starklassik

I'm going to be doing the oil pump/pan re-seal this weekend when I do my timing belt service. I'm curious what is the best method and materials to clean these parts when I have them off the vehicle?

My 2007 TL 3.2 has 137k miles, I don't know what it'll all look like until I get it apart. But I'd like to clean everything as well as possible.

• For the mating surfaces, besides using a razor blade to scrape off old silicone/Hondabond, should I use acetone? Brake cleaner? Something else?
• What about the inside of the oil pan? Do I use shop towels? Wire brush? Acetone/brake cleaner or some other degreaser?

Thanks in advance for your help!

zeta

iTrader: (1)

I've used Carb cleaner (which contains acetone) in the past to clean EGR carbon deposits and it worked real well.
I've used both Carb cleaner and Brake Clean (lacquer thinner) to remove contaminant's when dealing with 'mating' surface preparations. You can usually get a quart of acetone and/or lacquer thinner in a can (local hardware; paint dept. at Walmart et al) and use with a rag, that way you have more control than with a spray can.
You want mating surfaces as clean as possible on a big job like this.

t-rd

I used a plastic blade to scrape off all the old hondabond of all mating surfaces and used acetone to clean all mating surfaces. Brake clean dries too fast after it's sprayed out.

For the oil pan, I simply wiped clean with paper towels, I didn't use any cleaner. For the outside of parts, I used simple green which a great degreaser. When you are cleaning the front surface of the oil pump or the outside of the oil pan, make sure you lay it on card board or styrofoam so you don't scrape up the aluminum mating surfaces.