John,

I have used the Arm & Hammer baking soda numerous times on 1950's Italian
engine blocks (aluminum) with absolutely no damage to any mating surfaces.
I would guess that one should use a little common sense when it comes to
pressure & volume and their mating surfaces.

Walt Spak
Pittsburgh PA
b20swalt@city-net.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2004 1:08 AM
Subject: Re: Engine Case Cleaning

> Soda powder is used by archeologists in small air powered air-brush like
> tools to clean rock and mineral dposits off of fossil bones. Soda
> applied this way can be used to frost glass, or to clean paint or metal.
> It is a very fine abrasive and the abrasive action can be used for fine
> cleaning and polishing. It is easily dissolved in water for clean up. It
> would be ill advised to use it on mating surfaces of parts but it can be
> used on other surfaces.
>
> Regards.
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
> walt spak wrote:
>
> >Frank,
> >
> >After you get the case completely de-greased, have it blasted with baking
> >soda crystals.  Arm & Hammer make crystals that can be used wet or dry
and
> >are non destructive.  The beauty of them is that you can flush all of the
> >media away with water.  It gives you a very nice bright surface.
> >
> >Walt Spak
> >Pittsburgh PA
> >b20swalt@city-net.com
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Frank Condelli" <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
> >To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> >Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 6:43 AM
> >Subject: Engine Case Cleaning
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>What's the trick to getting the engine case  sparkling clean when
> >>
> >>
> >rebuilding
> >
> >
> >>?  I have looked into this locally and have  been told by two engine
> >>rebuilding machine shops that the chemical dunk tanks  they normally use
> >>
> >>
> >are not good
> >
> >
> >>for aluminium.  The chemicals they use will  turn the aluminium to mush
> >>
> >>
> >they
> >
> >
> >>say.  They also say there is no  aternative other than pressure washing
or
> >>perhaps oven baking.  I have  tried various engine shampoos and pressure
> >>
> >>
> >washing
> >
> >
> >>but the corrosion from oil  and salt deposits on the cases remain.  I
> >>
> >>
> >think
> >
> >
> >>there must be a chemical  alternative.  Anyone with suggestions please ?
> >>Cheers,
> >>
> >>Frank  Condelli
> >>Almonte, Ontario, Canada
> >>_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
> >>camping event, Almonte, ON, June 10 ~ 13, 2004
> >>'87 Westy & Lionel  Trains
> >>Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
> >>(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  &
> >>
> >>
> >_CCVWC_
> >
> >
> >>(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
> >>Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
> >>_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
> >>(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
> >>_Frank Condelli &  Associates_
> >>
> >>
> >(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
> >
> >
> >>or  http://frankcondelli.com
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >