what to soak engine parts in
 

While I have my engine accessory brackets, manifolds, etc. off I want to clean them up really good and paint them. What is something good to soak them in? I've thought of using gasoline, mineral spirits, diesel, or kerosene.

Also I'd like some opinions on engine paint color. My valve covers are blue and I want to paint my oil pan blue as well. Maybe paint the block and heads black.

Not sure on what to soak them in but when I worked as a printing press operator we had a dry ice gun, similar to a sand blaster. Used to take all sorts of parts in to spray them with it. I think they work better than crushed walnut shells because there is nothing to clean up when done, except for what was on the part to start with.

I remember seeing a video on youtube about cleaning oil retention rings/pistons for a Saturn 1.9L engine. May try searching for it because the dude was impressed by how much carbon and buildup it took off and something like he had tried a bunch of different things with no success.


Berryman's Chemtool is what this dude uses.

Mineral spirits works really good and is not very expensive depending how much you would need. Oreillys sells a 5 gallon bucket for like $50 you can use it to clean up all your engine parts.

Thanks guys! I've got one of my accessory brackets soaking in a 5 gal. bucket of pinesol/water. I heard it worked well and found some around the house and decided to try it.

CALIFORNIA AWESOME CLEANER. Dollar store. It's name says it all.

Hmm...they sell this stuff^ in gallon containers too, don't they? Would you recommend using it straight or diluting it with water? Also, is it safe for aluminum?

64oz concentrate is the biggest bottle I've seen, I would start with like a 5/1 ratio of water/conc. You could even throw in some Dawn to help keep any grease/oil from sticking to everything.

I bought some of that stuff today. $1 for a spray bottle and $3 for the 64 fl. oz. container at dollar general. Tried it out on the intake and it cuts through grease really well. Great stuff for the price.