Best way to clean block for a new HG

[NateS]

What is the best way to clean off the block for a new head gasket installation? I have heard of of few different ways but, I am curious as to what everyone else does.

[defiancy]

Originally Posted by Just a GSX fan

What is the best way to clean off the block for a new head gasket installation? I have heard of of few different ways but, I am curious as to what everyone else does.

I would use alcohol. Especially if it's still in the car. You could probably use some degreaser but I don't know if I would want that going into the actual block itself. So I would just use alcohol and wipe the top of it off, make sure it's nice and flat so you get a good seal when you put the gasket and head back on.

[xavier3jr]

i took a die grinder(or dremmal if you have one) and got like a fiberglass rough pad i dont remeber what it was called and grinded all the stuff off letf kind of a ruff surface but not to ruff of a surface. worked good for me.

[NateS]

I've been using a gasket scrapper(pretty much just a razor blade) and degreaser. It still leaves behind a very small residue looking film on the block though. A friend of mine suggested using fine grit sandpaper but, it didn't sound like a good idea to me. When you say alcohol what alcohol do u mean, like rubbing alcohol or what?

[xavier3jr]

sand paper would work to but you dont want a perfectly smooth surface leave it a little bit ruff

[gthompson97]

I always use a wire-wheel attachment on a grinder (as does my auto instructor at school), works for me everytime.

Get one like one of the top two in the pic, that's what I've got.

[defiancy]

Originally Posted by Just a GSX fan

I've been using a gasket scrapper(pretty much just a razor blade) and degreaser. It still leaves behind a very small residue looking film on the block though. A friend of mine suggested using fine grit sandpaper but, it didn't sound like a good idea to me. When you say alcohol what alcohol do u mean, like rubbing alcohol or what?

Yes rubbing alcohol.


The reason rubbing alcohol is great for cleaning is because, 1 it cleans, 2 it evaporates shortly after being applied to a surface, so you don't have to worry about leaving excess on the block.

I would agree with what is said above, a light grit sand paper and alcohol may be a good combo. You just don't want to get an sandpaper that is going to put groves or flaws into the top of the block.

When I worked on helicopters in the military we used alcohol to clean pretty much everything. It works wonders.