VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc 235 oil drain and cleaning.

Hello I have a 235 i'm getting ready to put on my 46 fleetline and wanted to know what you guys do after you drained the oil? Is there any kind of liquid I can use to clean it out internally? I already did the hanger in the water port and flushed it for a while and yeah a lot of crap flushed out. Thanks

If it were mine I would drop the pan and clean it out. You will find that a solvent will not even budge the junk in the pan. Moat will need to be scraped out. Also it is common for the oil pump screeen to get plugged-up.

An older 235 will have gunk in the pan that has to be scrapped out...On the other hand...Where's it going to go...? It is really stuck, mostly because of infrequent oil changes...

I would be more concerned about the the screen than the bottom of the pan.

I have a friend that bought a '28 Chevy with rebuilt engine. It had sat for several years without being started. When he started it there was little to no oil pressure. When he removed the pan the troughs had oil, cylinders were nice and shiny but the oil pump screen was coated! He cleaned the screen, bench tested the oil pump and it shot varsol across the shop. Removed a cup full of sludge from the bottom of the pan. That just supports the removal of the pan to check and be sure that all is good.

In addition to cleaning the screen and digging out the crud, I suggest squirting oil on all the bearings as a last chore before putting the pan back on.

Cheers, Dean

Since the motor's not in the car, yet...Jump on it...

Thanks fellas. Will do.

Mario,

Just put the engine in the car and put some 10-30 in it. Don't worry about the innards just yet.

If it doesn't suit you after you get it running in the car, I.e., power, oil pressure, smoking, burning oil, etc then pull it back out and do a rebuild or overhaul on it.

Where is your faith? The crud in the bottom of the pan and other places in nothing to worry about. Where is it going to go? If you put some of that cleaner in it, it will lead to trouble sure enough.

If you pull the pan to clean out the crud, you must clean out all that you loosen up. Then that will lead to questioning yourself as to why not do a little more, adjust the bearings, the mains, new gasket, pulling the head, then new rings, etc. Mercy! See what I mean? Don't go there if it don't it. That 235 will probably have many miles left on it. Clean the plugs and go with it.

You're welcome,

Charlie

If it is out of the car now is the time to check it out, much easier to work on! Sorry Charlie

After a rod bearing burns out its too late.

Charlie...We seem to be on the same page...I bought a '53 pickup for $300 and it was covered in grease...Drove it for years with no problems...Didn't look pretty, but who cares..Life's to short to be messing around in the garage when you should be spending time with your loved one...

Show me a member of the VCCA who can merely pull off the oil pan and clean out the crud and then put the pan back on without doing any thing more and I show you fellow who has tunnel vision and a heap of purpose and direction.

Same thing with one who cleans out the crud and cooks the oil pump screen. You'll do more. Guaranteed.

I just can't be done.

Chances are 99 9/10s present that you are going to do more until you have gone through the whole dang engine. You'll end up pulling the head and at least rubbing your hands back and forth on a valve grinder simple cup tool or a back and forth grinder with a rotating arm and messing with the mains and rods, too. See one thing leads to another.

Just stick the engine in and fire it up. No need to put the front clip on 'til you're satisfied its okay.

If you're going to throw a rod it will do it whether the crud has been cleaned out or not. As to the screen being stopped up to where no 10-30 will penetrate that is unlikely. If it is stopped slap up it will already blown a rod. If you monitor the oil pressure upon firing it up that too will tell you a great deal about the engine.

Dang! Nobody ever listens to me. You-all know I right.

Charlie

I hear ya...you get the pan off and crud out and next thing you know your re-painting it for "looks"...Sure won't run any better...Probably won't impress your wife either...Gotta get your priorities straight...Now you have to check that the idiot before you didn't screw up the pan flange by over tightening it last time...