Grassroots Cylinder Head Cleaning Experiment: Take 1 and 2

So I'm building a cyl head for a guy we all know and love, and since the solution in my parts washer is super-nasty and badly needs to be changed, I decided to try some of the methods suggested here and see what happens.

Method #1: Boil in water and degreaser mix.

So I know I've heard different variations of this method, plain distilled water, water and lemon juice, water and Simple Green, etc. I was going to try the Simple Green method, but the store around the corner was out of Simple Green. I got what seemed like the next best thing, Purple Power All Purpose Cleaner/Degreaser. I got out my big stainless buffet style pan, put a gallon of cleaner in it, put the head in it, and filled the rest with the garden hose. Put it on the grill and let it boil for an hour or so.

The Verdict: It sucked. I went over it with a scrub brush and it still looked like crap. It did take the big chunks of grease and dirt off, but my garden hose probably would have done that. Oddly enough, it seemed to take the all carbon build up off of the combustion chambers, but didn't do so well with the grease. Which surprised me, since I was using a "degreaser".

Method #2: The dishwasher.

So after pulling the head off the grill with unfavorable results, I stuck it in the dishwasher. I also put in a throttle body that wasn't on the grille. I ran it in the most hardcore cookware setting, with the extra heat turned on, with normal dishwasher detergent.

The Verdict: It sucked too. It didn't seem to do much at all. All it really seemed to do was take the left over degreaser residue off, which a rinsing would have done. The throttle body had some chunks of grease/oil on it, and it didn't even take that off. I could have wiped it off with a rag, but just wanted to see how well the dishwasher would have worked. Turns out not that well.

I guess I'll try soaking in Simple Green next to see what happens. And if you have any suggestions, I'm willing to experiment for the greater good of the community. I'm like the Mythbusters, except my goal is not to blow up this cylinder head.

The cleanest I've ever got a pair of cylinder heads was in a dishwasher. I don't think I used regular soap, though. It might have been liquid orange.

My Dad has a dedicated transmission cleaner - I have no idea IF he runs any sort of solvent, but it gets absolutely screaming hot in there and sprays water down like a pressure washer as it spins the tranny case.

Homemade/DIY soda blaster?

Please tell me they aren't aluminum heads you used Purple Power on...

I took one to the car wash, set it on the ground, put $5 in and used the scrubbing brush first then the "green" wheel cleaner at full pressure. It worked just OK.

So... I went to the machine shop... A hot-tank clean oil housing, head, valve cover, throttle body, oil pan and front cover for $25 and I didn't have to explain to anyone why there is a rainbow in the bottom of the diswasher.

unevolved wrote: The cleanest I've ever got a pair of cylinder heads was in a dishwasher. I don't think I used regular soap, though. It might have been liquid orange.

Whatever you put in the dishwasher, make sure it's low-sudsing. Otherwise, It's Attack of the Killer Soapsuds across your kitchen floor.

Javelin wrote: Please tell me they aren't aluminum heads you used Purple Power on...

Ow.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: So... I went to the machine shop... A hot-tank clean oil housing, head, valve cover, throttle body, oil pan and front cover for $25 and I didn't have to explain to anyone why there is a rainbow in the bottom of the diswasher.

There you go. The machine shop will get it cleaner than anything you can do at home, and compared to all the work you'd have to do (plus cleaning up the aftermath from the garage floor) the price is going to be very reasonable.

Javelin wrote: Please tell me they aren't aluminum heads you used Purple Power on...

Simple Green is simply horrible for aluminium, however I have heard that there is another Simple Green product made for aluminium

pilotbraden wrote:

Javelin wrote: Please tell me they aren't aluminum heads you used Purple Power on...

Simple Green is simply horrible for aluminium, however I have heard that there is another Simple Green product made for aluminium

Oh, I agree. I wouldn't use Simple green either. But I sure as hell woulnd't ever use Purple Power. Says right on the bottle that it will permanently etch all aluminum. That's why there's aluminum-specific cleaners out there.

lacquer thinner. Greatest degreaser going.

