Parts cleaner?

[shifty]

This doesn't really fit under engines nor under body work. Not sure what forum to post in, so I'll just stick it here.

What do you guys use to clean the grime off of your engine parts? I want to clean stuff like this tranny crossmember, steering box and other crap, got any suggestions? It's like ... grease + sand caked all over everything:

[ACES]

For a running truck, I just take it down to the local self car wash and spray it heavily with degreaser, let it sit for a few minutes, then spray the heck out of it with the sprayer. Of course being careful not to knock any electrical connections.
The underneath is kinda a pain and I always end up wet. So if anyone has any better suggestions, I'm all ears.

-ACES

[Zeke]

Various size putty knives, put some plastic down to help with clean up then to the car wash to get all wet.

[67mbsc]

In a pinch, oven cleaner works just like engine cleaner

[tripp]

oven cleaner works great. it will take the paint off sometimes if the parts are hot. make sure you have good ventilation when you spray that stuff.

[72gord]

I used a putty knife for the thick stuff, then soaked it with an engine degreaser and let it set for a couple hours, then blasted it off with a pressure washer.....yup, you get soaked too!!

[boogie67]

I use a cleaner called the purple stuff putty knifes and a pressure washer also. my sons truck had it on like cement.Had to use screw drivers and hammers on some pieces.Came out clean.

[saxmo]

I pulled my I6 drivetrain out...scraped the main grime off with a putty knife...sand-blasted the rest down to pretty metal... blew out the sand with air compressor..painted with chassis saver...put v8 drivetrain in...but this may be a bit on the extreme side...

[shifty]

Originally Posted by saxmo

I pulled my I6 drivetrain out...scraped the main grime off with a putty knife...sand-blasted the rest down to pretty metal... blew out the sand with air compressor..painted with chassis saver...put v8 drivetrain in...but this may be a bit on the extreme side...

Sounds good to me

I'm just curious - they sell a lot of cleaners at the store. I have several boxes of sample-sized grease lightning, but I doubt that stuff is good enough for what I want to do. I also have a few cans of Berryman B-23 laying around, I used those with a wire brush to clean my engine mounts and other stuff when I swapped engines. Just curious to see what other people found useful.

It's a messy job, that's for sure.

[meathead95]

i like castrol super clean it works great

[busterwivell]

I like the oven cleaner route. and you can get the stuff at the 99 cent store. last engine i cleaned up took 5 cans, but it's clean, regasketed, painted up and ready to drop in.

[stickshift_or_walk]

Regardless of my initial steps, which often include "original" oven cleaner - not the new user-friendly stuff - I use Spray-n-Wash and a good brush for the final cleaning. I find that it removes any residues and washes off well enough to accept paint with no problems.

Also works great on tires.

SSOW

[LostMy65]

I always do a search before posting, and I try to post in the most relevant and newest thread. Most threads talk about steam cleaning or using engine cleaner that requires rinsing with water afterward. My engine has been pulled recently, and I'm taking care of a few of the leaky gasket issues, and I want to clean the grime on the block before putting the parts back on. From searching these forums, I'm leaning toward using kerosene.
Anyone see a problem with this?

Thanks

[meathead95]

I use kerosene in my parts washer. I have noticed when the kerosene get old and dirty it leaves a residue on the parts so I usually go over them with brake cleaner or mineral spirits before paint.

[fattyarbuckle]

leave it on because it'll rust. J/K

I bought a 78 and washed it at the car wash till I had no more beer money, then i washed it at home for three days laying on my back in the driveway with my pressure washer... I ended up taking everything out re-building and fixing leaks then painted...
I couldn't stand everytime I worked on the truck having to take my cloths off in the garage before I come into the house. LOL

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by meathead95

I use kerosene in my parts washer. I have noticed when the kerosene get old and dirty it leaves a residue on the parts so I usually go over them with brake cleaner or mineral spirits before paint.

I'm thinking I'll use kerosene, and after I get the engine back together and running, I'll use one of the products where you first warm up the engine, and then rinse with water.

[oldblue1968chevy]

1 Oven cleaner (use it ventilated, stout stuff!)
2 purple power
3 steam cleaner (pressure washer works ok, but that hot water takes the grease OFF)
4 engine degreaser

My favorites are 1 and 3 lol