Engine cleaning with antifreeze

I had picked up a small crock pot for under $15. It doesn't hold over a quart and has only one "low" temperature. The size and the "low" setting are perfect; it's either plugged in or it's off. I made a basket out of scrap aluminum screen, with copper wire handles. It saves a mess getting small parts in and out, and the handles help pulling hot parts out of the cleaning solution. I'm using antifreeze and water, 50/50. Keep the lid on while it's cooking an engine. The fumes are a little nasty.

Not that it matters, but this engine is a Fox 35. It turned OK, and the outside wasn't bad, but when I pulled the backplate, the inside was pretty gummy. With the backplate and glowplug removed, I cooked it about ten hours. The outside of the case looked like new at that point, and a lot of castor gunk was gone from the crankcase.

Then, I tore it down completely, CAREFULLY ran taps through the threads for all the screws, as well as the glowplug, and cooked it ALL for about fifteen hours. I doubt that the time is important. With the parts still warm, I hit everthing with either a toothbrush or a pipe cleaner, then rinsed it all in water. With only one exception, the parts came very clean. Even the combustion residue in the chamber of the head came out perfect; the head looks new inside and out.

The one exception was the piston. I imagine the stuff on the piston head is carbon, however the process seems to have softened it enough that a white Scotch-Brite pad cleaned off 99% of that, as well. Maybe the pad would have done as well had the piston not been cooked, but all the other parts came out so well, who cares.

I may yet run across an engine or a gunk that this method won't handle very well. But, unless and until I do, this is a cheap, easy, no-brainer process for cleaning engines...perfect for someone like me. I'm cheap, easy and have no brains at all. I recommend the antifreeze process to your attention.

You're right about the solvent tho--makes all the difference. We use Simple Green alot, and sometime automatic dishwasher detergent (non-foaming). I havent tried antifreeze yet but plan to soon.

The Simple Green seems to react a bit with aluminum and turns it a dull gray.

This is my question about the antifreeze? Does it react at all with the aluminum? People who have tried it mention how clean the engine gets, but I would like to know, does the engine case come out shiny clean or dull clean?

Not having tried this yet but...It cant be very reactive in the chemical sense as it is designed to prevent corrosion in aluminum radiators. I know the glycol part of the stuff is very penetrable, and my gues is that it just breaks down the bond between the gunk and the aluminum. Why or if the aluminum becomes bright I cant guess.

I'll post the results of the ultrasonic w/antifreeze experiments.

Leonard, the aluminum case on the Fox came out "like new", shiny clean. I don't see that there is any chemical reaction between the glycol and the aluminum, at all. It seems to do an excellent job, and that's all.

What type/brand of antifreeze did you use? I seem to remember that there are several types as well as many brands, and don't want to test them all. As guys try different types, would you please post the results here? Thanks, Steve

I have another Fox 35 cooking right now. It's getting a hemi-head and stuffer backplate kit when it's cleaned up. I tore down a Johnson "S" 33 today, too. It will be going in the pot as soon as the Fox is tender and ready to serve.