Degreaser

[LakeMtn]

The engine compartment on my daily driver '72 K20 is getting a little nasty. Has anyone here had good results with a degreaser that won't harm the paint?

[rcrahn]

Take it from me do not use that purple crap degreaser from walmart. It is nasty and will damage any aluminum parts in the bay. I tried some on my 280Z engine and it looked horrible when it was over.

Best thing to do is give it a good steam cleaning top and bottom. Might cost $50 but you will be amazed....

[Torrey72]

I like Super Clean for cleaning engines. I would drive to a self serve car wash and hose down a hot engine with it. Let it work for a minute or two. Then use the pressure washer to blast it clean. I’m not sure if it will tarnish aluminum or not? Most caustic cleaners will.

[2003 silverado]

Oven Cleaner Foamy type

[leddzepp]

Simple green works fantastic and will not harm the paint.

[treveiger]

Not to steal the thread but how do you go about cleaning a engine. Wont hitting it with a pressure washer hurt it or be bad for it?

[Torrey72]

Originally Posted by treveiger

Not to steal the thread but how do you go about cleaning a engine. Wont hitting it with a pressure washer hurt it or be bad for it?

Using a pressure washer is just fine. Just be careful what you blast directly. I keep the engine running and work around the Cap, Alt, Air intake, and or fuse/computer box if it has one under the hood. Engines are designed to get wet. But they don’t like to drink it.

[72BlckButy]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

Simple green works fantastic and will not harm the paint.

That's what I used on the motor and suspension and it worked great! I didn't cut it with anything.

Originally Posted by Torrey72

Using a pressure washer is just fine. Just be careful what you blast directly. I keep the engine running and work around the Cap, Alt, Air intake, and or fuse/computer box if it has one under the hood. Engines are designed to get wet. But they don’t like to drink it.

Excellent point.

[cdowns]

i use a biodegradeable concentrate from harbor frieght it works well and for the price it lasts long// i mix it up accoriding to directions and use an old winex bottle to spray it on with then rince down with my pressure washer

[treveiger]

Originally Posted by Torrey72

Using a pressure washer is just fine. Just be careful what you blast directly. I keep the engine running and work around the Cap, Alt, Air intake, and or fuse/computer box if it has one under the hood. Engines are designed to get wet. But they don’t like to drink it.

Thanks for the tip!

[LakeMtn]

Thanks to all for your help and comments. Simple Green it is...... that's one of my projects for tomorrow.

[treveiger]

O welcome to the forum never saw that you just joined . Lotta good info on here!

[Torrey72]

If your rig starts to run rough and crazy after you hose it down. You most likely just got water in the Dizzy Cap. This will happen sometimes when all the steam is coming off the engine. Be sure to bring a screw driver and some paper towels so you can wipe out the cap. If needed. You can blast the inside of the Dizzy Cap with WD40 too to drive out the moisture also. The WD40 will not effect anything other then drive out the water.

My Camaro has holes drilled in the cap to let out the Ions that build up in the Cap. It’s a race car thing. Don’t do it for street use. Any way. I wrap the cap and wires coming out of it the best I can with plastic grocery bags to keep the cap dry when I blast it. Sort of an umbrella deal. Just remove them as soon as you blast it.

[85silverbeast]

Simple Green works great! I use it on everything.

[oldblue1968chevy]

purple power will dull aluminum

dollar store oven cleaner works good too but it takes everything off be careful

steam cleaner FTW

[tooter]

Dollar store Awsome cheap an works great.

[treveiger]

If you have a pressure washer that also heats the water thatll eat the grease away very easily also, we have one that heats up and also we run a degreasser through it at the same time to clean rugs from grease shops and they always look good.

[MOJO1963GMC]

What about a spray bottle of soapy water with Dawn dishwashing soap?

[treveiger]

That might work but could take awhile.

[LakeMtn]

Well before I took it down to the spray wash I experimented with different cleaners on places you can't really see. Simple Green didn't do it for me. Home Desperate sells this stuff called Greased Lightening and it worked great. I made sure I wetted down surrounding exterior paint and rinsed regularly, kept a large zip-lock bag over the dizzy. Turned out great for me. Now I'm working on the undercarriage. Fun.