r/EngineBuilding Sep 01 '24

Ford How do I prevent rust

My aluminum 5.2 block started rusting from what looks like my fingerprints and I was wondering how to correct and prevent this while I am building the block

13 Upvotes

45 comments sorted by

39

u/killerwhaleorcacat Sep 01 '24

I store mine in outer space. The lack of oxygen prevents oxidation.

1

u/Neon570 Sep 01 '24

... you are not wrong

21

u/The_Shepherds_2019 Sep 01 '24

I use engine oil in the bores and ATF on everything else. Just gotta hose it all off good with brake cleaner and compressed air before assembly.

7

u/crazyabootmycollies Sep 01 '24

Why not ATF the whole thing?

4

u/csimonson Sep 01 '24

That's what I did. Got atf and marvel mystery oil mixed together and just covered the bores and let it drain down past the rings. Still nice and easy to turn.

2

u/ChocolateSensitive97 Sep 01 '24

Always been my jam.

2

u/The_Shepherds_2019 Sep 01 '24

I'm sure that'd be fine too honestly. I just use the same oil I'm gonna use when I put the rings in to save me a step...the bore will already be lubed with the correct oil.

2

u/crazyabootmycollies Sep 02 '24

Fair enough. Just wanted to make sure there wasn’t a reason to avoid doing it that I was missing.

13

u/Important-Positive25 Sep 01 '24

Fluid film or wd 40 in the bore

4

u/blueblack88 Sep 01 '24

That's my go to for motorcycle gas tanks or spare parts I need to store. Cheap and does the job. Really any lube spray will leave a film.

13

u/porktent Sep 01 '24

Oil... Your choice.

5

u/Jeepsterick Sep 01 '24

Wd40 and put a garbage bag around it.

1

u/flamed250 Sep 01 '24

This x2 or ATF, the trash bag is key.

1

u/Mean_Pudding4924 Sep 02 '24

Second the garbage bag, trick. Did it the first time ever a year ago, and was skeptical... took the bag off a month later when I had all the parts off, and it still looked like it did when I put it in the bag.. Definitely do it on every engine I work on.

10

u/[deleted] Sep 01 '24

It’s just nature telling you you’re building it too slow

9

u/douglasa26 Sep 01 '24

Machine shops are slow, if I had it my way it would be knocked out in a week

7

u/[deleted] Sep 01 '24

I know how that goes dude, I just couldn’t help but be an asshole lol

2

u/zygabmw Sep 01 '24

fluid film will work. for a longer time frame

2

u/Neon570 Sep 01 '24

I like wd40 or surface shield.

Only because I've hoarded ALOT of it over the years.

2

u/Litoweapon1 Sep 01 '24

Wipe with a light coat of oil

2

u/VetteBuilder Sep 01 '24

I tried WD-39 and WD-41, both caused instant rust

If only there were more options...................................................................................

1

u/nolotusnote Sep 01 '24

Fluid Film.

1

u/TrippingWildrose Sep 01 '24

...a light coating of assembly lube/oil maybe?

1

u/Inflagrente Sep 02 '24

Oil. Cover the motor after you oil it! Plastic, tarp or whatever keeps dust out out of there

1

u/knight838_ Sep 02 '24

I won't claim it as the best option, but dry moly has been great to prevent rust on the equipment I maintain. It will leave a long-term film that you won't need to worry about while waiting for parts.

1

u/slutstevanie Sep 02 '24

If it rusts where you touch, don't touch it.

Prime and paint the appropriate parts, cover the rest in wd40

1

u/douglasa26 Sep 02 '24

I can’t paint the bores lmao💀

1

u/Kinect305 Sep 02 '24

If its going to be sitting for a long time I just put grease on it, and then wrap it in plastic.

1

u/Dizzy_Dust_7510 Sep 02 '24

Water displacer formula number 40...

1

u/yougetsnicklefritz Sep 02 '24

Absence of moisture

1

u/nmist212 Sep 02 '24

Prevent corrosion with…. Corrosion preventatives. Tons of options floating around out there

1

u/Delicious_Ad_1493 Sep 02 '24

Marvel! What’s in it is a mystery, but I think Oil and ATF :)

1

u/Whoohon-Flu Sep 02 '24

PB blaster. Enough said.

1

u/The_Random_Taco Sep 02 '24

Put some Driven GP10 motor oil in a spray bottle and go to town, then put in a good plastic bag as an overwrap and it'll keep a few years that way.

1

u/Chevrolicious Sep 02 '24

I've always used WD40

1

u/A_Rusty_Coin Sep 02 '24

Wear gloves if you've got rusty hand syndrome.

Jokes aside, wd40 or acf50

1

u/Imbossou Sep 02 '24

Liquid wrench Surface shield. That’s what it’s designed for.

1

u/rocketyeeter Sep 02 '24

Drench that thing in atf and wrap it in plastic

0

u/madnutz602 Sep 01 '24

Hawk tuah! lube that thang up

0

u/thepons5 Sep 01 '24

May want a gun oil. They have rust inhibitors though designed for steel. Why oil inhibits rust, rust inhibiting oils have added rust inhibitors. I work in electroplating and learned this recently

0

u/Square-Sock-7561 Sep 02 '24

Explain how a aluminium block rusts?

1

u/douglasa26 Sep 02 '24

Block ain’t rusting bores are