Richard Acland Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 Any ideas or tips for cleaning up an old OS 40. The engine is covered in burnt on castor oil and I am looking for a non invasive way to clean it up, ie no scouring or abrasives etc. Any help appreciated. Richard Edited By Richard Acland on 20/01/2020 16:10:55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Colbourne Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 Hi Richard, I used to use oe which came in a small can with a brush in the lid. It was quite effective but left the engines looking a bit grey. I think Betterware did it. A lot of carbon removers contain Sodium Hydroxide, so aren't safe for aluminum. This one advertises that it is ok: Repairing Products - 'Carbon Off' carbon remover This is the data sheet: Carbon Off Technical Data Report If you have an engine or silencer you're not too sentimentally attached to, I would try whatever you use on that first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIMON CRAGG Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 I have tried various methods over the years, none of which were very good. Decided to paint an engine recently (ASP .53), in "Pot Black" heat resistant car manifold paint. Looks brilliant (different!), engine runs perfectly with no negative effects. Job done!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIMON CRAGG Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 I have tried various methods over the years, none of which were very good. Decided to paint an engine recently (ASP .53), in "Pot Black" heat resistant car manifold paint. Looks brilliant (different!), engine runs perfectly with no negative effects. Job done!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Tomlin Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 Stove glass cleaner, the stuff for cleaning the glass on wood burning stoves. I use one called HG interior. Just done two gummed up diesel engines, use it with a soft brush and takes the old castor oil straight off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Acland Posted January 23, 2020 Author Share Posted January 23, 2020 Thanks for your replies. All helpful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ASH. Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Cillit Bang (purple) works well to shift the grunge with the aid of a non-scratch scourer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 I've got a bottle of stove glass cleaner. It workson stove glass. It has potassium hydroxide in it. It would discolour a motors aluminium castings. The last bottle, didn't work on stove glass. It had detergents in it. No hydroxide. Might clean a motor. Boil it in low foam washing powder/liquid, whatever Beloved has. A toothbrush will then shift the gum. But, mount it and run it, as soon as it settles towards cold. No rust allowd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 You buy stove glass cleaner? Newspaper, make wet, pick up some ash on it - removes crud from the glass almost instantly. As per Don's post, I've used washing powder in an old saucepan before - seems to work ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingcoax Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 This topic has cropped up before, Arial washing powder seems to be the best, others turn the surface to a dark grey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extra slim Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 I have used cheap washing powder but it had to be biological.. I found warm water best. Only had one go dark grey and I think it was a combination of the powder and using boiling water.. I've done many engines and exhausts with biological and it works well almost all of the time. Tend to leave them in for 30mins-1hr and then use an old tooth brush.. then rinse, and place in a warm over to dry quickly.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Channon Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 Fairy power spray. Leave on for 2 minutes, rinse and repeat, engine will look like new. Regards Chris.C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Channon Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 Fairy power spray. Leave on for 2 minutes, rinse and repeat, engine will look like new. Regards Chris.C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Channon Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 Oop's sorry, not sure what happened there! Meant to say make sure the engine is dry before repeating, its an age thing ! Regards Chris.C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichB Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 Another vote for Fairy Power spray. I've cleaned up lots of engines using this. It might need a couple of applications if the gunge is really baked on though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 Nigel R, cheers, ash and a wet green sponge sorted the stove. I was crushed, when I reported this to a thicko friend. The withering reply, "did you not know........." did not make my day. And I messed up some aileron control rod instalions. Onward and upward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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