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| | | | Joined: May 2012 Posts: 574 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2012 Posts: 574 | hey all, i have taken the head off of my 235 engine and have it ready to be cleaned, but my question is will oven cleaner clean the head or is this a bad idea. i have researched this and have had several answers come up, that it will destroy aluminum and plastics, etc. but can i use it to clean a cast iron engine head? thanks in advance for any info Indy 
1949 Dodge Coronet 1955 2nd Chevy 4400 1.5 ton 1955 2nd Chevy 3100 1/2 ton 1955 2nd Chevy 3100 1/2 ton 1957 Chevy 5400 LCF 2 ton 1966 Dodge D100 Sweptline 1968 Chevy P20 stepvan 1969 GMC LWB pickup 1972 GMC Sprint 1974 CP30 shorty bus There are three things that I've learned never discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.----Linus Van Pelt Trying to understand the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the color 9  | | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 841 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 841 | if you are't sure, just use something else. they make spray on degreaser if you want convenience. they sell parts cleaner by the gal out of a pump at a local place here if you want economy. oven cleaner might work ok for baked on chicken grease, but who knows about motor grease. besides it has a powerful stink. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 66 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 66 | You'll be able to degrease with oven cleaner, but it isn't the greatest. It will probably soften, but not completely remove the paint. It won't remove rust. It will eat aluminum.
Hot tanking is caustic like oven cleaner, but much more effective. Heat is key to the process. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 25 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 25 | I used "easy off"spray on my aluminum carburetor and had good results , sprayed it on left it overnite then washed it off
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,199 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,199 | Even if you do use it, you still need to wash it off, so why just hit the car wash to start with. Hot soapy water does wonders, and for a really good cleaning, presoak the parts in Castrol degreaser or Purple power, both are excellent degreaser around $5 a gallon. Oven cleaner works pretty good for brackets and smaller pieces with caked on dry grease. It will burn your skin and eyes, so be careful scrubbing around on it.
Joe | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,763 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,763 | Oven cleaner is lye- - - -very caustic and hazardous to skin and eyes. I made my own hot tank cleaner by cutting a 55 gallon drum in half lengthwise, welding the two halves together end to end, and filling it up with water, 4 cans of lye, and half a box of Tide. I built a wood fire under it, and dunked an engine block, cylinder heads, and all the steel sheet metal into it. NO ALUMINUM! It worked great, and the leftover liquid got used to treat a bunch of fire ant nests!
Oven cleaner will work OK on small parts, and probably your cast iron cylinder head, followed by a thorough pressure wash but limit the time it's exposed to aluminum.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,107 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,107 | the leftover liquid got used to treat a bunch of fire ant nests! jerry, your so mean  | | | | | Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 835 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 835 | I have used the spray on type of oven cleaner numerous times to clean various antique tractors I was working on. Works great.
Kurt | | |
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