Pool acid or what else?

kavesh · Post by **kavesh** » Sun 17 May 2015, 18:26

Hi all

I need to clean an engine block and in particular need to get rid of the rust build up in the water passages.

Is it safe to use diluted pool acid for this purpose. Will also need to do the same to the cylinder heads.

I have asked the local engineering shops and although they have a dip tank it's only degreaser and not anything stronger to clean the internal rust buildup.

As always your advice is appreciated.

Thanks
Kavesh

First V8 · Post by **First V8** » Sun 17 May 2015, 20:54

Pool acid is never a good idea, even in a diluted form . I have not done this in ages but i think there would be specialized chemicals available today to do this kind of cleaning . A rust inhibitor comes to mind .

shoedoos · Post by **shoedoos** » Mon 18 May 2015, 08:12

youtube rust and white vinegar....

kavesh · Post by **kavesh** » Mon 18 May 2015, 08:53

So far I have dipped the block in vinegar and bicarbonate and water.

The dip is now brown so I know it removed some of the rust but is this good enough to remove most if not all the rust?

Johann72 · Post by **Johann72** » Mon 18 May 2015, 10:56

kavesh wrote:So far I have dipped the block in vinegar and bicarbonate and water.
The dip is now brown so I know it removed some of the rust but is this good enough to remove most if not all the rust?

Read up on Borax and V8 also mentioned a commercial cleaner! Stay away from Caustic Soda!

Shauns · Post by **Shauns** » Wed 20 May 2015, 15:33

Pool acid will eat away the metal too easily as its a mineral acid.
Vinegar is an organic acid and when used together with bicarb will effervesce and create a good cleaning action.
Organic acids are not as harmful to metal thus will not damge the material should you cleanup be not 100%

kavesh · Post by **kavesh** » Wed 20 May 2015, 19:24

Thanks for the feedback.

I took the advice of not using the pool acid. The vinegar and bicarb worked nicely to remove a lot of the built up corrosion but there still is a fair bit in the water passages.

I want to dip it again but would be good if I could get rid of whatever that did not come off the first time.

Please advise of names of the organic chemicals that can be used safely.

Johann had suggested Borax ass well.

RASSIE · Post by **RASSIE** » Wed 20 May 2015, 19:49

You may be very scared as many holes will be pitted around the cylinders if you do a proper clean. 40 Years do plenty damage as anti freeze was not used in the old days.
Rassie.

kavesh · Post by **kavesh** » Wed 20 May 2015, 20:08

RASSIE wrote:You may be very scared as many holes will be pitted around the cylinders if you do a proper clean. 40 Years do plenty damage as anti freeze was not used in the old days.
Rassie.

Rassie are you suggesting that I do not try and do a proper clean?

Will the grime not come loose eventually when the engine is being used and will antifreeze not dislodge the grime.

I am new to this and want to make sure of what I am doing

Thanks
Kavesh

Donovan Smith · Post by **Donovan Smith** » Wed 20 May 2015, 20:43

Kavesh why don,t you just take it to a company that specialize in cleaning blocks, it is not expensive and they do a proper job

African Muscle Cars - Forum

Pool acid or what else?

Pool acid or what else?

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Re: Pool acid or what else?

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Re: Pool acid or what else?

Re: Pool acid or what else?

Re: Pool acid or what else?

Re: Pool acid or what else?

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Re: Pool acid or what else?

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