Re: Cleaning engine parts and cooling system

[OorQue@aol.com]

> 1. I need to clean the engine on my car. The intake manifold (the big
>  one with "turbo" on top) is dirty. After removing and doing a heavy
>  wash with degreaser and stuff, I got all the dirt away, but it's still
>  not clean. It has got small black/yellow dots, just corroded. Due to
>  the uneven surface of it, I can'nt use the normal metal polish and a
>  cloth. Anyone BTDT? I want it clean and shiny, like it is underneath
>  the hose that connects the turbo to it.. Possible at all? Any tips on
>  getting it nice?

Find a machine shop that uses a "jet cleaner" or "storm cleaner" to prep 
parts ... this is basically a high-performance dishwasher and when used with 
the proper chemicals, it can restore aluminum to nearly factory new 
condition.  Your other option is to bead-blast it but because of the 
possibility of leaving glass beads inside, I'd tape off all the openings 
first. 
  
>  2. A cracked head blew a lot of soot into the cooling system. I've
>  cleaned out the radiators, engine and tubes pretty well (not that
>  bad), but the expansion tank is covered with some black goo on the
>  inside, and due to the "wall" inside, I can't get a brush on the side,
>  and no brush big enough to use into the small hole on the underside.
>  Will a normal cooling system cleaner (the kind you pour into the
>  coolant and leave the engine running for a while) remove this? I think
>  it's more a "looks" problem, as it doesn't look like it will make any
>  damage, but it looks like I'm driving with a engine on the edge to
>  breaking down.. :-) I've tried leaving the reservoir for a few days
>  with both dishwasher and degreaser, and it made the goo go easy away,
>  but not without using a brush to loosen it first. Boiling water didn't
>  help either.. What can I do to remove that gunk?

I had some success with pouring a bit of coarse sand inside the tank, capping 
off the openings so I could pressurize it then swishing it around and around 
and around.  In the end, though, I replaced it because the plastic had turned 
yellow and it looked out of place in the shiny engine compartment.  If you do 
use sand, be sure to rinse it out thoroughly...

JG