RossD wrote: Homemade/DIY soda blaster?

I'm considering trying that last, mainly because there was so much oil and crud on the head I figured the baking soda would just stick to it unless I got the goo off of it.

Javelin wrote: Please tell me they aren't aluminum heads you used Purple Power on...

It is, but that's why I'm doing this, to separate the internet hearsay and reality. I've got extras, so if I ruin the head it's not a big deal. But for the record, my jug of purple power didn't say anything about permanently etching aluminum. It definitely slightly discolored it, but I rubbed a spot with metal polish and it came back to it's original color. So far, the head is definitely not ruined.

I've had good luck with a mineral spirits pressure washer to degrease, naval jelly to de-oxidize, and walnut shell blasting for general de-shmanging. Also been impressed with dawn dish soap for cleaning up after whatever industrial process I use.

I had an old bottle of STP degreaser in a small pump style bottle, and that stuff worked wonders! I cleaned a Subaru head with it, a small scrub brush, and a garden hose and it looked brand new in about 15 minutes! Unfortunately the bottle of cleaner I had came from Big Lots probably 10-15 years ago, and it was a close out back then!

16vCorey wrote:

Javelin wrote: Please tell me they aren't aluminum heads you used Purple Power on...

It is, but that's why I'm doing this, to separate the internet hearsay and reality. I've got extras, so if I ruin the head it's not a big deal. But for the record, my jug of purple power didn't say anything about permanently etching aluminum. It definitely slightly discolored it, but I rubbed a spot with metal polish and it came back to it's original color. So far, the head is definitely not ruined.

Maybe they've changed the formula since 2006, but we had a stack of worthless scrap in the machine shop where I worked of aluminum parts that were cleaned with purple then brought in. Mostly Toyata 22R heads actually, but that's just what's popular with the wheelers. They would clean the head and bring it in for the surfacing thinking they saved themselves some money, and the heads would be trashed like sponges. They wouldn't seal anymore.

I personally have ruined a set of 16" aluminum wheels with the stuff, so I know first-hand it at least used to be potent stuff (again, 2006).

i've read oven cleaner is supposed to do a pretty good job.... but no clue on a cyl head...

16vCorey wrote: It is, but that's why I'm doing this, to separate the internet hearsay and reality. I've got extras, so if I ruin the head it's not a big deal. But for the record, my jug of purple power didn't say anything about permanently etching aluminum. It definitely slightly discolored it, but I rubbed a spot with metal polish and it came back to it's original color. So far, the head is definitely not ruined.

You had the parts in the solution for an hour. If you left them sitting in a parts washer overnight or all weekend, it would be a different story. I have a few old scrap pieces that I use for testing cleaning products. Purple power will etch aluminum parts. Depends on how long they sit.

I did leave a junk intake manifold in it overnight, so we'll see what it looks like when I get home!

Javelin wrote: Please tell me they aren't aluminum heads you used Purple Power on...

I use it to clean aluminum cylinder heads all the time, and it works fine. You need to scrub it, then rinse it with cold water.

I have used oven cleaner with pretty good results.

Oven cleaner will work on cast iron & steel parts. Some cleaners will stain alumimun so test it first before spraying the whole part. I have used oven cleaner on aluminum parts that I wasn't concerned about appearence. I was able to remove some of the staining with an mild acid solution.

Remember that sitting parts in a tank without circulation will do much less than if there is a current. Our wash tanks at NAPA used a chemical that was similar to the old gallon bucket of carb cleaner (I know some of you remember that stuff) and if you let the part sit in the bath it would get a little clean but it you turned on the pump they looked awesome.

Anyone ever seen a hopeless carbeurator cleaned with Pine-Sol? They look brand new from an overnight soaking. That's probably what I would use as my cleaner for a cylinder head...

I'd love to see the look on my Mom's face if she found a cyl. head in her dishwasher.......man, she got off so easy!

ok, no she didn't.....