Dirt in the engine is bad... right?

[digitalsam]

I am ready to reassemble the engine, but am worried about fine dirt, dust and the like. I had the casings plastic bead blasted and then I used a 90lbs air compressor to blast them with air to clean the oil channels and remove the beads. It worked well, and I am convinced that I got all of the big stuff. There is a very fine layer of dust on the casings, partitially from the plastic, but also from the dusty spring winds here is southeastern NM.

Long story short... What is the best way to make sure all of the dust and grit is off? I thought about soap and a low pressure power washer, but wanted to see if there is a better way.

Thanks

[CatatonicBug]

Soap and water would be my choice. Then air dry indoors to prevent additional dust from landing. A little dirt won't be a problem, as there is oil flowing all around the engine and it all gets filtered anyway. I would mainly be concerned about the joints between the metal pieces, where the gaskets go. make sure those spots are clean of all material (including fingerprints) immediately before sticking them together.

[tarzan]

After reasembly I always run the engine for an hour and then change oil.It will get out all lint and dirt.But you want it clean as possible before you button it up

[digitalsam]

Fingerprints

Soap and water would be my choice. Then air dry indoors to prevent additional dust from landing. A little dirt won't be a problem, as there is oil flowing all around the engine and it all gets filtered anyway. I would mainly be concerned about the joints between the metal pieces, where the gaskets go. make sure those spots are clean of all material (including fingerprints) immediately before sticking them together.

Would a rag and Acetone be enough to clean up the grease from my skin?

[CatatonicBug]

Maybe. However, I don't trust a rag to not leave behind fuzzies. I use brake parts cleaner spray and let it air dry. That or Electrical Contact cleaner spray.

[webbcraft2150]

If ya can get away with it, run em thru the dishwasher with just a little Cascade. Pull em out before the drying cycle and air dry them with compressed air. Keep em covered or in plastic bags till ready for assembly. Its almost impossible to keep em totally clean unless you reassemble in a clean room.

[digitalsam]

If ya can get away with it, run em thru the dishwasher with just a little Cascade. Pull em out before the drying cycle and air dry them with compressed air. Keep em covered or in plastic bags till ready for assembly. Its almost impossible to keep em totally clean unless you reassemble in a clean room.

In this family, I am the dishwasher. Good idea though.

[TopCatGr58]

Would a rag and Acetone be enough to clean up the grease from my skin?

Sam, Acetone is TOXIC and absorbed thru the skin, so you do NOT want to use it on your bare skin. You could wash your hands with DAWN soap to degrease them. You could use Alcohol as well if you wanted. Might also look at using some gloves if you feel you can't get your hands clean/degreased adequately!
T.C.

[DGXSER]

TC,

I think Sam was asking about removing the grease from his engine casings and parts that might be deposited from his hands touching them. I think Catatonic Bug suggested he needed to keep his sealing surfaces free of oils from his skin so they would seal properly.

IMHO, that is pretty much overkill. I suppose you can not be to careful, but, other than brake disc, I have never done anything to void oil from my skin on any engine mating surfaces unless my hands were oily or greasy beyond normal form handling dirty components. So far, I have not had problems with parts sealing. Maybe I am just really lucky.

[digitalsam]

Sam, Acetone is TOXIC and absorbed thru the skin, so you do NOT want to use it on your bare skin. You could wash your hands with DAWN soap to degrease them. You could use Alcohol as well if you wanted. Might also look at using some gloves if you feel you can't get your hands clean/degreased adequately.
T.C.

Thanks for the warning about Acetone. I am not to worried about my hands, just want to make sure that the engine goes together properly. I would hate to have to do this twice.