Cleaning block surface whilst still in the car

[Kai]

I know what to clean it with, tools wise (green scourer pad, xacto knife & gasket scraper), but i was going to use kerosene on the cloths to clean up the gunge that's accumulated. However, although the oil & coolant have been drained, is it safe to just go at the surface hammer and tongs, or am i going to need to bung the oil passageways first?

 

[gennro]

Yeah you don't want crap getting down in the engine. Its best to do it outside of the car on an engine stand so you can turn the engine upside down.

 

[Kai]

Uhm...the block is still *IN* the car.

 

[gennro]

Only problem is you probably already introduced water and debris into the oil passages already. I wouldn't doubt to see the engine spinning a bearing. I learned the hard way on a 7M not to do a head gasket replacement with the engine in the car........ three spun bearings later.

 

[CyFi6]

I used cotton balls in the three large oil drain passages, you might be able to use ear plugs or anything like that, just make for damn sure you will be able to get whatever it is you put in there OUT and that it cannot fall down. You want to try to avoid getting stuff in the cooling passages but its not nearly as important as the oil system. Just flush your cooling system afterwords. Dont forget about the small little oil pressure hole at the front of the block and the large space between the block and the timing cover(oil), you can probably get some sort of rag there. Then after you get it back together make sure you put new oil, run it a little and change the oil again to be sure. Be careful with the "scourer pad" you dont want to use any abrasives, just use a gasket remover chemical and scraper.

 

[89supra7mgte]

The engine gunk should not be too close to any of the oil passages around hg area. try scraping away from cylinders, you know go from the center out in both directions if possible this will aid in the avoidance of debris in passages. I did my hg in my garage, with no issues or spun bearings to this point. Its not so much about taking the engine out as it is in taking precautions and time. I used shop towels in the holes worked good, also my gasket came up almost all at once just minimal scraping.

Are you trying to put an mhg on or oe style? if mhg i would rec pulling engine, if not you should be in good standing, just make sure you let whatever chemical you are using to full drain out oil pan. Brake clean works really good also.

 

[Supraboy89]

ive done 5 of them on my car and others with emory cloth on a 10" 2/4 and it shined it right up with no problems no leaks or blown head gaskets yet and its been 6 years ago. as for the oil passages i would block them with something also the pistons. the water ones you can flush out with water when you get it back together

 

[easternguy2005]

I put vaseline on top of the pistons so nothing could get wedged between the piston and first ring, Inserted a rolled rag into the oil passages and tweezered them back out.