Easy engine cleaning - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

mitch1965 · 03-29-2005, 01:50 AM

The first time I clean my engines, I use one of the foamy engine cleaners to get as much off as possible. Now, every time I was my truck, I wet the engine, spray it with 409 household cleaner, then fill the wash bucket, and wash out the engine comparment with the hose end sprayer. This seems to keep my engines clean, and continues to clean anything not gotten in a previous was. 409 also works great for cleaning the white outlines on the tires.

Mudder · 03-29-2005, 02:22 AM

Does it have any effect on polished aluminum? For ones with that stuff some cleaners can cause big problems. I have trouble with water spots.

chevy72blu · 03-29-2005, 10:11 AM

DONT use Castrol Superclean on aluminum or painted parts...

I learned that the hard way. =(

Gunk Foamy Enginge Brite is safe tho.. and works very well.

arkracing · 03-30-2005, 11:18 AM

do any of these products hurt the paint on the engine?

well i know Super clean will if you don't dilute it first.

but the foamy Engine bright? or 409? or Simple green?

tylermckee · 09-07-2005, 03:43 AM

Tire foam works great too.

Big Blue · 09-07-2005, 06:50 PM

Just this past weekend i had to clean a REALLY GUNKIE engine up. I was planning on rebuilding it. Found out it was freashly rebuilt. iT was 30 over, new pistons, crank and what not. So I use that foamy stuff, didn't do nuffun to the grease. Sent out sons girlfriend to pick up some EASY-OFF oven cleaner, man did it do the trick, claen as a bell. Once all the gunk was off and i saw the green engine I also saw that the BLOCK WAS CRACKED.MURPYS LAW AT ITS BEST.

Thanks John

454HO · 09-08-2005, 03:04 PM

I know for a fact Simple Green will etch polished aluminum. Been there, done that.

I use the kerosene based engine aerosol cleaners and a parts cleaning brush. Start with the engine warmed up just a bit. After I get as much loosened as I can, then I hit it with a spray nozzle on the hose. If it's really bad, I take it to the coin-op car wash and use the high pressure sprayer. Repeat as necessary.

For routine maintenance cleaning, I just use some Dawn dishwasing liquid in a bucket of hot water.

73737373 · 10-20-2005, 05:52 AM

The 409 solution mentioned above works well. Try going to a carwash and soaking engine and compartment w/the presoak (if the have it). Then use the high pressure soap function. Westley's Bleach white and 409 works well also. And for grease caked parts (brackets and stuff), if you don't like to use chemicals, mix up about a cup of dawn dish soap in a 5 gallon bucket and let your parts sit for a week. Keep the parts covered in water as some will evaporate, but after a week, you can pull your parts out and all that grease/oil has turned really soft and mushy. Use high pressure to rinse or a soft bristle brush to remove.

03-29-2005, 01:50 AM	#1
mitch1965 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado Posts: 376	Easy engine cleaning The first time I clean my engines, I use one of the foamy engine cleaners to get as much off as possible. Now, every time I was my truck, I wet the engine, spray it with 409 household cleaner, then fill the wash bucket, and wash out the engine comparment with the hose end sprayer. This seems to keep my engines clean, and continues to clean anything not gotten in a previous was. 409 also works great for cleaning the white outlines on the tires. __________________ '99 K1500 Tahoe, 2dr, barn doors - 350/ 4L60E, 3.73 '01 K2500HD Silverado Ext Cab - 496/ Allison, 4.10

03-29-2005, 10:11 AM	#3
chevy72blu Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,188	DONT use Castrol Superclean on aluminum or painted parts... I learned that the hard way. =( Gunk Foamy Enginge Brite is safe tho.. and works very well. __________________ RIP EastSideLowLife '72 C20 SWB convert. 5 lug, LS1/4l60e

