Detroit Diesel — Clean Cylinder Block
Maintenance
From a Detroit Diesel service manual — check it applies to your exact model before use.
Before you start
- To avoid personal injury when using steam or chemicals always wear adequate face and body protection and ventilate the area.
- To prevent possible personal injury wear adequate eye protection and do not exceed 40 psi (276 kPa) air pressure.
Procedure
- Scrape all gasket material from the cylinder block and remove all plugs (except cup plugs) and core hole plugs.
- Remove grease and oil by placing the cylinder block in a hot bath of commercial heavy-duty alkaline cleaner solution.
- Rinse the block in hot water or steam clean it to remove the alkaline solution.
- If water jackets are heavily scaled, place the block in a bath of inhibited phosphoric acid until bubbling stops (about 30 minutes).
- Lift, drain and reimmerse in the same acid solution for ten minutes; repeat until all scale is removed.
- Rinse in clear hot water, neutralize remaining acid in an alkaline bath.
- Wash the block in a bath of clean water or steam clean it.
- Dry the cylinder block with compressed air.
Tools required
Tool links are Amazon searches (affiliate links); manufacturer special tools may only be available from a dealer.
Specs & values
- Core hole plugs tightened to 150-180 FridayParts $9.25 lb-ft (204-244 N·m)
- 1-3/4"-16 plugs tightened to 150-200 lb-ft (204-271 N·m)
- 2-1/2"-16 plugs tightened to 220-250 lb-ft (298-339 N·m)
Source: Detroit Diesel service manual. Steps and values are as documented; always cross-check against the official manual and any later revisions for your exact serial number before servicing.