At 09:02 PM 4/19/98 -0700, you wrote: >Don Mack wrote: >> >> I noticed some rust on the top of the oil dipstick above the oil line. >> Any suggestions as how to remove and prevent it in the future? >> >> Don Mack >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> http://www.flash.net/~donmack > >Hi Don, > Here are a couple of suggestions; > >1- Sand blast it (or bead blast, I'd use sand) and then wash it VERY >GOOD in a solvent, diesel fuel, gasoline or ? and blow it off really >good with compressed air to be sure that every bit of the sand and rust >particles have been removed. I don't know of anything I'd want to treat >it with afterwards that I'd want inside my crankcase. I'd coat it good >with the same oil you use in your engine. Someone else out there may >know of something to treat it with, but the factory sent it out just >bare metal and I think that's a pretty good indication of what to do. >Of course you know that the rust was caused by condensation. A hot >engine sitting and cooling down in a humid area. Thus, moisture inside >the engine. > >2- Buy some NAVAL JELLY at a building supply store and spread it on with >a small brush, let it sit (per instructions) and then rinse it off. Two >or three applications may be required to get it all and it may be >impossible to get it "all" this way. (up where the stick is fastened to >the cap will be difficult to work the jelly into.) > > Personnaly, I'd go the sand method and be very careful to rinse it all >out. Most engine (auto) overhalul shops have a sand blaster or bead >blaster. I have one out in my shop, it comes in really hady at times. >(I like to restore old trinkets, tools, etc. I found an old pipewrench >burried in the ground not to long ago, it was in such bad shape that I >couldn't break it loose to turn the knurled adjusting cylinder. I >sandblasted it, cleaned it and painted it with a rattlecan and it looks >brand new except for a minimal amount of wear on the jaws.) > Good luck Don, I hope this helps you. > >Bob Saville >N3396H >Eugene, Or.
Personally I have seldom seen anyone ever able to get all the sand off, which is why you will never see an aircraft painter use sand blasting to strip an plane for painting. Yes they do use dry ice to strip blast them but it leaves no residue. I would worry less about the rust you are getting on the dipstick and more on the rust you are getting inside your engine. The reason you are getting the rust is that your engine has been flown for short periods of time and the oil has not gotten up to full operating temp for long enough to allow all the moisture to boil off. You have had condensation inside your oil tank and probably elsewhere. Bottom line here is fly the wings off your bird. If the cosmetic of the rust bothers you use the naval jelly or a scotch brite pad to clean off the rust. I'm not big on sand in my oil even though I use a filter, just a matter of choice though. Dave 41 Charlie Dave's Ercoupe Page http://www.flash.net/~dmprosvc/dave
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