Getting Rid Of Engine Gunk

[razorboy]

Hey Guys,

Pulled the valve cover from my 3.0 today and as I suspected, there is a lot of engine gunk in the cover and around the head. Even though I just gave it a fresh oil change, the oil is brown so I have a few oil changes to do before I suspect it starts to clean up in there a bit. Damn neglect of the PO to not even change the oil.........

So my question is regarding the cover itself.
Has anyone successfully cleaned gunk off the inside of the valve cover? There are so many nooks and crannies on this thing that a hand clean is pretty much out of the question. Just wondering if carb cleaner or something else might allow this crap to break down and flush off the inside of the cover?

I may just grin and bear it by putting the lid back on as-is but I really hate doing work that way. Just looking for ideas.

Cheers
Bernie

[afstud]

Carb cleaner is a good start just make sure its dry before you put it back on, or better yet take it to a repair shop or wherever they have a good parts cleaner and see if they will clean it for you? we use to have one of those in my shop class and they clean Everything we even did valve covers and they looked new. Good luck!

[bcredliner]

Would take a few cans but I suggest brake cleaner in a pressurized can.

[upallnight]

Don't all you DIYer have a part washer in the garage? I do. Take it to one of those do it yourself car wash and use the wand to pressure wash it. Don't wear any nice clothes if you are going to do this.

[bcredliner]

Take them to upallnight's garage

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Take them to upallnight's garage

I think he's a little closer to you then he is to me.

[razorboy]

I tell you what, if I had enough space in my garage I would have a parts cleaner stat.
Pretty sad to say I don't have the four foot x three foot piece of ground to put one in there. Gotta get rid of some toys........

Anyway, bought some brake cleaner and a bottle of Purple Cleaner. Worked out ok. Didn't get it all off but most.

B

[lahermano]

i used 2 cans of brake cleaner. Let it dry and install it back. It cleaned at least 75% with out brushing out.

[bcredliner]

You could also Gunk it a few times then hose it out in the driveway and kill some grass at the same time.

[jgold47]

There was a guy on e46 who used some oil eating bacteria. It was the cleanest valve cover and head I've ever seen.