LS cleaning

[mongocanfly]

is there a good product thatll clean the grit and grime of the aluminum parts on a LS?..ive cleaned and painted the whole engine pretty good but the water pump and throttle body are bugging me...ive tried simple green and purple power and mineral spirits without much luck..they still look stained and nasty..all those nooks and crannys make it difficult to easily clean..

[fourspeedwagon]

Know anyone in the restaurant business? I use something called “glove free degreaser” works awesome and doesn’t burn your skin or nose. It’s for cleaning kitchen stuff of course but it’s awesome if you can find it. Pretty sure it’s an Eco Lab product but I can confirm.

fourspeedwagon—- also known as Greg (!)

[mongocanfly]

thanks other Greg....ill check it out and see if I can find some...I know several people in the cooking business...
like this?

[fourspeedwagon]

Yep. That’s the exact one I have. Pretty sure EL bought them last year so it may have a new label

[nsb29]

A glass bedding cabinet will make it look like new

[mongocanfly]

I agree and I've got access to a glass bead blaster and use it all the time....but I'd be concerned about the grit getting in places it doesnt need to be....and not being able to get it out..
But it does make alum look good..

[AZ 67 C10]

I've got a diesel steam cleaner and some Oil Eater cleaner/degreaser I was going to try. Hopefully it works otherwise its soapy water and elbow grease.. Either way i'll post how it works.

[Macdaddy1]

I took my water pump and throttle body off and wire wheeled it with a fine wirw wheel then sprayed it with clear coat.

[fourspeedwagon]

Here’s mine- a little different label so I’m not sure if it’s newer or older than the one picture you found. Same stuff though - “K39” is the important part. Probably sold under a half dozen brands but they’ll all have the k39 on them. Reminds me I need to order another case.. thanks

[mongocanfly]

Thanks 4speed...ill be on the lookout for some of that..

[fourspeedwagon]

No problem. Probably sound like a salesman for it- but I was pretty excited when I found it and how good it works without sending me running for a breath of fresh air.

[A1971Blazer]

All the parts I could take off of mine were glass beaded....
I've been toying with the idea of a cheap soda blaster to clean the aluminum block, heads etc....the soda wouldn't cause an abrasive grit issue...
I made some block off plates for the exhaust ports...and used a citrus based cleaner...
but the aluminum is still kinda dull


BEFORE

AFTER

[mongocanfly]

Im ok with the dull aluminum look...id just like to try and get the grease/grime stains off ...parts store guy in town gave me a can of gunk gel engine cleaner to try...I'll see how it works

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Im ok with the dull aluminum look...id just like to try and get the grease/grime stains off ...parts store guy in town gave me a can of gunk gel engine cleaner to try...I'll see how it works

I used a product made by Schaeffer called Citrol...best cleaner I have ever used..I buy it in 5 gallon pails
soaked it on full strength and I used some small wire end brushes in a cordless drill to get into all the small crevices....
my LS was a lot grimier than that first picture to begin with

[mongocanfly]

We use this at work and it works great for cleaning..but it won't get the stains out of cast aluminum

[Willie Makeit]

Eagle One Etching Mag Cleaner ... thank me later

https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-One-E30.../dp/B00J4RN7RS

[davepl]

Depends if you want to etch or not. If you use Willi's stuff linked to, which I've used for wheels, do it with THE DOOR OPEN as it makes some wicked-ass fumes. Which tells you that it works.

But it does by design etch the metal, and many of the strong cleaners will too. I don't know about Simple Green, but Castrol's purple cleaner will eat aluminum. That may be what you want in this case, but don't use it shiny aluminum!

[mongocanfly]

Yeah ...long time ago I ruined a set of aluminum wheels with eagle one

[Willie Makeit]

this stuff works miracles on LS cast aluminum engine parts. you gotta remember, these aren't polished aluminum wheels they are as-cast parts that GM uses straight outta the die cast machines with MINIMUM debur and/or clean up. I had my doubts too but after using it on multiple LS engines over the past few years, it's my #1 go to now. Here's how i use it:

spray parts down with simple green/superclean/purple power/etc, scrub majority of gunk with brass brush and then rinse with power washer. repeat until majority of gunk is gone.

then spray etching cleaner and let sit 3-5 mins, followed by another brass brushing and a rinse with power washer. aluminum parts will look brand dang new.

if you want a bit of a sheen (not shine) back on parts after cleaning, then use a new brass brush on them after they dry.

[mongocanfly]

Thanks Willie...

[Willie Makeit]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Thanks Willie...

no worries, glad to help. something else i have found is that when aluminum blocks and/or cylinder heads come back from the machine shop after "hot tanking" they tend to have a dark grey or blackish look from the lye/alkaline bath. squirting them with the etching cleaner, a quick brush and a rinse has them shining like new.

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by Willie Makeit

no worries, glad to help. something else i have found is that when aluminum blocks and/or cylinder heads come back from the machine shop after "hot tanking" they tend to have a dark grey or blackish look from the lye/alkaline bath. squirting them with the etching cleaner, a quick brush and a rinse has them shining like new.

I bought a couple of bottles this afternoon....too cold to try it out....but thanks for the tip...
I was debating about painting my LS1 but I like the bare aluminum look...