Best degreaser?

[sb69chevy]

What's the best degreaser to use when cleaning up under to hood? Need to get the oil, dirt and other fluids that are caked together off so I can look for some leaks (mainly in PS). Also, are there any drawbacks like eating paint, affecting rubber, etc? Sorry for all of the questions, guys.

[67ChevyRedneck]

If it's "fresh stuff" like a recent leak, some wd40 and rags should clean it up. Not sure what to use on old caked on stuff? I've always used a scraper and pressure washer, but thats probably not an option in your case

[Billla]

I like to use Super Clean, formerly made by Castrol. It works very well full strength, and I've had no issues to date with compatibility with paint, etc...as long as it's very thoroughly washed off

http://www.superclean.com/index.php

[rophle1]

I like to use easy off oven cleaner, but you do have to be careful around paint. Also, make sure you use some rubber gloves, it can give you a pretty good chemical burn; don't ask me how I know.

Ronnie

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

the other guys made some good suggestions, I'll put my $.02 in too:

On general clean up and not really tough stuff I like purple power, or any of it's generic counterparts that usually have purple in the name.

I have good luck with all of them, they cut grease and oil really well.

[jgrh64]

castrol super clean is a diluted oven cleaner if you want to go that route, I've used it before works real good just WEAR gloves , I just use gunk engine bright and a pressure washer for the major cleanup

[SactoJim]

I'm with the Super Clean crowd......good stuff, just keep it off aluminum.

[jamis]

Formula 88, just dont let it sit on old paint to long. But any kind of CRC type spray lube does a good job on soaking in and loosing it up before hand.

[lilred67]

i like simple green.....

[Rokcrln]

A product that I like and have used for years is "Oil Eater". I get mine from Napa auto parts and now I just buy it in a 5gal bucket. They also sell it in 1gal size. It is delutable but I always use it full strength and have never had any problems. Works great as a floor cleaner and driveway spot remover (for those that want to remove their driveway in spots ) .

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[dubs68SWB]

Home depot sells this stuff called ZEP. It's a concrete cleaner that I used on my engine compartment. It will pretty much take it down to bare metal. Don't use if you are just trying to clean up something that's not going to be repainted though. It's also badass concrete floor cleaner too.

[one9six9]

I use this stuff we have at the bicycle shop called Finishline Biodegradable Degreaser. It works great on greasy bicycle chains, but recently I used it to clean off the transmission oil, along with other oil residues, and some caked on stuff, but nothing real thick, and it did great. I was impressed the way it removes some of the motor oils, gear oils, and other things that should never be used as bicycle chain lube, but when I was trying it on the engine and transmission I really didn't expect much. I figured the engine heat would make some of it resistant to the Finishline. Boy was I wrong! I spayed it on with a trigger sprayer, turned around to turn on the water, and sprayed it off. I was all gone. Wow!!
Oh yea, it is okay on painted surfaces. We use it on the grease covered bikes all the time. Check it out sometime.

Keith

[Sport/Truck]

I’ve found Napa’s brand spray degreaser works real nice, cuts grease and rinses off clean.
I have doubts that any cleaner will clean thick caked on grease/grime without scraping or power washing.
You’re going to need several cleanings, buy a can of each and let us know!
s/t

[Shane]

kerosene will cut the oil / grease and will make your paint shine.

[JAKES 68GMC]

Brake/parts cleaner and a pressure washer. Super Clean works great to clean about ANYTHING.

[JameslovesJammie]

Allow me to jump on the Super Clean wagon. We use it at work and buy it by the 55 gallon drum. Awesome stuff. Works great to get grease and oil off the shop floor.

[sb69chevy]

Looks like I'll have to try superclean, then. Maybe I'll get the zeps to clean her territory markings from the driveway.

[Fred T]

Start with a scraper to clean off the thick stuff. It will save you a lot of cleaner.

[sb69chevy]

Will do, Fred. Thanks.

[mudmizer]

While were talking cleaners,how about parts cleaning tanks. I use karosine in my parts cleaner (20gal) and it works OK but my wife won't let me in the house for the smell. Has anyone tried the water based cleaners for the tanks? I feel they will be weak but maybe not.
Anyone using waterbase cleaner?

[WinDancer]

Simple green here- the salesman brushed his teeth with in a motor pool demo Must be safe....
Cover the delicate stuff with foil before you start to keep the dry stuff dry- it easily molds to complex shapes and is very easily removed and disposed of.
Post some 'cleaned-up' pics with how you did it and what you ended up using.

[Ram-Man]

Rent a Steam pressure washer. That will melt away inches of gunk in seconds. Well worth the rental fee in my opinion. I always try to stay away from wd40 and other oil or silicon based products they will haunt you when you move on to painting.

[Morgsie]

Originally Posted by Ram-Man

Rent a Steam pressure washer. That will melt away inches of gunk in seconds. Well worth the rental fee in my opinion. I always try to stay away from wd40 and other oil or silicon based products they will haunt you when you move on to painting.

Yeap, I highly recommend that. I used engine degreaser (GUNK i think), let that sit over night and then pressure washed the next day, worked REALLY good, especially with the engine not in the vehicle. Be careful where you do it for environmental purposes :/

[BarryB]

As for parts washer fluids. I use a low odor mineral spirits(paint thinner). Not alot of prep work for when You are going to paint.

[Billla]

As for the parts-washer, I sure wouldn't recommend anything aeromatic like kerosene! I use pure SuperClean and it works great!