The Ford Barn

lotsagas4u · 05-16-2011, 06:18 PM

Decided on running straight vinegar in my 8BA last week. I left it in for several days, running and driving it several times to reach operating temps of 160 to 170 degrees. Drained it this afternoon and flushed it well. The drivers side head cleaned out very well, the right side head was not as well. The vinegar was very red stained with oily blobs floating in it. I plugged the water pumps and flushed from the top of the head (thermostat housing removed) until water ran clear. How much baking soda would you use in each head to neutralize the vinegar? The engine runs well and uses very little oil. Thought's

JM 35 Sedan · 05-17-2011, 07:02 AM

Send a pm to Cecil Polan and ask him that same question. I remember reading a post he made on the old Fordbarn and an article he wrote in our EFV8C/A RG36 newsletter on how to do a vinegar clean out.

saints · 05-17-2011, 08:01 AM

then post resualts as I would like to try this as well

lotsagas4u · 05-17-2011, 08:33 AM

I should have left it in for at least a week, another idea is simple green. They use it all the time at my local ford dealer for removing oil and crud from the 6.0 diesel engines. It would remove the brown soot left in the heads I bet.

Russ/40 · 05-17-2011, 11:15 AM

A good flush is all you need. No need to neutralize the vinager. If your using tap water, especially in the west, the pH is enough to neutralize it.

OhioRick · 05-17-2011, 11:44 AM

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I run 100% vinegar when cleaning out an engine. I too run it for a week. I had one that took three times to finally clean.

52merc · 05-18-2011, 02:31 AM

are you talking white vinegar?

31chevy · 05-18-2011, 05:58 AM

What percentage of simple green to water is best? Thank you in advance.

Cecil/WV · 05-18-2011, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 52merc

are you talking white vinegar?

Yes, just the vinegar you get at the food store. I left mine in for about 2 weeks and only flushed it with water and really got the crud out. Here's a pic of what I drained out.

Clem Clement · 05-18-2011, 08:32 AM

Ihave a repo aluminum radiator. Vinegar OK for aluminum?

Flathead Red · 05-18-2011, 09:17 AM

Can this be done to any engine?

Red

Cecil/WV · 05-18-2011, 10:09 AM

We use vinegar to clean household items like faucets, nozzles, etc. and it won't hurt the finish on chrome, stainless or steel. It might discolor polished cylinder walls if on too long.

FL&WVMIKE · 05-18-2011, 11:13 AM

I sure would nuetralize it. It is an acid, which you would not want to blow out onto your paint. It would, probably, spot it.
MIKE

fordcragar · 05-18-2011, 11:31 AM

I use vinegar to clean rust off of sheet metal all of the time. Soak the parts for about three days, then rinse of with a hose, then neutralize with soap and water; which eliminates the flash rust. I would imagine that if you put coolant into the system after flushing, it would do the same to neutralize any acid.

05-16-2011, 06:18 PM	#1
lotsagas4u Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Plainview, Texas Posts: 757	Vinegar cleanout? Decided on running straight vinegar in my 8BA last week. I left it in for several days, running and driving it several times to reach operating temps of 160 to 170 degrees. Drained it this afternoon and flushed it well. The drivers side head cleaned out very well, the right side head was not as well. The vinegar was very red stained with oily blobs floating in it. I plugged the water pumps and flushed from the top of the head (thermostat housing removed) until water ran clear. How much baking soda would you use in each head to neutralize the vinegar? The engine runs well and uses very little oil. Thought's

05-17-2011, 07:02 AM	#2
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: Vinegar cleanout? Send a pm to Cecil Polan and ask him that same question. I remember reading a post he made on the old Fordbarn and an article he wrote in our EFV8C/A RG36 newsletter on how to do a vinegar clean out. __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein*

05-17-2011, 08:01 AM	#3
saints Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Owasso Ok Posts: 87	Re: Vinegar cleanout? then post resualts as I would like to try this as well __________________ FLATHEAD ADDICT

05-17-2011, 08:33 AM	#4
lotsagas4u Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Plainview, Texas Posts: 757	Re: Vinegar cleanout? I should have left it in for at least a week, another idea is simple green. They use it all the time at my local ford dealer for removing oil and crud from the 6.0 diesel engines. It would remove the brown soot left in the heads I bet.

05-17-2011, 11:15 AM	#5
Russ/40 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, California Posts: 3,505	Re: Vinegar cleanout? A good flush is all you need. No need to neutralize the vinager. If your using tap water, especially in the west, the pH is enough to neutralize it.

05-17-2011, 11:44 AM	#6
OhioRick Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 175	Re: Vinegar cleanout? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I run 100% vinegar when cleaning out an engine. I too run it for a week. I had one that took three times to finally clean.

05-18-2011, 02:31 AM	#7
52merc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new zealand Posts: 1,054	Re: Vinegar cleanout? are you talking white vinegar?

05-18-2011, 05:58 AM	#8
31chevy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lake City Mi. Posts: 807	Re: Vinegar cleanout? What percentage of simple green to water is best? Thank you in advance.

05-18-2011, 08:32 AM	#10
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Re: Vinegar cleanout? Ihave a repo aluminum radiator. Vinegar OK for aluminum?

05-18-2011, 09:17 AM	#11
Flathead Red Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Gulf Coast of Florida Posts: 18	Re: Vinegar cleanout? Can this be done to any engine? Red __________________ *Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing....Teddt Roosevelt*

05-18-2011, 10:09 AM	#12
Cecil/WV Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gerrardstown, WV Posts: 2,266	Re: Vinegar cleanout? We use vinegar to clean household items like faucets, nozzles, etc. and it won't hurt the finish on chrome, stainless or steel. It might discolor polished cylinder walls if on too long.

05-18-2011, 11:13 AM	#13
FL&WVMIKE Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Daytona Beach, Fl & Spencer, W. Va, Posts: 4,442	Re: Vinegar cleanout? I sure would nuetralize it. It is an acid, which you would not want to blow out onto your paint. It would, probably, spot it. MIKE

05-18-2011, 11:31 AM	#14
fordcragar Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Yakima, WA Posts: 479	Re: Vinegar cleanout? I use vinegar to clean rust off of sheet metal all of the time. Soak the parts for about three days, then rinse of with a hose, then neutralize with soap and water; which eliminates the flash rust. I would imagine that if you put coolant into the system after flushing, it would do the same to neutralize any acid.