what can I use to clean the plenum

[Infinitiguy19]

Where can I find a good plenum cleaner? I tried a metal cleaner even a pressure washer at the car wash (mind you i as 3 feet away as recomended.) but the stains remain

But I like most of you here are very diligent in getting our Q's as clean and good running as possible.

[elwesso]

are you talking about the outside?

Autoparts stores sell engine degreaser that works pretty well...

[Infinitiguy19]

Yea I tried that I basically tired everthing short of painting it and I don't want to do that just for the shine.

[Q45tech]

Be sure to remove plenum from enine bay for serious cleaning as chemicals will fall into valley and eat contacts and hoses.....................don't do damage in quest for a shine!

[goody90q45]

I use a can of brake parts cleaner and a wire toothbrush. Spray a few square inches at a time, give it a scrub, and wipe of the dissolved residue with a rag. Don't scrub the emblem.

[maxnix]

are you talking about the outside?

I bet not as inside is what affects performance.

I took mine to a machine shop which had a nasty bath for it. Worked wonders on it and the lower runners. You must have new gaskets for the latter.

[Q451990]

Brian,

Did it damage the outside finish, or the emblem?

Heath

[goody90q45]

I took mine to a machine shop which had a nasty bath for it. Worked wonders on it and the lower runners.

I cleaned my spare plenum's interior with carb cleaner, brake parts cleaner, and a combination of wire brushes and bottle brushes. It came out spotless but it also took a few hours and a lot of scrubbing. The machine shop was probably able to clean your parts while you had a cup of coffee in the lobby (j/k).

The emblem will easily pry off a hot engine or sun-heated plenum with a screwdriver and reattached with trim tape after cleaning.

[maxnix]

Oh yeah, emblem was toast. Slightly discolored the aluminum, but it was clean. All accessory tubes etc. were removed.

Maybe I'll find a way to post an after picture. Only before I have is of VH41DE.

[qship96]

On one of those days where the wife really pisses you off..... her electric toothbrush and some metal polish should do the trick!

[maxnix]

On one of those days where the wife really pisses you off..... her electric toothbrush and some metal polish should do the trick!

Damn, I usually use hers on the toilet.

I'm dead.

[Haitian_King]

I cleaned my spare plenum's interior with carb cleaner, brake parts cleaner, and a combination of wire brushes and bottle brushes. It came out spotless but it also took a few hours and a lot of scrubbing. The machine shop was probably able to clean your parts while you had a cup of coffee in the lobby (j/k).

The emblem will easily pry off a hot engine or sun-heated plenum with a screwdriver and reattached with trim tape after cleaning.

Mike,

How did you know for sure it was clean? I have my spare plenum and about a buttload of freetime coming up. I'd like to do something productive.

[goody90q45]

When all the gunk is gone and you're done cleaning the inside of the plenum it will look as clean as the outside of the plenum- shiny aluminum. My spare plenum cleaned up in a couple of hours and looked like new. Brake parts cleaner, carb cleaner, simple green, bottle brushes, a scrubbing pad, a toilet bowl cleaner, and elbow grease will get the inside sprkling clean. All of the above and a small wire toothbrush worked nicely on the outside surfaces.

You'll use a couple of cans of cleaner so work in a well ventilated area so you don't asphyxiate yourself or ignite the vapors and burn the house down when the telephone rings.

[elwesso]

if you have all kinds of crud in the inside, anything that doestn require you to use gloves isnt strong enough. Paint stripper works well.

[Victor]

If thats baked on grease your trying to get off wouldn't oven cleaner work? Might pit the aluminum though.

[Victor]

If oven cleaner doesn't work then methylene chloride (active ingredient in paint brush cleaner and paint remover) would.

[Haitian_King]

When all the gunk is gone and you're done cleaning the inside of the plenum it will look as clean as the outside of the plenum- shiny aluminum. My spare plenum cleaned up in a couple of hours and looked like new. Brake parts cleaner, carb cleaner, simple green, bottle brushes, a scrubbing pad, a toilet bowl cleaner, and elbow grease will get the inside sprkling clean. All of the above and a small wire toothbrush worked nicely on the outside surfaces.

You'll use a couple of cans of cleaner so work in a well ventilated area so you don't asphyxiate yourself or ignite the vapors and burn the house down when the telephone rings.

Did you use a small mirror to get a glimpse of the interior? Like a dental mirror?

[goody90q45]

I use a 1" dia. inspection mirror with extendable arm available at any auto parts store. Brake parts cleaner, carb cleaner and elbow grease should be all you need. Some chemicals aren't kind to aluminum.

[Q451990]

BG makes a throttle body cleaner that's basically like brake parts cleaner on crack. Small cans but it appeared to be one of those "a little dab will do ya" type of products when I saw it being used at T3.

Heath