03-30-2005, 11:18 AM	#4
arkracing Weekend Warrior Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: CT Posts: 1,787	do any of these products hurt the paint on the engine? well i know Super clean will if you don't dilute it first. but the foamy Engine bright? or 409? or Simple green? __________________ -'07 GMC Sierra K2500HD -'66 C10 Suburban -'68/'71 K20 Service Bed Project -'69 Chevy C30 Mason Dump -'33Ford P/U 396ChevyPowered

09-07-2005, 06:50 PM	#6
Big Blue Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northeast--Bethlehem, Pennslyvania Posts: 642	Just this past weekend i had to clean a REALLY GUNKIE engine up. I was planning on rebuilding it. Found out it was freashly rebuilt. iT was 30 over, new pistons, crank and what not. So I use that foamy stuff, didn't do nuffun to the grease. Sent out sons girlfriend to pick up some EASY-OFF oven cleaner, man did it do the trick, claen as a bell. Once all the gunk was off and i saw the green engine I also saw that the BLOCK WAS CRACKED.MURPYS LAW AT ITS BEST. Thanks John __________________ Big Blue ( John ) 79 Chevy Pick up.....My Dailey STILL Working on a frame up: 1987 Truck body on a 78 Blazer frame. Need cab blasted to start project. Got the cab BLASTED, Now Prep and Paint. Started to lay SOME BONDO and primer. Done, Ordering paint. Got paint, Stuff painted,Cab,Fenders, Hood more later. 9/7/2015 Got the clear coat on,now time to take one off. Started to put things back (What a nightmare) like the heating and AC stuff,inside wire harness, outside AC unit and booster, still more. May 2016, still working on the inside. Got duck work in,heating and AC. Radio (stock) in dash with after market in console later, Speaker are hooked up, Steering column is in. Getting ready to drop the cab onto the frame, Working on engine now since I have the room. Well here it is 2018, got the engine in and it runs, now I need to get the exhaust system in so I can adjust the lifters, to loud right now. Got the exhaust on now I am waiting for the break parts to come in.

09-08-2005, 03:04 PM	#7
454HO Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,223	I know for a fact Simple Green will etch polished aluminum. Been there, done that. I use the kerosene based engine aerosol cleaners and a parts cleaning brush. Start with the engine warmed up just a bit. After I get as much loosened as I can, then I hit it with a spray nozzle on the hose. If it's really bad, I take it to the coin-op car wash and use the high pressure sprayer. Repeat as necessary. For routine maintenance cleaning, I just use some Dawn dishwasing liquid in a bucket of hot water. __________________ - Greg

03-29-2005, 02:22 AM	#2
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Does it have any effect on polished aluminum? For ones with that stuff some cleaners can cause big problems. I have trouble with water spots.

09-07-2005, 03:43 AM	#5
tylermckee Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: anacortes Posts: 75	Tire foam works great too.

10-20-2005, 05:52 AM	#8
73737373 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Oklahoma USA Posts: 1,000	Re: Easy engine cleaning The 409 solution mentioned above works well. Try going to a carwash and soaking engine and compartment w/the presoak (if the have it). Then use the high pressure soap function. Westley's Bleach white and 409 works well also. And for grease caked parts (brackets and stuff), if you don't like to use chemicals, mix up about a cup of dawn dish soap in a 5 gallon bucket and let your parts sit for a week. Keep the parts covered in water as some will evaporate, but after a week, you can pull your parts out and all that grease/oil has turned really soft and mushy. Use high pressure to rinse or a soft bristle brush to remove. __________________ 1968 Custom SWB, 327/3 speed OTC 1969 CST LWB, 402/400 1970 CST LWB, 402/400 1970 Sierra Grande LWB, 350/350 1971 Cheyenne LWB, 350/350 1972 Cheyenne Super LWB, 402/400 1972 Sierra Grande LWB, 402/400 1979 Silverado LWB, 350/350 1984 Suburban 1990 454 SS 1991 Silverado, X-cab, 4.3/5 speed Getrag 2005 Silverado Crew Cab Corvettes: 75, 77, 78, 93, 96

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