[SEL] Engine Hygiene

[Rob Skinner]

I’ll through in a word of caution regarding the use of Gunk.  Once I was working on a very nice Lorenz with lots of original red paint.  When the engine arrived here, it was covered in all sorts of grease and animal hair from sitting in a barn for many years. I hosed the engine off, sprayed on the Gunk, and let it sit.  When I checked on the progress, not only was the built up grease softened, but the gorgeous original paint had turned soft and PINK.  My beautiful original engine was now PINK.  I quickly hosed the engine down, and carefully toweled it off, and let it dry.  Afterward, I wiped it down with boiled linseed oil, and luckily, the color was restored. I learned my lesson and no longer do I use harsh chemicals on engines. 

Nowadays, I like to use gentler cleaners, like diesel fuel or Simple Green Crystal, along with a scraper, wooden stick, toothbrush, stainless wire brush, or a brass wire brush.  For cleaning good paint that might be stained, use one of the cleaners with steel wool. For fine work, use parafin oil with very fine steel wool or brass wool.  

For a finish, boiled linseed oil works nicely on paint.  Steam oil works nicely on bright metal. 

Rob