What is everyone using. I want to soak a couple of cylinder heads. What’s most economical? Molasses, vinegar? Thanks. Kim
DIY Rust removal solutions
- Thread starter oldkimmer
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Evaporust on sale
TheGrateRonzini
Well-Known Member
Muriatic acid, but obviously follow safety and neutralization guidelines.
replicaracer43
Grumpy Old Man
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Electrolysis works pretty good
Thanks guys. I’m not in any real hurry so if they have to sit in the solution for awhile that’s ok too. Kim
TheGrateRonzini
Well-Known Member
Coca cola has phosphoric acid in it and some people use that. I tried using it on a carb with frozen butterflies and it worked to break them loose
flingdingo
Well-Known Member
molasses works but its sssllloooowwwww, plan on leaving them in there for a week or so.
Vinegar works a lot quicker, but it will pit the cast iron pretty quick, so you want to pull the parts out every 4 hours or so to check that the rust is gone, and don't leave them in longer than necessary. Also the raw metal will flash rust almost instantly, so be ready to rinse really well and pop the heads in an oven or some other strong heat source to dry them thoroughly.
Phosphoric acid works about like vinegar, but it leaves a phosphate coating behind, so the flash rust isnt an issue.
I haven't tried electrolysis on cylinder heads, my understanding is the cathode/rust/anode setup has to be line of sight to work. In other words, it might not pull the rust out of the ports very well.
Vinegar works a lot quicker, but it will pit the cast iron pretty quick, so you want to pull the parts out every 4 hours or so to check that the rust is gone, and don't leave them in longer than necessary. Also the raw metal will flash rust almost instantly, so be ready to rinse really well and pop the heads in an oven or some other strong heat source to dry them thoroughly.
Phosphoric acid works about like vinegar, but it leaves a phosphate coating behind, so the flash rust isnt an issue.
I haven't tried electrolysis on cylinder heads, my understanding is the cathode/rust/anode setup has to be line of sight to work. In other words, it might not pull the rust out of the ports very well.
clifftt
Well-Known Member
I soaked a couple nasty looking exhaust manifolds in cheap vinegar, bought by the gallons. In two weeks time, the difference was incredible. Made my garage smell like a salad bowl!
I tried evaporust on a few things. It was a brand new jug but it was disappointing. I’ll try vinegar on the heads. Kim
pishta
I know I'm right....
takes a while and is almost line of site to anodes. Probably not the best option. Pool acid works very fast but you have to be careful on how long you leave it in there. If you want it to sit unattended for a day or 2, vinegar. I found evaporust doesnt do **** if part is oily, works best on a dry chrome wire spoke rim.
dibbons
Well-Known Member
Evaporust works for me, but now I soak in laundry detergent (powdered) and water first to remove most of the oil/grease (and maybe brush a little). I find vinegar works only if very light surface rust.
mcodecuda
Senior Member
If you use molasses you need to check it every few days. I left a dip stick in it for weeks by accident and it started to eat it up in sections.
I've always had.good results with evaporust. Gotta make sure grease has been removed and let it soak for 24 hours. I've used apple cider vinegar on brass, works great.
Steve, I have tried 1 day all the way up to 2 weeks checking stuff. Maybe I had a bad jug, but it was sealed. AC Vinegar has the same acidity as white vinegar, so do they clean the same? Kim.
Yeah maybe a bad batch Kim?
As for AC vinegar, I only used it on electrical connectors. Makes em nuce n shiny.
As for AC vinegar, I only used it on electrical connectors. Makes em nuce n shiny.
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