Well I just bought a D15B from a japanese engine importer locally and I'm pretty sure it was sitting overseas in a junkyard collecting dust/dirt for a while, so I'd like to clean the insides as well as I can.

First off, I took off the valve cover to check it out and it doesn't look too bad, but it has some sludge collecting on the tops of the rocker arms. What should I use to clean this? Should I take it apart and degrease it or what?

Also I'd like to take the oil pan off and look in there... should I just spray WD-40 or what?

Any ideas would be great... thanks.

 

Sure, clean the sludge out with brake cleaner...

 

When you drop the oil pan, just get a rag and sweep the inside of it after the oil is drained. Visually inspect it for metal shavings and then just spray some carb cleaner in there to take out any remaining gross oil.

I would run some new oil in it for about 100 miles, then change the oil again to get all the old crap out.

 

If you have some time. Take out the spark plugs and fill the cylinders with atf. Let it sit for a few days. If you can put the engine in a passengers compartment of a car. To let it get some solar heat cycles that should speed the process along. What's the temp. in Sac. town, anyway?

After sometime get a empty handsoap bottle pump and pump the atf out. Then change the oil.

This will free up the rings and valves from any carbon build up.

 

notstock93-- yeah that's what I was thinking -- after letting it run for a couple of days, change the oil and filter again.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LSVTEC 91 Civic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sure, clean the sludge out with brake cleaner... </TD></TR></TABLE>
After I spray it (the rocker arms once they are out of the head), do I need to lube it with anything or when I put oil in the first time will that be good enough?

Foowee-- wow, ATF? Why ATF? Does it clean better than regular oil or something? It's not going to damage the rings? Should I crank it over a couple of times manually while it's in there or is that not a good idea? I was thinking of using some seafoam after a while, too... would the ATF work better?

It's actually pretty nice today, mid-50's.. usually anywhere from 30-55 degrees F now that it's winter. In the summer it can get to 110 and stay that hot for a week or two. I didn't know people in Kentucky knew Sacramento's nickname.. that's fricken funny.

Thanks all for your help and ideas.. I really want this motor to run as good as possible.

 

Yes, atf has a high detergent content. No, it won't damage the rings. If you crank it over manually it will shoot out of the spark plug holes. The idea is to get all of pistons level(90deg atdc) and fill them up to the valves. You can put the plugs back in while it soaks.

I don't know about seafoam. I have no experience with it. I've seen it mentioned on here several times, though. May be worth a shot.

I would definately prelube the rocker assembly after hitting it with a solvent like that. They wont get oil untill the pump builds pressure after start up. Are you removing the head too? or just the rocker assembly...

On a sidenote, I seem to be a unique hill billy, who somehow ended up being schooled in the EastBay area.

 

seafoam works good too

 

Sweet, thanks again Foowee!

I'm not going to take the head off the block, just the rockers out of the head.. I don't want to have to replace the headgasket.

I'm not sure if I'm going to end up taking the oilpan off either now that I think about it since I don't have an engine stand. I'll see if I can rig something up to hold it so I can get down there.

Man, replacement parts are costing practically as much as the motor itself!

Anything else I need to add to the list?:
Timing belt
Water pump
Rear main seal

For anyone who's interested, here's what my setup is going to be:
JDM D15B SOHC VTEC (all cleaned up and "new" looking)
99 Civic Si CAI
B18A1 throttle body
D16Y8 intake manifold
Lightspeed 4-2-1 header
custom 2.5" exhaust piping (planning on going turbo down the road)
in a 91 CRX HF ~2000lbs

Gonna be a fun little car hopefully!

 

wouldnt hurt to replace timing belt and water pump now its a hell of a lot easier with the motor out of the car