Cleaning oil varnish off valve cover gasket surfaces

[GnatGoSplat]

Pulled the valve covers off 3.4 DOHC. Was going to replace the gaskets while I have the plenum off. There is a very thin oil varnish ridge on either side of where the rubber gasket would have been on the cam carrier. I've been trying to clean it off and scrubbing with a rag and lacquer thinner, but the rough edge of the aluminum is shaving off rag lint and falling into the cams, good thing I was going to change the oil anyway. Not to mention it's back-breaking work, spent an hour and only have the front one halfway clean, rear one I'm sure will be even harder to reach. I don't want to make an 8-hour project out of something that should take 10-minutes tops.

 

What product do you guys recommend that will make easy work of this? Been looking through O'Reilly website and all I see are engine degreasers.

[RobertISaar]

i would go with acetone instead of lacquer thinner... acetone does a damn good job of dissolving petroleum products.

 

also, perhaps an old sponge with a scrubbing pad(or some scotch-brite?) would be better than a rag? either one are going to get destroyed running up against a sharp edge but the pad may do a better job faster.

[GnatGoSplat]

Thanks, I might have some of that to try. Ran out of daylight and can't see, unfortunately. Damn standard time. Tried carb cleaner and brake parts cleaner. Works better than lacquer thinner, but still requires some scrubbing. Was hoping for some spray-on, wipe-off stuff. The older I get, the lazier I get.