Grime and Failure to Double Check Your Work
A wide range of parts will transfer to the new engine (parts, not accessories), such as the oil pan and intake manifold. Ensuring that you follow the right steps from the beginning will make sure that these parts don’t pose a threat to the new engine. This chapter covers two of the most common errors with new engine installation – dirt and grime, and failure to double-check your work after an engine installation. Here’s what you need to know.
BEFORE YOU TRANSFER
Once you pull the parts from the old engine, they MUST be cleaned thoroughly, especially if you ever buy any cheap engines on the marketplace. The oil pan, valve covers, intake and any other part that will be reused must be completely clean before installing it on the new engine. In general, this will involve several steps, including:
Remove the part from the old engine.
A visual inspection of the old part – Look for grime and carbon buildup, as well as gasket material and any damage to the part that might compromise performance on the new engine.
Thorough cleaning of the old part – Parts like the oil pan, intake and valve covers should be soaked in a chemical bath to loosen and remove dirt, grime and carbon, and then thoroughly cleaned with high pressure water, followed by air to dry it and remove any remaining dirt.
Another visual inspection of the donor part. Check for any material that was not removed during the cleaning process. If any material remains, remove it and re-inspect.
Install the donor part on the new engine. Make sure you do not reuse gaskets. Only new gaskets should be used on the replacement engine. If caulk or silicone must be used, ensure that it is automotive engine grade.
AFTER YOUR TRANSFER
Once you’ve installed the new parts and everything is good and tight, it’s tempting to think that your job is done. It’s not, and if you walk away from it now, you could cause serious damage to the engine or create a problem that the customer will have to deal with down the line.
We’re talking about double-checking your work here, and that’s easier to do on a part-by-part basis. For instance, once you’ve installed the oil pan and the oil pan gasket, you’ll tighten the bolts that secure the pan to the engine. You’ll then torque the bolts to their specified setting. Don’t stop there, though. Once you’re “done”, go back and double-check/re-torque all the bolts one more time. Often, you’ll find that one or two isn’t as snug as it should be.
You might also consider going back over all the donor parts after you’ve run the engine for the first time and everything’s heated up to normal operating temperature. Metal expands with heat, and any bolts that aren’t as tight as they should be will show up now. Even if it means triple checking your work, going back over everything one final time is highly recommended after any engine installation.
Radiator Disasters
