About to do valve gaskets...

My valve cover (I'm thinking aluminum? But not sure) is drenched in oil...when it's removed how would I go about cleaning it? Thanks

 

Dawn soap, aluminum safe engine cleaner, brakekleen, or any other number of cleaning processes. If the covers themselves are really drenched in oil then the spark plug tubes must be leaking horrendously. For giggles, ask @bmf4069 how he cleans his. Don't forget to add the jet dry...

 

Brakleen is my favorite.

 

Well, you could do it the hard way:



Or the easy way:




I still haven't found dishwasher safe engine degreaser.

 

Nobody uses solvent any more? Even here in California I can still buy it from Napa auto parts in 5 gallon cans. After the solvent, then dish soap and water. Fast and squeaky clean.

 

Never, ever gets old

 

Dawn works good but you’ll have a mess, my cousin put dawn in his washing machine once…..

 

What kinda solvent?

 

I used B12 chemtool before. I'd leave nuts and bolts and other small parts in the 1 gal container. Worked pretty good.

 

It's my one regret while doing my valve covers, I was pressed for time and I'd have really liked to've run my valve covers thru a heated parts washer. Low mileage truck, really fucked me pretty hard (feels like just yesterday...).

Funny anecdote on the B12 note, an immediate family member of mine worked for Berryman doing their books. Pointed out some, uh, oddities. Not long after, was forced to leave. This was a couple decades back. Hopefully they got their discrepancies worked out.

 

That was my go to for dirt bike carbs and jets. Loved that it came with its own parts basket.

 

I vote brakekleen

 

paint thinner

 

Can I use any brake cleaner or specifically brakleen?

 

Can't speak for TBM, but I use the non-chlorinated (green can) of Brakleen.

 

I used what ever we get in those large drums from dealer industries. I’m sure any will do the trick. Because shifty has a specific recommendation, steer towards that

 

Thanks guys. I'm planning on re torquing my cylinder valve covers.. any tips? There's oil leaking and it just got anywhere and everywhere, planning on cleaning up as well. I do plan on eventually (in the next couple months) doing the actual repair but I got nothing to do today figured I'd get her cleaned up and re torqued.

 

I know the torque spec is very low. For mine it’s 54 inch pounds. https://www.tundras.com/threads/wha...-gen-tundra-today.2558/page-1784#post-3415945

 

Use a torque wrench. Torque to spec. It will feel pretty light, that’s ok, it’s aluminum.