Cleaning engine oil and dirt

Animal · Feb 19, 2012

I have washed this tractor as good as I could with oven cleaner and pressure washer. I am down to removing the intake mfld and such to clean the head and block. Can I wash it down with a solvent brush and stoddard solvent? If so what do I need to go over it with before paint? Thanks, if you all know of a better way I am open to suggestions

Stephen Newell · Feb 20, 2012

I think you should have started with the solvent and a scraper then finished with the oven cleaner and power washer. Any solvent will liquify the oils and spread it around. If you are going to use the stoddard solvent, I would go over it again with the oven cleaner afterwards.

Animal · Feb 20, 2012

Thank you for your reply Stephan, but the shape its in after striping washing again is not an option.

ARCADIAINC · Feb 20, 2012

If she is nice and clean, I would just spray it with lacquer thinner and paint it.

GlenIdaho · Feb 20, 2012

You should use a automotive grease and wax remover such as PPG's DX330 to wipe it down before painting. Any residual of oil or any other substance will generally cause an adhesion issue resulting in peeling paint. On cast metal be sure to use a rag that won't leave fibers as they'll show up in the paint.

showcrop · Feb 20, 2012

I would stick with the oven cleaner. You really don't want hydrocarbon in your ground. It is important to allow plenty of contact time for the cleaner to penetrate and work and also that heat will help too if you can raise the temp. I always spray the oven cleaner on first, then pull out my pressure washer hose, and get it set up, and run the cold water out then spray it.

Hewalog16 · Feb 27, 2012

My father in law is a machinist and he was telling me the best thing to clean grease and oil is Dawn soap. Anybody have any opinions?

showcrop · Feb 27, 2012

(quoted from post at 17:38:57 02/27/12) My father in law is a machinist and he was telling me the best thing to clean grease and oil is Dawn soap. Anybody have any opinions?

yeah works great on greasy dishes as long as it is not thick. Dawn is made to put your hands into so it can't be very aggressive. OVEN CLEANER or even more specifically: potassium hydroxide. No Magic-simple chemistry. Did I mention that I work for a cleaning chemical manufacturer and sell the stuff by the trailer load? POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE

Cleaning engine oil and dirt

Animal

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Stephen Newell

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Animal

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ARCADIAINC

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GlenIdaho

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showcrop

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Hewalog16

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showcrop

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