Cleaning

This is an important section. Dirt is the enemy. The negative effects of dirt are widespread. From clogged fuel injectors causing burnt pistons to simply an unappealing filthy race car. Here are some tools, practices, and products that can help you fight the grunge and prevent performance issues.

Parts Washer:

When I started racing I was cleaning parts in a five-gallon bucket while sitting on the floor. Acquiring a parts washer was an incredibly convenient upgrade. They come in many different sizes and capacities. Choose one that matches the size of the parts you will be washing.

There also many options for parts washing fluid. Be careful here. These fluids can be expensive and they have many different chemical properties. I have found that PSC 1000 is a great choice for cleaning race car parts. It’s not overly aggressive or corrosive, it’s readily available, affordable, and above all it cleans very well.

 

Berke Bile 2+2 Gum Cutter

Hands down the best carburetor cleaner on the market. It’s potent, it’s affordable, and leaves zero residue. It’s great for fuel components, injector nozzles, or general grease and grime cutting. My only warning is to keep it away from soft plastics.

Chain Care

If you are an entry level racer, or you race smaller race cars there is a good chance your race car is driven by a chain. Maintenance of this chain is crucial as it is the link between your motor and your axle. Proper care can prevent horsepower robbing issues and increase the longevity of the somewhat pricey chain.

There are two things I really like to have for chain maintenance. The grunge brush is something I borrowed from the motor cross world. These guys know dirty chains best and they use the grunge brush to clean them up.

Also borrowed from the motor cross racers is the maxima chain care pack which has a cleaner, a penetrating lube, and a pre race wax. I don’t like to power wash my chain. This can leave susceptible to rust by forcing water in between chain parts. I remove my chain before washing my race car. I spray it down with maxima’s chain cleaner, and run the length of the chain on all sides with the grunge brush. Lightly rinse with water and immediately soak with penetrating lube.