7. Steel, Aluminum, or Magnesium Parts Cleaning
CAUTION DO NOT PUT STEEL AND MAGNESIUM PARTS INTO THE SAME
DECARBONIZING SOLUTION, BECAUSE IT CAN CAUSE CORROSION
OF THE MAGNESIUM PARTS.
DO NOT USE ANY HEATED DECARBONIZING SOLVENT ON
ALUMINUM OR MAGNESIUM PARTS. THE DECARBONIZING SOLVENT
CAN DAMAGE OR CORRODE MAGNESIUM AND ALUMINUM PARTS.
ONLY USE PETROLEUM-BASED DECARBONIZING SOLUTIONS ON
ALUMINUM PARTS.
DO NOT USE CHLORINATED SOLVENTS (SUCH AS
TRICHLOROETHANE, TRICHLOROETHYLENE, “PERC”-DEGREASER,
ETC), TO PREVENT HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT WHICH CAN
WEAKEN A METAL PART AND CAUSE IT TO FAIL.
DO NOT USE WATER-MIXED SOLVENTS THAT CONTAIN CAUSTIC
COMPOUNDS AND/OR SOAP, BECAUSE THEY CAN CAUSE DAMAGE
TO ALUMINUM AND MAGNESIUM PARTS. WHEN THE ENGINE IS
RETURNED TO SERVICE, THESE MATERIALS CAN ENTER THE PORES
OF THE METAL AND CAUSE OIL FOAMING.
NOTICE: If you are not sure if the component is steel or contains magnesium or aluminum,
contact Technical Support at Lycoming Engines at the phone numbers in the front of
this manual.
A. Put the component fully immersed in mineral spirits or equivalent in a bath tank.
NOTICE: For small steel parts, cold dip tanks or a closed tank system can be used with
NALCO 1704.
B. Remove the component from the bath tank.
C. Remove any remaining soft carbon (dirt or sludge) from the component with a lint-free wipe.
D. Apply a spray coating of preservative oil on the component to prevent corrosion.
E. If the component is not be installed immediately, put the component in a sealed plastic bag to
prevent the oil from drying out.
8. Spark Plug Cleaning
A. Remove the spark plug as per the “Spark Plug Removal” procedure in Chapter 74-20.
B. Refer to the spark plug manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.
C. Clean the ignition lead, cable ends, spark plug walls, and ceramic of the spark plugs (new or
reused) as per the spark plug manufacturer’s instructions.
D. Wipe the spark plug lead connector clean using a lint-free cloth moistened with Methyl-
Ethyl-Ketone (MEK), acetone, wood alcohol, naptha, or equivalent.
E. Remove all cleaning residue from the spark plug lead connector.
F. Install the spark plug as per the “Spark Plug Installation” procedure in Chapter 74-20.
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