Cleaning the engine compartment

[sparks57]

Ok, so I've found out that the castrol stuff works real good at cleaning the gunk off the bottomside of the engine... but what about cleaning the top?



My engine compartment is filthy... what kind of cleaners are good for spraying on the top of the engine and all around to loosen up the grime so you can pressure wash it off?



Simple green?



Thanks guys,

Chris

 

[JLEONARD]

Simple green works.

When I got my marine Cummins certified, the Cummins tech said to use Bleche White. So there's two possibilities.

Jay

 

[jbolt]

Before I started BOMBing last year I had the engine compartment and the chasis steam cleaned. I was amazed how clean they were able to get everything. Almost looked like new. It also made it easy to chase down a couple of small leaks. Its so nice to work on a clean motor.



Jay

 

[dpuckett]

Originally posted by jbolt

... Its so nice to work on a clean motor.

AMEN. Mom cant understand why I wash the dust, filfth, and grime off mine every chance I get. Makes it a LOT easier to chase leaks, plus it helps stuff run cooler and smoother.



CB- I'll second the Simple Green. Full strength, spray liberally, work it in to the thicker grimy areas with a brush, then pressure wash it off. just be careful of a hot pump; cold water can ruin a hot injector pump, or so I've read.



Daniel

 

[DKasper]

Chris,

I've used the Castrol cleaner(name escapes me right now) with great results -- just don't get it on any paint you want to keep looking good. That stuff has a very basic Ph and will dull any paint it gets on.



Hard to beat the steam cleaning!

 

[Greenleaf]

Zep Formula 50



Soaked it down and steam cleaned mine. Can eat off it then if one is so inclined. No problems other than the WIF light came on.



Greenleaf

 

[sparks57]

My WIF light came on the last time I pressure washed my engine.



Where can you go to get it steam cleaned, and how much does it cost?

 

[Phil Stuart]

Originally posted by CB_Parker

My WIF light came on the last time I pressure washed my engine.

Same here!





I used Simple Green full strength, sprayed it on ,let it soak for a few and used my pressure washer to wash it all off.

I agree to the other above post about having a clean engine





Phil

 

[y-knot]

I like using GUNK engine cleaner, just spray on let sit. Spray more on let set. Then hose off. That always works for me, then I can detail the little stuff latter.

 

[MO'Donnell]

I use Purple Power - similar to the Castrol Super CLean, but a bit less expensive at around $8. 00 for 2. 5 gallons. Spray it on full strength, scrub it with a brush & some hot water, then hose it down. My friend uses it at his detail shop, and it does quite a job cutting through 100k miles of crud!

 

[quikshft]

Castrol Super Clean is great stuff, but keep it off your hands... don't ask me how I know.

I have never tried this but would like to. A good quality oven cleaner is supposed to clean up an engine bay nicely. Have you ever seen a gunked up oven with a thick coating of baked on crud? (or muchies depending on your take) Oven cleaner is an awesome cleaner, but like I said I have no first hand experience under the hood with it.

 

[farmall]

Originally posted by quikshft

Castrol Super Clean is great stuff, but keep it off your hands... don't ask me how I know.

I have never tried this but would like to. A good quality oven cleaner is supposed to clean up an engine bay nicely. Have you ever seen a gunked up oven with a thick coating of baked on crud? (or muchies depending on your take) Oven cleaner is an awesome cleaner, but like I said I have no first hand experience under the hood with it.

I have found with oven cleaner the cheaper the better. The Dollar store cans do a much better job than the $4 easy off stuff. But I do caution you a few things. It will take paint off, it will ruin aluminum "engine serial tag", and it will hurt your lungs. So be careful where you spray and what you spray it on. Have plenty of ventilation. I use it to clean antique tractor enignes and to help strip paint. It does do a great job though.



Bill