I want to soak my engine rotors in simple green overnight but when I did a search, I couldn't find anything about simple green being safe on bearings or not. If not, what other cleaner will work and be safe on the bearings? I had a tub of Zep's purple concentrate but found out it damages the bearings so I won't be using it. I also have a gallon of CHEM-DIP as well and was wondering if I should use that too.

 

I used the purple Zep stuff with no problems at all

 

Dan you're still not done with the restoration?!?!

I'm pretty sure simple green is pretty safe for most metals. The purple power stuff on the other hard is alot harsher and castrol super clean in particular I have read eats aluminum if left on aluminum too long.

 

I want to share with you a simple green story.

We used to use simple green to clean our military aircraft and the Army told us that it accelerated aluminum and magnesium corrosion and forbid us from using it. This was ten years ago and I don't thing SG has reformualted its product in a while.

 

Thanks for the input, I don't think I will be using simple green. I just did another search and heard its not that great for removing carbon either. I'll probably be using Berryman ChemDip since it says its not corrosive to any metals. ReTed has used it so I PM'ed him and just waiting for his reply.

floppyhat69, according to Zep, it says its damaging to aluminum, copper, etc.

 

Haha, I have been busy with a lot of things lately even though its summer. But laziness doesn't help either. Subframe has been dropped, engine bay almost stripped. And nearly done cleaning engine parts with a big mazdatrix order coming sometime next week.

 

hahaaha, I was waiting to change jobs to answer this, but since it's a public thread, I might as well answer in here.

We've had rotors (with bearings) in ChemDip overnight with no obvious damage to the bearings.
I've done this many times, and the engines are all running fine.
This stuff attacks "organic" compounds, so it should leave all the metals alone.
"Carbon" is "organic".
It "eats" oils and greases like crazy, but the metal is left alone.
I have no problem leaving it overnight.
Now, if you're going to leave rotors in for like...a week, I cannot guarantee you it'll still be there.
Overnight should not be a problem.

As for Simple Green...it's not strong enough.
I'm a lazy bastard, so faster the better - ChemDip is wonderful for leaving it overnight.
Simple Green is also water-based, so watch out for rust and oxidation problems.

Yeah, the Air Force found out Simple Green was oxidizing aluminum on their planes, so it was banned shortly thereafter.


-Ted

 

Even better is a soft brass wire brush attached to a drill.

It takes all the gunk off and polishes a bit at the same time. Then a dremel for the small groves and such and then some chemicals to get the really stuborn stuff. Took me ~ 6 hours to clean all the irons and rotors on my spare 13b.

 

Thanks for the input Ted. I just opened a can of it and man, this stuff is really nasty!

 

Yes!
Do NOT get it on your skin!
You're going to do the ***** ChemDip dance to the faucet!


-Ted

 

try to avoid any wire/brass brush on your bearings, the bearings after soking will only need an old toothbrush to scrub clean...