorrow.

[prepracing]

get some acid like machine shops and car detail shops use when they clean engine, I got some from a local car detail shop that they clean engines with. You can just spray it on and hose it off with no rubbing. Its mild enough it won't hurt frames paint or powdercoat. But it makes your motor look like it came off the showroom.

[z400roosteR]

Originally posted by bama450r
simple green, a couple steel wool soap pads, and a little elbow grease

Uh, i checked the local hardware store and no luck...Where can i buy elbow grease?.........:devil: :D :muscle:

[MoToX199]

when i 1st got my 400 the motor was NASTY LOOKING! and i'd tried lots of different things and none of them really worked well. then i went to wal-wart and saw a canof super-tech engine degreaser and it was like 2 bucks so i bought it sprayed it on and took a light medal brush where was no paint and brushed it and it looks better then a new motor would! and for the pieces that have paint on them just spary it on there then scrub off with a towel, so if you dont mind sitting there for a little while scrubing then your motor will look gooo again to

[HondaRacing23]

i have my motor off and im goin gto sand blast it tonight. Ill pst some pics. im just going to cover all the open holes and blast away. then use PJ1 Satin SIlver Paint to re paint it. works wonders do it at work all the time..

[jayhawk25]

I look forward to seeing the pics after sandblasting. I have a bead blaster at work we use on aluminum aircraft parts.

[HondaRacing23]

This is my engine after I blasted it then primed it.

[HondaRacing23]

My Frame

[honda400ex2003]

Hey those turned out pretty good. I juset did my subframe on wednesday with silver car paint and clear. It looks really good. That sand blasting kind of sucks though. It is still better than sanding it all off. Steve

[400exredrider]

i hope you were extremely careful in sand blasting that:ermm: , those beads are such tiny particles that they can really work against you if you didnt have everything plugged up right.. just a tiny bit of those sand particles into the engine and youll probably seize up the crank bearing. aslong as you got everything plugged extremly well tho, i dont see a problem

[jayhawk25]

The engine and frame look good. I used some simple green and 000 steel wool and my egine looks brand new. You have to do alot of rinsing though. I just got my frame PC'd two weeks ago a color called almost chrome. It looks just like polished aluminum.

[honda400ex2003]

Castrol superclean in the purple container works ok too but you stil have to scrub it alittle. You can get it at walmart by the gallon.

[greg_gorrell]

is brake clean the **** maxima makes?

[HondaRacing23]

yous purpel power thats stuff does wonders with scotch brite

[JRP]

i got some engine degresser from the auto store. its works great onthe engine.

be carefull using castrol super cleen. my uncle spilt a little bit of that in his boot one day, it ate away at the skin.

[greg_gorrell]

i would reccomend not using steel wool since it impregnates little steel fibers into the aluminum which will rust. find a stainless steel wool. :)

[jhoppa]

Airplane Remover????????

I bet this stuff would take off the baked on dirt. I have to put new studs and head gasket on my 400ex, so I will give it a try and let everybody know.

Airplane remover is designed to remove paint/varnish on anything. Lot of my friends use it instead of sandblasting, due to little clean up and NO little sand pieces getting in the engine.

danger,,, that stuf will make an instant blister if it touches your skin!!