Fungus
Part of things
Posts: 960
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So, I got back home from uni today to find the bottom end of my engine (currently on a stand) covered in dust.
Apparently the dust is from cutting flooring tiles with an angle grinder, something the builders decided to do in our single garage with no ventilation, without anyone being made aware of their plans.
The block is sitting there on the stand with new Pistons, rings, big ends, mains and all new seals etc but no sump or head, so it's all got a light coating of the stone-dust.
If we ignore the issue of who's at fault, what should I do now? Will it all need dissembling and rebuilding after a thorough clean, or will a decent blow-out and lots of degreaser do the trick?
Thanks
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mikeymk
Part of things
'85 Polo Coupe S 1.6 16v
Posts: 931
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'Unprofessional' springs to mind, understatement style. I'd be having strong, strong words.
That's knowing i probably couldn't do much else. After all, an engine in such a state really should have a dust sheet over it. I can't see what good pointing blame is gonna do, it won't get you anywhere. Just ensuring they know they're retards would be enough for me. Give them some facepalm-style publicity on your social media and let them go.
As for the engine, it's coated in cutting compound, and you know it could really do with stripping, washing, re-building. Personally, i'd be quite tempted to just give it a rinse over with some diesel through a pressure plant feeder (messy) but there's one area of concern - the oilway in the deck for the head. It's only a 6mm hole but you don't want anything in there..
Everything else is gonna get washed off by the oil, which will then go through the filter, so an oil/filter change after the first few minutes of running would sort most of it. But those first few minutes could damage cylinder head components if there's grit dust in the oil feed to it. Perhaps if you can spin the oil pump up and pass some heavy oil through it, that'll do it.
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Last Edit: Dec 20, 2015 1:46:16 GMT by mikeymk
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Personally I'd totally strip down as don't have the nerve to risk just blowing / washing off dust and I have the kind of luck that ensures something would get left behind to do damage  |
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Make sure all your mates know that the builder in question is a total retard and add him to the list of contractors you will never employ again. Why did the useless illegitimate even have access to your garage? That is the real question.
With regard to the engine I would be too paranoid to not disassemble it and clean everything again.
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Dec 20, 2015 10:14:59 GMT
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Reflecting what everyone else has said strip it and clean it you don't want sharp dust being mixed with oil and damaging your engine, it is rather silly that they didn't cover things up whilst they cut the tiles
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RetroMat
Posted a lot
Column Shifting!
Posts: 3,442
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Dec 20, 2015 10:16:12 GMT
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Similar thing happened to my mate who was building his Golf VR6 engine. The garage roof was re felted with the engine still inside on a stand. All the little bits of felt fell through the roof timbers into the engine. He stripped it down completely, didnt want to risk any odd bits doing damage to a new engine
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MK2VR6
Posted a lot
Mk2 Golf GTi 90 Spec
Posts: 3,328
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Dec 20, 2015 10:37:41 GMT
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That's really poor on the part of the builders. Rebuild it or you'll always be worried about 'what ifs'.
On a different note, I'm impressed that student houses now have garages and that you have the spare funds to rebuild engines; 20 years back we struggled to afford beans and cheap bread!
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Dec 20, 2015 16:28:07 GMT
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you know the only right answer is strip it and clean it , you will always be blaming the dust or wondering about it of not
i use cling film to stretch around the bare bits to try and keep the dirt out
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91 golf g60, 89 golf 16v , 88 polo breadvan
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breng
Part of things
Posts: 223
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Dec 20, 2015 17:42:16 GMT
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Many moons ago I was having the valve clearences adjusted on my gixxer - neighbour's decided it was a good time to start attacking their brickwork for an en suite. I have never, ever shouted so loud.
Unless you know about engines it's not something you would be aware of.
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Dec 20, 2015 17:55:20 GMT
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 's, they could have at least opened the mouth and asked someone about it... or some common sense and just covered it? anyway.... i would rebuild it, just to be on the safe side. also, as i assume this a rented student place, have a strong word with the landlord!? |
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Fungus
Part of things
Posts: 960
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Dec 20, 2015 23:02:11 GMT
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Thanks for the replies guys, looks like it's getting stripped down.
I should've made it clearer, the engine is at my family's house which I have just returned to for my uni break.
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barty
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,088
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first things first, you must let the builders know what they have done and see what they have to say about it, explain the costs involved and the time required to strip and clean the engine.
They may offer some assistance but even if they don't at least they will know what they have done and maybe learn from their mistake.
secondly don't even think about giving it a quick clean, you need to strip it down, the most it would cost is a new set of gaskets and your time but its far easier to strip it now rather than bodge it and then have to remove it from the car and it will then of course require some machining if the grit has been allowed to get into the bearing faces and other moving parts
Thirdly, and a bit harsh but at least you have learnt a lesson, always keep it covered in future
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