New rods are coated in rust inhibitor. What is a good way to remove it?

Scrub in solvent parts washer, then soap and water, blow dry.

And if you want to get fancy, then after de-greasing them, wrap them in some tin foil and toast them over night at 450 degree's in the wife's oven!!

It's a proven low temp. stress reliever.

pdq67

I had a problem with my motor parts lightly flash rusting when drying. Not so much the rods as the block and crank. Some spots dryed faster than I could even get a heat gun on. It was very light and washed off with paper towels and motor oil but was very annoying. :mad:

I hate that junk to the point that I am going to have to start charging more for balance jobs with new rods and crankshafts because of the time I spend cleaning the junk off.

When I was a bachelor I used to wash my Glock in the dishwasher. I was tempted to do that with some engine parts but I know better and value my life too much. :D

20 years ago I had an old roustabout (general laborer) with Mobil Oil down in Houma Louisiana teach me the easy way to clean cosmoline when it's really thick and tough. I mean the old timey dark brown crap that sets up like tar.

A wire brush and solvent.

That guy had over 30 years with Mobil back in the mid 80's. He said all he ever wanted to be was a laborer. He knew how to work smart.:)

Good naptha if you can find it, Yes , roustabout is where I started, to me, it was the best job out there, you could get joints 30' long, dope came 5 gallon buckets and there was always a pusher around. :D

SafetyKleen vat is good too.