Out, damned spot! out, I say!
-Lady Macbeth

This is from an FC, but I figure since the first gen section is where people get 12As from shipwrecks running, it's better to post here.

Got this rear iron off eBay for cheap, looks good, except I can't get these oil stains off the face. It's been soaking face down (on rags and a sponge) in a bin of mineral spirits for a week and they won't budge with scotchbrite pad!

Would soaking it in Berryman carb cleaner do any good?

 

Definitely need a strong carb cleaner.

 

why would it really matter? it inside the engine, and getting the stains out would be purely for asthetics i would think

 

I don't know, but I assume that wouldn't be a good surface for side seals to slip on, or for fresh oil to flow.

 

Those stains are common. Some are caused by running hot, others by rust. If the surface is smooth and non-porous, don't worry about it. The only way to remove them is is to have the irons lapped and re-nitritred. Definitely not worth the effort.

 

ok, cool.

It's just that on my other irons the rotor stain wiped off really easily.