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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: myvolkswagen on July 08, 2010, 11:25:02 pm

Title: Sand in block
Post by: myvolkswagen on July 08, 2010, 11:25:02 pm

I feel kind of stupid for doing this but I got some sand size rocks in my engine I'm rebuilding in the crank area. I haven't put the pistons in yet but my crankshaft oil seals are on and the main studs are all torqued. Do I have to take it apart again or is there a way to flush it out?

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: theman53 on July 09, 2010, 06:14:13 am

Careful use of break clean and oil should do the trick. I had similar thing happen to mine, but I didn't go with the factory tty stuff so I just disassembled mine:D

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: burn_your_money on July 09, 2010, 06:33:48 am

Do you have access to compressed air?

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: myvolkswagen on July 09, 2010, 09:56:34 am

Yes i have compressed air. will that blow it out with all the assembly oil i have in there?

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: kaneb on July 09, 2010, 05:58:26 pm

I would take it all apart.  Clean with brake clean or varsol blow out with compressed air the reassemble.  Just to make sure all sand and grit is out as it is no engines friend.   A couple seals sure are cheaper then another rebuild.

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: myvolkswagen on July 09, 2010, 07:55:00 pm

well there is not very many pieces of sand in there. I dont want to have to take my seals off again so what if i just took out my main studs and sprayed with brake clean then compressed air and oiled it again. would i be alright?

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: rabbid79 on July 09, 2010, 08:03:57 pm

If the sand is in a centralized location, I wouldn't blow compressed air in there until you have gotton rid of all visible traces of sand first.  Otherwise, the sand will just get blown all over the place.  I would probably invest $10 in a can of odor-less mineral spirits and flush the sand out.  I would also use a cheap cleaning brush with long plastic bristles and work it all over the place making sure everything gets at least 1 pass to help dislodge any particles.  Don't throw the used mineral spirits away, just drain it into a can so you can let the debris settle and use it again for cleaning other parts some day.

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: burn_your_money on July 09, 2010, 08:41:35 pm

I was thinking of the compressed air as the final step, to blow everything dry and get rid of any remaining sand.

How did you get sand in the block? How much are we talking?

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: myvolkswagen on July 09, 2010, 09:13:30 pm

you have to really look around in there to find it. thats why i figured with what little is there i could just use brake clean cuz that stuff sprays pretty hard then just blow it out with air.

BTW I was moving my carpet around overtop of the engine and a little sand fell in it and thats how it got in there

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: burn_your_money on July 09, 2010, 09:19:48 pm

The only thing I would be worried about is if any sand got in the oil passages in the crank. You'd only be out a set of mains if you pulled the crank out and cleaned everything properly.

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: myvolkswagen on July 09, 2010, 09:28:52 pm

well I have arp main studs. The only thing is I dont have that tool to get the seal carrier off anymore to get the crank out

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: burn_your_money on July 10, 2010, 08:38:29 am

There is a special tool for that? You mean the rear main seal right?

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: Rabbit on Roids on July 10, 2010, 09:28:00 am

my special tool for taking off the seal carriers, a handy 10mm wrench!

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: myvolkswagen on July 10, 2010, 10:38:35 am

nevermind completely different thing I  was thinking about. can you reuse the oil seal carrier gasket or just get a new one?

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: Rabbit on Roids on July 10, 2010, 10:55:39 am

if it stays stuck to the block or carrier, and doesnt break at all, or flake apart, just re use it. i would atleast.

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: myvolkswagen on July 10, 2010, 11:30:49 pm

well engine is apart... again :( and im going to clean it tomorrow. my underrstanding is that you dont want to use brake clean on the crank because you dont want to remove all the oil from it am i right? opinions on how you clean it? OH and instead of starting a new thread ill just ask here. im looking for a IP to send to giles but im not sure of the part number of which one is the best to give him because my understanding is that there are a few different ones? If you have any answers i would appreciate it. thanks

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: myvolkswagen on July 11, 2010, 08:26:21 pm

anybody? bueller?

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: theman53 on July 11, 2010, 08:35:03 pm

I don't know on the IP, I am sure he has enough new parts to make it shine no matter what it is though  ;)

I used brake clean on mine. I would rather clean it good and put the oil back on then not get it clean enough. I used that ultra slick engine assembly lube. Should be all good for you.

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: myvolkswagen on July 11, 2010, 08:44:27 pm

thanks thats what ill do. If anyone knows anything about the IP too please let me know

Title: Re: Sand in block
Post by: burn_your_money on July 12, 2010, 08:36:38 pm

For a 1.6 you will want a pump with fast idle and light load. 95% of the time if it has fast idle and is a Canadian pump then it will also have light load.

Almost all the mk2 pumps have these features.