Hello all,

I opened the oil cap the other day and peered inside. It looked pretty...crusty. The valve cover has not been removed in 11 years. For all of those 11 years, I have been using Mobil-1 Full Synthetic every 3000 miles without fail. The oil passages are clear, and oil is getting to the cams and so forth, but everything under the cover looks like it's been varnished to a rich golden brown. I would like to take the Valve cover off and clean all the varnish and hardened gunk off everything. I have never done this before, but considering what the Swede-Steed and I have been through recently, I cannot imagine that it would be too difficult. My question, primarily, is what to use to clean springs, lifters, and cam with? Are there any precautions I should observe and or recommendations on how I should go about it - from anyone who has done this before. I have included an address for a photograph on my photobucket page. ( I have not yet mastered the knowledge of how to embed a picture in my posts - all gallant efforts to educate me aside, I am progressing)

http://s1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa381/Swede-Steed/?action=view¤t=Camshaftgunkasseenthroughtheoilcapopening.jpg

Thanks in advance for all input!