Stripping engine paint

[DickG]

I'm installing a Reiff engine sump heater. The instructions call for stripping the paint before installing the heater pads. What methods, chemicals, or solvents are used to do the job?

[Kyle Boatright]

I remember that being a tough job. I used laquer thinner, MEK, a scraper, and scotchbright. Given that the oil pan is cast (and has indentations and other irregularities) I wasn't able to get every speck of paint off of it, but I did remove the vast majority of it. Probably 95% or so.

No problems in the 3 or 4 seasons I've had my hotstrip.