Removing grease and grime from engine components has been an age-old battle for those working within the automotive industry or hobby. Caustic solvents were once an effective solution, but because of the negative impact certain chemicals were having on environmental and/or personal health, the federal government banned or limited the use of a few. While undoubtedly some good has come from that move, it makes cleaning components increasingly more challenging.
Ultrasonic cleaning has gained in popularity in recent years. It generally consists of a certain-sized tank with ultrasonic transducers beneath it. The transducers create high-frequency ultrasonic waves that travel through the cleaning solution in the tank, and the friction generates superheated bubbles moving at very high speed. As those tiny bubbles reach the component, they collapse upon impact, releasing heat and energy that lifts away dirt and grime.
The low-impact ultrasonic cleaning cycle is ideal for even the most delicate components, and when combined with the appropriate cleaning solution and proper temperature, the results are amazing. Doctors use them to clean instruments and probes. We found ultrasonic cleaning in the automotive hobby when visiting Cliff's High Performance. We saw first-hand the effects it has on dingy Quadrajets and distributors, and even the tools used to work on them. So we set out to find the best unit for us.
There are many different brands and sizes of ultrasonic cleaning tanks available today—the pricing of which generally indicates quality when comparing like sizes and features. Sharpertek in Pontiac, Michigan, has been producing ultrasonic cleaning tanks for several years. Its units are commercial-grade quality, constructed of stainless steel, made in America, and come with a two-year warranty against defects. Considered an industry leader by many, Sharpertek produces an ultrasonic cleaning tank that's perfectly sized for cleaning carburetors (SH500-20L).
At a retail price of $2,500, the Sharpertek SH500-20L can be expensive for limited home use, but it may be an excellent tool to purchase for group use by a local Pontiac club. We found it on sale for several hundred dollars less than retail, which made it a feasible purchase. It arrived a few days later, and we were amazed at its quality upon removing it from the box. It truly looked and felt like an industrial unit.
1. In place of brushes or abrasives, an ultrasonic cleaning tank generates ultrasonic waves that bombard the component with microscopic bubbles to blast away dirt and grime. Sharpertek produces ultrasonic cleaning tanks in many shapes and sizes, and its SH500-20L is perfect for cleaning carburetors and distributors, and most anything else you can fit inside it. The commercial-grade unit is constructed of stainless steel and is available directly from Sharpertek.
We spent the next few hours reading through the instruction manual. After filling the tank with water and some common degreasers we had on hand, we made our first attempt at ultrasonic cleaning on a spare Quadrajet. After it was completely submerged for just 20 minutes, the piece was dramatically cleaner than before, and without any manual input on our part. We then cleaned various other components, and even some dingy tools, and were very satisfied with the results.
Other ultrasonic cleaners may perform as well as the Sharpertek unit, but we cannot speak of their quality and/or ability. If you ever have the chance to experience the effects ultrasonic cleaning can have on components, we're confident you'll be awestruck, too.
There are some considerations that must be made, however, and they are very important to note. Whenever combining water and electricity, electric shocks are possible, so always exercise extreme caution. Some cleaning solutions are more aggressive than others, and that can attack the material of a given component and/or remove plated finishes from others, so be sure to test your methods on sacrificial pieces. And lastly, under no circumstances should any flammable solvents or solutions ever be added to the tank.
Once you hurdle those simple obstacles, ultrasonic cleaning is so easy and effective that you'll likely be searching for the grungiest tools and components to clean!
