eHMxhACk

iTrader: (17)

Picked up a used oil pan and valve cover (95' Civic VX) at the junkyard to replace the ones currently on my car. They are covered in oil and grease. What would be the best/safest way to clean both the outside and the inside.

Simple green? Dishwashing liquid and water?

Once clean, what would be the best way to store them? I won't be putting either on for awhile (6 months to a year.)



Thanks,




eH.

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

Hose them down in brake cleaner. Soak them in it. Spray the **** out of them. Assuming they're still factory painted, you can store them...anywhere you want, however you want. If they aren't still factory painted, spray them down with a few coats of plastidip to protect them, and you'll be fine.

eHMxhACk

iTrader: (17)

Thanks! Both are still in factory condition with the exception of the oil/grease.

Any particular brand of brake cleaner you'd recommend?




eH.

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

Any brake cleaner will work. I just buy the cheap store brand stuff from Autozone.

eHMxhACk

iTrader: (17)

I appreciate the help!




eH.

B_Swapped93

have them hot tanked it's not too expensive and will be alot faster.

TomCat39

If the valve cover is cast aluminum, get non chlorinated brake cleaner. Chlorinated brake cleaner and aluminum don't play nicely with each other.

The oil pan if it's steel isn't affected by this. If it's the aluminum pan then same precaution should be necessary.

I've heard of people using chlorinated brake cleaner on aluminum without issue but the solvent makers don't suggest it. I'm pretty sure they have a chemical idea of what is going on with the chlorine and aluminum to warrant suggestions of using non chlorinated.

B_Swapped93

What happens ? i've always sprayed the **** out of my whole engine bay with that stuff haven't seen any negative affects. I always buy kleanflo carb cleaner at canadain tire lol.


Edit:u updated your OP I'd NEVER use that **** on my rims even my rota slipstreams.

TomCat39

Carb cleaner isn't brake kleener.

I figure there is some sort of chemical reaction with chlorinated brake cleaner and aluminum. I've heard some people report a white residue when it dries. I've never personally found out being I always buy the non chlorinated brake kleen at Canadian Tire. It's the same price or a dollar different.

Carb Cleaner I've read can take off some sort of coating that is on some throttle body butterfly plates. I've seen throttle body cleaner is recommended.

Of course didn't find that out until after I already sprayed a full can of carb cleaner through my intake with it running to attempt cleaning out some gunk in the manifold. So far my car is doing fine.


After doing some reading, I don't think I'll ever buy chlorinated brake cleaner.... Heat can turn it into a nasty HIGHLY toxic gas. Not sure if the exhaust header gets hot enough for it like a welder does, but I sure as well not give it a chance.

98civdx

Brakleen and some towels.

Wdpfreak145

carlos8

The easiest way is in a Parts washer with washer fluid (if you have access to one).

At home nothing beat the diesel and brush!!! (use a oil change pan as part washer).

TomCat39

Been a long time since I've heard someone make mention of diesel as a cleaner. I second this, diesel does wonders. Totally forgot this old school trick.

eHMxhACk

iTrader: (17)

I leaning towards the hot tank only because of the lack of clean up! I have no idea where to dispose of the used brake or diesel fluid although I like both suggestions.




eH.

Wdpfreak145

Let that **** evaporate.

P-M-B,93EXsedan

Its not break fluid, which comes in a plastic jug. Its break parts cleaner, which comes in a spray can.

contact your municipality (city or town), they'll have a poisons disposal place somewhere to get rid of it.

bamaland601

iTrader: (1)

1 rag, some brake cleaner, about a gallon of gas.
i've had to fix and change out 5 oil pans in the last 2 months so its pretty straight forward.. spray cleaner, soak rag in gas wipe it down, rinse and repeat

B_Swapped93

pour it out somewhere depending on where you live.

k7000

Never tried diesel before...let's give it a try.

TomCat39

That's horrible advise in my opinion. If anything leave it in an open jugs and let it evaporate, then at least the pollution is so diluted it's next to nothing. Pouring it keeps it concentrated into the soil, water ecosystem and plantlife.

If you are to pour it, at least make it into the sewer (toilet) and not just the storm drains that go right to the rivers and sea. The sewer gets treated.

Wdpfreak145

Understandable. The proper way to put it is "dispose of it properly." If you live somewhere out in the sticks, gas that you wouldn't run in an engine can be used to kill brush (briar patches, thorns, etc) so it has its uses. Otherwise I'd say pour it on porous concrete and that will take care of it.

P-M-B,93EXsedan

Guys, please stop it with the bad advice. If you pour it on anything, its gonna end up in the ground water and slowly poison people who use well water. It'l poison animals and ****.

call your township, they will tell you where to get rid of toxic stuff

TomCat39

This is by far the best method.

Fortunately for us Canadian Tire has proper disposal tents for most our automotive waste.

carlos8

I work at a shop and we have oil disposal drums and one for chemicals like contaminated gas, old parts washer fluid, coolant mixed, etc.

Usually the shops have it and don't charge you for the disposal.

94EG8

Gunk Chlorinated brake clean works a hell of a lot better than anything else as far as cleaning goes. It's under a lot more pressure as well. However bear it mind if any overspray gets on plastic it will turn it white, it's basically etches into the plastic too so there's no way of ever removing the stains. As far as staining aluminum, maybe it does, but everything here is already so salt stained anyway that I never noticed.