Using The Works To Clean My Engine Block

[gungalunge]

I got my engine block sitting here all bored out ready for pistons. I noticed that a build up of sand and dirt was caked on my water jackets . about 1/4 inch thick . got to be a cooling problem . so I used the works tolet cleaner . this is a blind hole bore 115 mercury engine1974 . so i splattered the tolet cleaner called the works all over the effeced caked areas . it started foaming stinking and turning all yellow . I let it set for 10 minutes and it cleaned all the way down to bare alimimum when i washed it off .. wow that was easy .

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Using The Works To Clean My Engine Block

I wouldn't use the works again on Aluminum!!!<br /><br />That foaming/reaction you saw was the aluminum being eaten away by the cleaner...<br /><br />Have you ever heard of a 2-liter bomb. They make them by putting small pieces of aluminum foil or an aluminum can in the bottom of a 2-liter bottle, then add a few squirts of the Works cleaner in the bottom. Put the cap on get out of the way. The cleaner starts eating away the aluminum and the reaction causing the 2-liter to blow up like a ballon until it explodes... <br /><br />What you did was eat away some of your water jacket, hopefully not too much you should check the gasket areas to make sure they were not degraded...

 

[Twidget]

Re: Using The Works To Clean My Engine Block

Sounds like what we used to do with lye, water and aluminum as a kid. It makes a great hydrogen balloon, they go boom very loudly.

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: Using The Works To Clean My Engine Block

Ya..... bad idea. I take to to the manual car wash and pressure wash the crap out of them.<br /><br />-W

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Using The Works To Clean My Engine Block

Well gun, thanks for sharing your idea with us so that we might benefit from your experience.<br /><br />Seemed like a good idea to do what you did at the time; right?<br /><br />Well, thanks for thinking of us anyway.<br /><br />Mark

 

[gungalunge]

Re: Using The Works To Clean My Engine Block

Hey it cleaned that caked on crap . It dont look damaged that I could see it just worked real fast.It cleaned it real well. I did not hear anything go BOOM but some chemestry was going on there it got stinkey .It was a quick 10 minute soak . Tex Your right .. Poor idea.I did have the pressure washer fired up for the rinse cycle .I yie yie .good thing i did not use it full strength .. it was a almost empty bottle that i filled with water ..