Engine Cleaning
 

After doing an Advance Search for this topic and coming up with nothing, I think it's time to talk about how to clean a ZR-1 engine.

I haven't found the basic idiot's guide to cleaning the engine and I'm in need of one. Maybe some others are too.

So come on, guys....how about some detailed reports on how to clean it up. Since my '93 is the newest Vette I've ever owned, I was stunned to find out you can't hose down the engine or you risk shorting out the starter which appears to be a multi-buck fix.

So let's hear some solutions and advice on how to clean the engine...:happy1:

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Typically most newer engine bays are fairly safe to take a very light mist with the hose, but I have heard the early 90-ish vettes don't like water too much.

First off how dirty are we talking?? Are we talking little bit of dust/dirt, little bit of grime, or full blown looks like I drove thru a swamp with the hood off?

For light dirt and grime use a very dilluted mixture of APC and water in a sprayer, this allows you to control where the cleaner goes and keep it away from sensitive components. I would even say to go so far as throwing a plastic bag over anything you think might be an issue if it were to get wet. It goes without saying start with a cool engine... don't go banzai 500 miles and immediately pop the hood and go to work.

Spray anything that needs a little help getting clean, agitate with a boars hair brush, and using another sprayer with clean water, spray it off, then dry the area (either with a towel or using compressed air. Work methodically in small sections to make sure you get everything.

Afterward a mixture of our VRT 50/50 with water in a sprayer is a great way to apply dressing to all your rubber, plastic, and other underhood trim that needs to be brought back to life. Knock down the shine with a towel.

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

you don't clean the LT5. you don't wash it it will ruin the starter, you don't use chemicals on it you will stain it, if you want to clean it just use some water on a rag. anything else will turn the engine a color you don't want

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

When I bought my yellow 1994 ZR-1 last May the engine was very stained with splotches of water or cleaner staining, and streaks on the cam covers from seepage of oil or water . The car has 94,000 miles on it and the stains could be just age but they were a major appearance distractor.

I was afraid that the only way to make it look better was to remove the plenum, throttle body, coolant tubes, and cam covers and get they powder coated.

Since I had nothing to lose, I decided to try to clean the engine and see what happened. I figured that since the engine is painted, I would treat it as if it was a stained hood or fender. My plan was to try car polish and then try wet sanding.

I started with Simple Green cleaner and it didn't remove any stains.

Next I used Adams Swirl and Haze Remover with a micro-fiber cloth. I put a few drops of the Swirl and Haze Remover on a cloth and with one finger I rubbed the painted portions of the engine working on a small area at a time. When the cloth became black from removing grime, I "rinsed" the area with Simple Green and polished with a clean micro-fiber cloth. And repeat as necessary. And repeat! And repeat!!!!!!

It took me six hours to do the whole engine.

The results were very satisfying. I removed almost all of the staining and the surfaces have a nice shiney, well care-for look.
The finish color may be slightly darker than original, but it is not too bad.
Here are some after pictures (I never took before pictures):

http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC02710.jpg

http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC02711.jpg

http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC02713.jpg

Here is a close up that shows some of the areas I still need to work on:

http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC02716.jpg

Jim

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

For any of you skeptics out there...QB93Z is not a shill for Adams Products. He is the MD State Director for the ZR-1 Net Registry and Chief of the WAZOO Tribe. I saw the car yesterday when we had a maintenance day at QB93Z's garage and I can attest to the before and after. Thanks for sharing the story, Chief.

http://www.science.uva.nl/~robbert/z...rand_Wazoo.jpg

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Interesting Jim, I'll have to try this. My plenum is stained and needs freshing up badly. I'll let you know.
Rich

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

About those areas you still need to work on....think Q-tips...and then maybe you too can try for NCRS Top Flight, a goal I know you wish to achieve...yeah, right;)

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Excellent results with the Swirl & Haze Remover QB93Z!!

I might also suggest our Revive polish in that area as its intended to remove light surface contamination and stains. Its a deep cleaning polish with no abrasives so its perfectly safe on surfaces like that. I use it all the time around the door handles on the wifes SUV, its great for getting rid of all the little imperfections there too.

