SeanR

That's why I specified Formula 88.

I also use P21S but in less volume due to cost.

vanster

I've been using a high pressure washer with 409 in the soap tank and or mineral sprits. I think Simple Green works on some stuff but like Dr.Bob says any thing purple scares me. Also a lot of water to rinse

dr bob

I'm waitlisted/standby on a local pressure washer deal that, if I manage to be among the first nn to get into the store on Tuesday, will save 50% on a pro-sumer pressure washer. I left my last one in SoCal, but there are a few house-cleaning projects that just seem to go better with a good pressure washer. I'm planning on doing a foam-n-flush on the underside of K's 4Runner to purge some of the remaining winter crud on the chassis.

Meanwhile, back in the workshop... I still have the original factory part number/inventory stickers on the engine block and girdle. Anything stronger than hand cleaning and spray-bottle flushing will send those to oblivion. I should probably get set up to regenerate those just in case. And that's why it takes a lot of careful thought when it comes to cleaning engine bits, particularly if you plan to keep things as "as-delivered" as possible. I'm hoping the better pressure washer, loaded with detergent for foam and suitable for hot water, will help with wheelwell and other cosmoline-coated stuff. The rear crossmember and other aluminum suspension bits should benefit from the water-blasting. Film at 11... maybe late next week.

Rob Edwards

Bob-

Got any high res pics of the block/girdle stickers, perhaps with a mm ruler nearby? I'm not familiar with those, have seen a couple of '89s up close but don't recall said stickers.

dr bob

I'll get some next time the car is up and the trays are off. They are white paper-ish stickers, maybe 0.5" x 2", have part numbers on them. Nothing spectacular about them except they are [still] there. Visible on the left (US drivers) side of the block and girdle, aft of the oil filter area but forward of the motor mount.

dr bob

Sean --

Per the Formula 88 Degreaser Home Depot MSDS

One of the principal actives is sodium metasilicate. The stated pH is 12.


These would cause me to keep it away from critical aluminum stuff. Key of course is concentration, time of exposure, and how well it's flushed/rinsed and neutralized. Not saying it's categorically bad, just suggesting that it takes a LOT of serious care to avoid at least cosmetic damage to aluminum. Are you using it full strength or is it already diluted when you first apply it?

worf928

Nope. It's still working for me for most stuff. If you buy the P21S by the gallon its not THAT expensive. A little goes a long way even at a 1:1 dilution for really gunky syff. I get my P21S from carcareonline.com. Also there's a relabeled version you can get for about 75% of P21S.

However, I am very close to getting a closed-loop wetblasting machine for quick super-cleaning of the big metal bits. I haven't yet figured out where I'm gonna put it.

Rob Edwards

Apologies for the thread creep, sorta- Something like this?

http://www.vaporblastingequipment.co...ler-components

Is this a $5K proposition or a $20K proposition?

What price clean? Priceless...

worf928

Yup. That was the machine that got me interested. So, I contacted HQ and got their 'murican distributor.

So... >$20k. For the little'un.

However, the American distributor has another line for less than %100 hardcore industrial use: http://wetblast4less.com/products-2/

And these are much, much closer to your first figure.