Cleaning heads

whitetrash21

whitetrash21

put on da damn helmet day
Apr 29, 2008
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Might be a dumb question but whats safe to use for cleaning/scouring the heads after I get them off?? Same for the intake/runners with all the soot buildup. Truck ran for 50k with a tune and the egr still working so I wanna get that crap out while I have it opened up.
 
seth999

seth999

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Jul 1, 2009
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IDK 100% for the dmax but i always just used a parts washer (mineral spirtis) n brush or purple power n a water hose (maby a brass bristle brush never done it on alum though)
 
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schulte

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Jul 31, 2010
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Use gasket remover or oven cleaner. Not as caustic as other VOC solvents, but both work very well at softening up carbon and oil sludge.
 
S

schulte

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seth999 said:
IDK 100% for the dmax but i always just used a parts washer (mineral spirtis) n brush or purple power n a water hose (maby a brass bristle brush never done it on alum though)
Click to expand...

Purple power will oxidize aluminum and stain the surface.
 
seth999

seth999

Wheeewwwww!!!
Jul 1, 2009
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yeah didnt think about that...it has sodium hydroxide or whatever stains aluminum...TY for clearing that up
 
whitetrash21

whitetrash21

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Apr 29, 2008
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MMLMM said:
Throw them in the trash and buy a set of So-Cal stage 2s...........:D

Prolly warped and twisted all to hell anyway by now.
Click to expand...

Love to. Stock motor, turbo and trans but I gots me some good ass heads... :D

What you mean, I don't drive that bad.:angel:

Is there any kind of brush I shouldn't use on the aluminum?? The nylon brush I take is not abrasive enough to scar the head?? What about bronze?? If diesel will work, would it hurt to soak them in it beofre cleaning???
 
S

schulte

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Jul 31, 2010
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whitetrash21 said:
Love to. Stock motor, turbo and trans but I gots me some good ass heads... :D

What you mean, I don't drive that bad.:angel:

Is there any kind of brush I shouldn't use on the aluminum?? The nylon brush I take is not abrasive enough to scar the head?? What about bronze?? If diesel will work, would it hurt to soak them in it beofre cleaning???
Click to expand...

Most brass/brass alloys are slight less- to about as- hard than aluminum, meaning they may or may not scratch it. Bronze is almost certainly harder than aluminum, meaning I wouldn't use a bronze brush on an aluminum head, especially on the HG gasket surface and in the valve seats.

You could soak it in a solvent, but I would go with something more solve-ey than diesel... maybe kerosene or mineral spirits.
 
FMOS

FMOS

Hard Up
Nov 19, 2008
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Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
Use a toothbrush. I used a few and they worked fine for the exact same stuff - intake runners etc.

I recall using brake cleaner on the intake stuff. My heads were cleaned at the machine shop. I would ask the shop you take them to what they do for aluminum heads just to make sure they dont hot tank them in a harsh chemical or at high temp that will bugger the heads.
 
S

schulte

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Jul 31, 2010
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whitetrash21 said:
K. Thanks. :)

One more: What hardpoints do you attach to to lift the motor out???
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Rear: heads have some nice bolt holes that're used for the EGR cooler support (if you don't have an EGR cooler in).

Front: I've used accessory bracket bolt holes.
 
J

jlawles2

Well-known member
Jan 28, 2010
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Danbury, TX
If you use oven cleaner, Check to see that it is safe for Aluminum. If it is not, it will eat away the sealing surfaces and leave pits.

I would avoid the use of any metal bristle brushes on the Aluminum as they might scratch the surface. Mineral spirits and a cheap tooth brush (possibly with trimmed bristles) sound like a good combination. For the extremely stubborn small areas, brake cleaner might help.
 
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