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Thanks for the info. I grabbed the Swiel & Haze Remover off my shelf and started. Are you saying that the Revive Polish would be a little more aggresive than the S&HR? I know that both are non-abrasive but I would like to use the one that will work the best on the engine surfaces.

Jim

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Rich, Remember to take some before and after pictures. I am pretty sure that you will be pleased with the result. It will give you a nice looking engine to go with your nice new garage floor.

I found the Simply Green cleaner to be a pretty good general cleaner but it is runny so you have to be aware of what is below where you are spraying. I found cleaning from the top down worked best. When I was working on the cam covers, I would place a cloth below the area that I was spraying to reduce the over-spray and run-off.

Jim

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Gator, I agree, I need to keep Q-Tips in the garage. As far as NCRS goes, I think it is a great program, but during my time in the Navy, I spent way too many hours having inspectors inspect my submarine. I don't want to do it any more.

As an aside, for those of you that know me, the idea of me giving advice on how to clean an engine compartment is pretty funny. I guess I was desperate. If you hear me start talking about cleaning the bottom of a ZR-1 it will be time for an intervention.

Jim

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Actually the opposite, Revive is less aggressive, but its really comparing apples and oranges. Revive is a cleaner/surface prep type polish, SHR is a swirl remover/more traditional polish.

The reason I'd suggest Revive is that its properties lend itself better to the removal of 'stains' or discoloration from embedded contamination. Ideally you'd start with SHR and then finish with Revive to get the best of both... thats how the system was designed.

In any event it looks like you got excellent results with just the SHR, I was just offering a possible alternative to those in the audience :D

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Thanks for the explanation. Maybe I will give the Revive Polish a try now that I have completed Step 1.

Jim

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Dylan, you need to do some research so you know what's up with C4 Corvette engines. Any kind of washing on an LT5 or LT1 will be detrimental to engine componets. The LT5 had a problematic paint finish applied to it that requires special attention or you can end up making it worse looking than just some dirt.

Jim, That is outstanding. Makes sense since paint is paint! Added this to my to do list:cheers:

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

and thus the reason I stated this in the quote:

I've been professionally detailing for over 13 years now, but any LT1/LT5 vettes I have had the privilege of touching have either been pristine under the hood and required no work or were only dirty enough to require a little detail spray and microfiber to come clean, then controlled APC for any areas that needed degreasing.

As with any "sensitive paint" it will be susceptible to staining, discoloration, or worse if harsh chemicals are used for cleaning. This is the reason I suggested that even if the engine compartment were VERY dirty he use a highly diluted mixture of APC in a spray in order to control what got wet and what didn't. Trust me, I don't go around telling people with potentially problematic areas of their car to grab the hose and the harshest chemical they can find and apply with an SOS pad... if I had no clue what I was talking about I'd have been run out of business a loooooong time ago.

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

I use Toothpaste and distilled water.

Cleans my LT-5 right up and it smells minty fresh :mrgreen:

Then I hand dry it with towel and leaf blower to be safe.

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

I thought about tooth paste for trying to clean the engine. I figured that it would be less "aggressive" than the Swirl and Haze Remover. I had some fairly bad stains to remove.

Jim

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

The engine looks great! Thanks for the tips. I will be purchasing these products shortly to give this a try.

Thanks,

Jason

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

When I did my engine, it took me about six hours. I removed both front wheels to be able to stand closer to the engine. But, bending over for that long ruined my back and it took about a week to get to where I could move comfortably again. So be careful and take stretching breaks.

Jim

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

next time leave the wheels on and sit on them

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

That's what I do :thumbsup:

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Sounds like a plan!:thumbsup:

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Well I thoguht I'd let you know what I used for my engine. Your drain hole must be clean to do this though. I use GUNK ENGINE BRITE...soak the motor and compartment down with it . Sits a few minutes and then let 'er have it with the water enough to wash the GUNK off. I have done this with both the ZR-1's now. Of course I don't do it every weekend, just initially to get the grime off, and #473, this one was real dirty. Then I have had success with Adams Buttery wax and In-n-Out spray (No Longer Available) all over the engine compartment. I keep my engines pretty clean on a weekly basis.

