How to Clean a Flywheel

Your vehicle's flywheel is directly responsible for transferring power from the engine to the clutch of the transmission. An unclean flywheel covered in oil, grease or metal particles can prematurely wear down the surface of the clutch plate, robbing your engine of power. Clean the flywheel thoroughly during transmission or clutch maintenance to help ensure that your vehicle does not suffer from unnecessary equipment wear.

Things You'll Need

  • Rough dish cleaning pad
  • Brake cleaner
  • Compressed air can
  • Wash your hands thoroughly with a mild soap before handling your vehicle's flywheel. Grease and oil from your hands can damage the surface of a flywheel.

  • Spray a light, even coat of brake cleaner on the surface of the flywheel.

  • Scrub the surface of the flywheel with the rough dish cleaning pad. Move your hand in small, circular motions while scrubbing to prevent gouging the surface of the flywheel.

  • Spray the surface of the flywheel with brake cleaner again. Use a large amount of cleaner on to the flywheel to force any leftover particles to drip away.

  • Allow the flywheel to dry for 2 to 3 minutes.

  • Blow compressed air on the surface of the flywheel to remove any lingering particles or dirt. The compressed air will also dry any remaining brake cleaner on the surface of the wheel.