cleaning engine

"Scet" wrote in message
...

"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
om...
Looks like I've got an oil leak in my 550 hr SFNEW IO-360-A3B6
Lycoming engine. My mechanic says I should clean the engine and see
where its coming from. I feel strange cleaning the engine. He said to
use an automotive engine cleaner and then wash it off right away. I
guess its not different than flying through a level 5 rain shower but
I can't see spraying my mags down with a hose. How do most of you do
it?

I don't think paint thinner is appropriate to use. It is highly flammable
and will damage paint, obviously dependent on the type of thinner used.

Dry cleaning solvent or white spirit is an approved Mil spec cleaner and
won't damage paint, and it's relatively cheap. Put it in an atomiser
bottle
on jet setting and have an old paint brush ready for stubborn areas, then
hose off.

Scet.

Sorry guys, in Australia paint thinner WILL remove paint and this paint
thinner is funnily enough used to THIN paint which in turn REDUCES the
viscosity.
If you get some acylic lacquer thinner and tip it on your CURED paint it
WILL remove it.
So what I can gather is that your paint thinner is mineral spirits or what
we call mineral turps.
We use this for house and general painting jobs.

In general discussion, when we talk about thinners, then the thinners used
in that particular industry is the one being discussed.

So it seems there are differences in terminology, between the US and
Australia (funny that) that can lead to some confusion.

"Scet" wrote

In general discussion, when we talk about thinners, then the thinners used
in that particular industry is the one being discussed.

So it seems there are differences in terminology, between the US and
Australia (funny that) that can lead to some confusion.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Zactly. In the US, paint thinner is mineral spirits, no matter where you
get it. In an automotive type supplier, if you want to reduce the
viscosity, you ask for reducer, then specify the slow medium or fast
reducer. Ask for paint thinner at one of those places, and you will still
get mineral spirits, but they probably will not have it.

I did not realize that this was yet another example of terminology
differences.
--
Jim in NC