Penetrating Fluid

[davieh3350]

Because on a 23C the crank comes out the end of the block and I need to push conrods and pistons up the bores to clear the crankshaft webs

https://imgur.com/UMSTJNX

Have you put a cutting of round post in one of the cylinders and given it a clout with a big hitting stick?

 

[Vizslaman]

Not yet Davie I thought I would let it soak until I am ready to start the stripdown

 

[davieh3350]

Not yet Davie I thought I would let it soak until I am ready to start the stripdown

you could throw some caustic soda mix in. That'll eat away at rust. Doesn't damage steel/iron but damages aluminium.

 

[TheTallGuy]

coca cola has had success with pistons

Phosphoric acid is the active ingredient in cola that deals with the rust. It's also a pretty good descaler.

 

[manhill]

I've only used it to clean rust but wonder if citric acid would penetrate and weaken the rust.

 

[Scribus]

The idea of the acetone is it carries the oil with it as it wicks, its basically a solvent that's used quite a lot of the time in industry for cleaning , the likes of diesel is too dense for the job but hey if it works for some.
But if we were to be totally truthful any concoction or bought product will only go so far, the rest is a placebo I'm afraid, like when you change the oil in your car, you think it goes faster.

Certainly with diesel cars I've found that after 5-6000 miles an oil change can make them rattle a lot less. I'm not a great fan of extended service intervals.

 

[Scribus]

coca cola has had success with pistons

Great for cleaning windscreens as well, but a wee bit sticky.

 

[Scribus]

I have never found it effective but some people swear by hot candle wax.

Funnily enough WD40 is reckoned to have alkanes as its primary active ingredients, candle wax is also an alkane.

 

[Right-arm fast]

What about petrol and a bit of two stroke

 

[Wellytrack]

Penetrating Fluid? Wine. A fairly decent one too, villa maria is good stuff.

 

[X344chap]

I've found a bit of heating and cooling helps as well - get a propane blowtorch into each cylinder to set your penetrating fluid on fire. Flood it again as it cools and it draws the oil in. I've found going in from the sump, unbolting the con rods and using a long bit of hardwood to knock the pistons up helps as well. Pistons might be saveable. I've had some good results from what looked like a scrap engine.

 

[Mursal]

Diesel also very good .......

 

[Vizslaman]

No 1 cylinder after clean up with flap wheel and glaze buster. All 4 are now filled to the brim with diesel