Hot antifreeze baths to clean and break parts free?

H Wally

H Wally

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Today I was doing some reading and came across the use of hot antifreeze baths to clean small engines. Seems mostly focussed on breaking down oil oil and fouling, but struck me that it might also work on guns. Before anyone gets worked up I'm also aware of the hazards surrounding antifreeze and not to boil it and have good venting.

I regularly use a hot oil bath as a method of penetrating otherwise stubborn seized parts. Place part in old crockpot full of penetrating oil, set to cook around 60*C or so. Easy enough to go higher if need be, but seldom needed. Also should note this is all done in an old outdoor brick oven, so risk of fire is minimal. Works well, but I'm always looking for a better mousetrap :p

So, anyone use antifreeze as a cleaning/disassembly solution? Figured I'd ask before I go experimenting.
 
H Wally said:
Today I was doing some reading and came across the use of hot antifreeze baths to clean small engines. Seems mostly focussed on breaking down oil oil and fouling, but struck me that it might also work on guns. Before anyone gets worked up I'm also aware of the hazards surrounding antifreeze and not to boil it and have good venting.

I regularly use a hot oil bath as a method of penetrating otherwise stubborn seized parts. Place part in old crockpot full of penetrating oil, set to cook around 60*C or so. Easy enough to go higher if need be, but seldom needed. Also should note this is all done in an old outdoor brick oven, so risk of fire is minimal. Works well, but I'm always looking for a better mousetrap :p

So, anyone use antifreeze as a cleaning/disassembly solution? Figured I'd ask before I go experimenting.
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Interesting .... Although my immediate reaction is that my engine blocks are constantly being flushed with very hot antifreeze and I can't say that the coolant passages look all that spotless....
 
AP said:
Interesting .... Although my immediate reaction is that my engine blocks are constantly being flushed with very hot antifreeze and I can't say that the coolant passages look all that spotless....
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Oil and antifreeze don't mix too well in the crank case either. :)


Grizz
 
scott585 said:
if you are describing a hot tank, its not antifreeze, its lye.
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Nope - aware of lye baths, was antifreeze that I'm specifically looking at.

oneadam12 said:
It's ridiculously corrosive stuff, ethylene glycol.
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Never thought about it, but seems you're right on this - though this ( http://www.lytron.com/Tools-and-Tec...Notes/Preventing-Corrosion-in-Cooling-Systems ) seems to suggest that for cleaning it should be fine. Though also suggests that over time at high temps with aeration it degrades into various acids, so maybe an issue as the glycol ages? For short periods it's probably fine if the surface is cleaned and neutralized afterwards I would guess.

Also found this video, which is what I was thinking of.

 
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