Need help with stuff getting into the LIM
 

So here's the thing. I just got my engine rebuilt, but I haven't started it up yet. I've got it installed in the engine bay and everything is hooked up.

Today, I went to put the UIM on. Well I had taken it and polished it with 220 grit sand paper and got it to where I like it. Then I just left it inside my house so I could wait for everything else to come in so I could hook that stuff up first.

So I took off the tape I had covering the intake runners for the LIM and I kinda set the edge of the UIM on the LIM so I could hook up the lines. When I set it down, a cloud of dust or something went towards the LIM. I'm kind of afraid that it might be metal dust shavings from when I was polishing the UIM. It wasn't a lot though. I'm not sure if it went into the LIM or if it went towards the area where the downpipe is. So my question is, should I be worried?

Would any of the dust gotten into my housings? This is my biggest worry. I really don't want my housings scratched up and my seals to pop. Would the dust shavings be negligible?

Appreciate the help!!! :icon_tup:

well it's possible. i think all you can do is blow in the ports with compressed air and see if anything comes out...

i probably wouldn't worry about it though.

I think is might be better to hit the ports with a vacuum hose.

Yeap. I have a vacuum that has small hose attachment that will fit in there. It is a small shop vac from Craftsman.

Don't take advice from theorie on blowing, I highly recommend you utilize suckage via a vacuum cleaner :)

After you vacuum it, might not be a bad idea to take some paper towel with a bit of brake cleaner and rub along the inside of the LIM runners.

If it was my engine (or a customer's engine) I would be removing the LIM to get to the port runners themselves.

Last thing you want is debris sand-blasting your new engine.

I got scotch brite dust in my LIM. I just started my engine and allowed the super high temps to vaporize it.

but you can't vaporize metal dust... unless you remove your coolant and run the engine at 8000RPM for 3 or 4 hours

:scratch:

oh shit i didnt mean like a shop compressor. i just meant one of those cans of compressed air. those arent very powerful. if that scares you though, yeah go with a vac and a small attachment.

Ok, I've decided to get a small Craftsman Shop Vac at Sears to try and suck it out. I just don't want to have to take off the fuel rail and my new turbo is in the way ;D

So you guys don't think it'll hurt my engine much?

Scotch Brite = Aluminum Oxide
Aluminum Melting point = 1,220 F
Basic Internal Combustion Temp = at least 1,500 F

Nice numbers, but you're still bench racing.

There is not enough time and exposure to those temperatures to instantly melt the metals. The metals will still be in contact with parts of the engine and drug across the face of many surfaces before they reach their melting point. By the time the metals would melt... they have already been through 2/3rds of the engine at a minimum... more likely all the way around multiple times and/or ingested by a turbo.


If you go the vacuum method... you need a way to stir up the particles. run a line of compressed air into the port... this way the only exit is back out the same port. Have your vacuum waiting so the particles don't just end up in something else.

a) take of LIM if not can least suck out with high power shop vac

With UIM off push rags through wetted with solvent then rinse with alcohol

polished with 220 grit sand paper? that is a start in the polishing game. take off the lim and clean it all to be safe. good luck.