Cleaning parts without parts washer

[The Critic]

Let’s say you are working on this at a location without a parts washer. What is the most efficient way to clean these parts?

(Some of you may recognize that these are Honda J-series parts - oil pan and oil pump.)

 

[Nick1994]

A friend of mine is a mechanic and he had a bunch of nasty parts from an old car, timing cover, intake manifold etc. and he had a gas tank he had just pulled from another car with rancid old gas. He soaked everything in it and they came out like new. I wonder if new gas would work too.

 

[oggb]

Steel parts? Oven cleaner and a hose, blow off with air gun after rinsing and maybe spray with a light coat of something to keep it from flash rusting.

Aluminum parts? Super clean/Purple power/simple green/some other fairly strong degreaser, let it soak for a while, and a hose. Maybe a scrub brush as necessary. Blow off with an air gun after rinsing.

Diesel will work wonders if you have a container deep/wide enough to let the parts soak for a bit.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I have been wanting a parts washer forever.

 

[tom slick]

Mineral spirits go a long way and I use purple degreaser.

 

[Luftmasse]

The guy next door to me uses gasoline. Otherwise Super Clean or Purple power.

 

[Chris Meutsch]

Carb cleaner.

 

[Chris142]

Dishwasher!

 

[hemitom]

i have had good luck using brake cleaner.

 

[Traction]

Stuff like that I take to the self-serve car wash, soak it with degreaser and blast it off. Fast, cheap, no mess, and no nasty chemicals. If the parts are not too dirty I just use my pressure washer at home.

 

[Warstud]

It would depend on how clean you want it. If it's Internal - gas or diesel. External- Purple Power and High Pressure Water

 

[AutoMechanic]

Brake Cleaner or Carb Cleaner or Gasoline. WD40 works nicely too.

 

[RooflessVW]

SD-20 and an assortment of brushes.

Isopropyl and water to make sure they're residue free.

 

[bdcardinal]

A combination of brake cleaner, Engine Shampoo and Degreaser, Silicone Gasket Remover,and Metal Surface Prep Wipes is the Ford approved method and works really well. Just wear gloves, especially with the wipes. It will take some skin off as I found out the hard way.

 

[The Critic]

The issue with all of the suggestions is the run-off/waste water - pretty sure it is not okay to allow such a large quantity of oil/grease to go down the drain?

 

[Nick1994]

Stuff like that I take to the self-serve car wash, soak it with degreaser and blast it off. Fast, cheap, no mess, and no nasty chemicals. If the parts are not too dirty I just use my pressure washer at home.

Yeah, mess up the plumbing for the car wash owner. I’m sure they love that.

 

[qdeezie]

I have a plastic trash can. I put hot water and Dawn in it and let the parts soak in it. Dawn now has some Heavy Duty dishwashing liquid that they sell at Lowe's. I bought some of that to give a try the next time I need to soak parts.

 

[MParr]

Old school = Mineral Spirits
Purple Power works great.
Simple Green Pro HD
A good brush is a plus.

 

[Luftmasse]

The guy next door to me uses gasoline..

The issue with all of the suggestions is the run-off/waste water - pretty sure it is not okay to allow such a large quantity of oil/grease to go down the drain?

Steam cleaning?

 

[Chris142]

Yeah, mess up the plumbing for the car wash owner. I’m sure they love that.

The ones here have an engine degreaser option.