valve cover

[chiboy002]

I'm replacing my valve cover gasket, its pretty dirty so i wanted to clean the valve cover top but idk with what.

Should soap and water be fine, i was thinking some Simple Green, or an acidic cleaner along those lines but rust?

Also, there is SOME residue build up on the under side, kinda feels like a tiny bit of sludge but idk, should i clean it off/rinse then heat gun it so it dries up or just leave it?

Thanks

[slideordie869]

Just use a engine degreaser, a pressure washer, steel brush, and some good ol fashion elbow grease.

[chiboy002]

Just use a engine degreaser, a pressure washer, steel brush, and some good ol fashion elbow grease.
main issue with pressure washer is its like 20* here and i dont wanna sit outside pressure washing a valve cover. I'd do it inside lol, and im not about to spray my house down with a pressure washer

[Quicksilver_s13]

solvent and a wire or hard nylon brush, big and small. you'll get most of it off. let it sit to dry or throw some compressed air at it. the solvent should evaporate. if there's wet sludgy parts hit them with brakleen until it runs away.

[nismoman]

Simple green is actually good but greased lightning is better. It will get most of the baked on scum of the inside with minimal scrubbing

[chiboy002]

Thanks guy, yeah i had some Greased Lightning at my house and some Engine DeGreaser.

I used a tooth brush cause i didn't want to score the insides, since the toothbrush is much softer than the aluminum

Hit it first, 3 times, with Greased Lightning, then drenched it with engine degreaser and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Came out and everthing was almost off, just a quick brush under warm water and it was good

I stripped a bolt hole when torquing down, by accident though.