What do you think?
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k6...g?t=1259160014
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k6...g?t=1259159605
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k6...g?t=1259159555
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k6...g?t=1259160064
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k6...g?t=1259159672
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k6...g?t=1259159707

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Damn. That motor looks clean as a whistle, John. :thumbsup:

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Its Filty John. Thats the worst brake fluid Ive ever seen!!! :mrgreen:

Wow damn claen!! :thumbsup:

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Very nice John. Mine will never look that good. Every time I start to work on cleaning, I get an over-powering urge to go for a drive. :dancing:dancing

Jim

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Wow John,


Great job!!! I miss that In and Out spray too!


:cool:


David

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Friggin PERFECT John :-)

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

mmm shiny good!

If you have to pull the plenum, you might as well enlarge the drain hole in the back of the starter valley. Thats the problem child. 3/8" drill is what I remember opening it out to. Not a problem since. Now I'm going out to get some gunk engine bright. mmm shiny

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Let me know what you think. I washed one car at the car wash. That one I hadn't cleaned the plenum hole out. Didn't have any problems.

The other one, Ive cleaned twice that way. The hole was cleaned and you can actually hear the water draining, a sucking sound kinda was heard.

If you can, take some before and after pics.

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

I have my engine top end parts, radiator, water pump, starter, front brakes, exhaust system laying on benches all around my 91 Z :sign10:

Tell me a bit more about enlarging that drain hole...There is a steel tube (maybe 3/16) at right angle to the rear about 1/2 inch down in that hole. The hole is dead ended down further. The steel tube drains fluids to the rear from that hole and down in front of the fly wheel out just behind the oil pan. I do not want to dump oily fluid onto the flywheel from that hole so prefer using the steel tube. There is no way to enlarge that steel tube without getting inside the bell housing. I will study this further and try to invent a way to more effectively drain that area :read2:

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

No inventing or studying needed. The ZR-1 Net Registry has you covered.
http://www.bcvettes.org/howto/zr-1/starter/print.html

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Well, you hit it with Engine Brite yet? Post up as most people think you can't do this. If not be sure to take some before and afters.

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

That will work but it dumps the debree into the bell housing in front of the fly wheel. When the hole was being drilled they could have just as well put in a larger tube since they had the fly wheel removed :sign10:

That will work ......just drilling a larger hole and dumping into the flywheel area is prolly better than drowning out your starter when washing the engine :D

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

I've been working on the whole enchilada, so theyre all off - cam covers, injector housings, etc. You know, repainting, cleaning, and so on. Its been 10 years since I've had everything out. The injectors went to Mr. Injector in Idaho (excellent work, and reasonable too). The TBody went to Mr. Haibeck (idem eadem idem). So while everything was off (cams and manifold openings covered of course) I did spray a full can of Engine Brite orange (its on sale 2 for $5 at Autozone right now), scrubbed a bit, then washed it off with water. It cleans things up very nicely and leaves a noticable shine to things. The connectors were then hit with the air hose, and STP wire dryer sprayed into them.

The cam covers are back on, and the whole thing should be done this weekend. Its freezing in my shop, so I cant work out there too long.

I found a mouse nest in the starter valley. That's been there since I dont know when. But even with that crap in there, the larger drain hole did its job and drained the starter valley. I dont want to pull the starter so I can measure the hole, but the hole isnt much bigger than it originally was. I dont think that drain tube is still there though. It may have been "Lost" when I did this back in the day. However, I remember doing the big hole thing because it wouldnt start once and I wasnt going to go thru that again. Especially after a GM bulletin went out regarding making the damn thing larger. They should have done this at the factory!!!!:icon_boun

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Does the GM bulletin suggest make the original hole larger or does the bulletin suggest make a new hole beside the original hole? Did the GM bulletin say anything about the steel drain tube?

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

here is the bad boy himself:
http://www.zr1netregistry.com/bulletins/923076-1.jpg

http://www.zr1netregistry.com/bulletins/923076-2.jpg

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Now....that is what I really like about this forum :thumbsup::thumbsup:

You guys and gals waste no time and GET ER DONE :cheers::cheers:
But then again....that is what ZR1 owners do :sign10:

Thanks ZR1ROB :thumbsup:

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

Good stuff in the Service Bulletin. Thanks for posting :thumbsup:

Re: Engine Cleaning
 

:mrgreen: . Says your in SoCal. I have a dirty stained engine that you can try to clean. Good test for your products. :sign10: