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MG Midget and Sprite General - I want to boil my head

I have a cylinder head that needs thorough cleaning after being stored for several years (dust, grit, exhaust carbon etc.) Apart from the risk of severe domestic displeasure, could I do any damage if I were to put it (stripped down) in the domestic dishwasher?

Chris - I like to live dangerously - Hasluck
Chris H (1970 Midget 1275)

Hmm, I think you're in danger of having more than your head boiled! ;o)
Dave O'Neill2

I boiled my pistons once on the gas stove, to try and shift the carbon. It didn't work. :(
Lawrence Slater

your idea should work fine

in fact, John Twist at University Motors has a commercial dishwasher that they use for exactly that purpose

somewhere around here, I found a link to a study about dishwashing soap which concluded that automatic dishwasher soap was a very good cleaner of old auto parts

but, be sure to remove as much loose oil/grease as you can before you use the one in your kitchen, and to run it a few times afterwards to clean it out again, before the rest of the family goes to use it


If you can get to the filter screen in the bottom of your dishwasher, it would be a good idea to clean it out, too, after you are done.


Norm
Norm Kerr

Maybe that's where I went wrong. No bio soap powder on the water.

How about modern oven cleaners? Would they work?
Lawrence Slater

I dont think it would work very well

Getting it to clean deep inside would take some powerful soap and super hot water then some magic to get the cleaner inside the ports and internals

Perhaps a week long soak in a deep bucket with toxic cleaner and then power washed

But for $25 at a decent automotive machine shop that does head work...seriously why bother...they will have the thing perfectly clean that it can be eatten off of As a finer dinner plate...in about 1/2 to 1 day

Prop
Prop

Lawerance ...over cleaner does okay...i just tried it about 2 weeks ago...it just cant get into the inturnals all that well.

Prop
Prop

Whilst discussing engine cleaning, it looks like there is not much hope for many of us....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8889022/Parkinsons-link-to-cleaning-chemical.html

Wondered why I kept missing the computer keys!
Guy

Just as well I only recently started drinking decaff then if it was in that too.

Mechanics used to get higher levels of scrote cancer too. The oily rag in the boiler suit pocket apparantly caused it.

Makes you wonder how we are all living longer with all the discoveries about how dangerous chemicals are.

I've got a head to clean too. Shops just drop it acid don't they?
Lawrence Slater

Shh don't tell it works great!
First soak it in foam oven cleaner and then put in the dish washer.
Oil it after it comes out of the wash
Onno K

Blimey Guy, I just read further down your link about carbon tetrachloride. We used to use pipettes in the science lab at school to suck it up to a mark on the glass and you often got a mouthful of the stuff.
Then there's the stuff that we use to clean the shower that gets rid of limescale and mildew. It says not to inhale the vapour, but how can you not when you are in the shower working with it. I found it so bad that I have taken to wearing a paint respirator when I clean the shower because if I don't, I can hardly breathe afterwards. I bet that stuff would clean a head. LOL.

Bernie.
b higginson

Bernie,
The research she's that the effects of exposure can take up to 40 years so for most of us it is now just a question of time before it hits ! Not much you can do about it !
Guy

not a problem Guy to those of us that don't have 40 years left !
David Smith

You never know David, I'm setting my target at 100. lol
Lawrence Slater

Just keep the Dartington Crystal glasses till the next wash.

Dave
D MATTHEWS

100 would do me too but still doesn't leave me 40 left...
David Smith

Go for 110 then. Chances are medsci will get you there.

On the other hand, by the time I do actually reach 100, I might just prefer to really boil my head. lol.
Lawrence Slater

This thread was discussed between 01/12/2011 and 05/12/2011

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