correct way to clean engine

[Wyomingcowboy]

I 2nd this question. I bought mine used and it looks the same. (UNderside and front side mostly. ) It uses little to no oil between changes so I am sure it's no biggie, but it was used hard before I got it. I have not tried to clean it yet... just the thought has exhausted me thus far!

 

[DZink24]

Simple Green= Shiny Clean!!

I did mine the other night, I took the car to work, so that when I got home, I would have a cold motor to work on. I took my BHAF and wrapped it in a plastic garbage bag, and sprayed undiluted simple green all over the motor. Batteries, block, hoses, wires, valve covers, intake, everything. Let it soak a few minutes, then hose it off with the garden hose, preferably hot H2O if you have it. Don't be shy; use some force, it isn't tissue paper, it is an indusrial diesel motor. Think bulldozers, generators and tractors. Your truck is no different. Mine looks awesome!

 

[IanF]

Hmm... sounds good. Might try it this w/e as I have access to hot water at my house (slop-sink in garage w/ hose connection) but not at my g/f's house where the truck (and my tools) is currently residing until I get everything fixed.

 

[rbattelle]

I like the Simple Green, and I wash it down with a garden hose 2 or 3 times per year. It's not as beautiful as Hammer's, but it looks pretty good.

I wash after it sits all night, then let it sit overnight again before starting it up after it's washed. Just in case.

Ryan

 

[nickleinonen]

i too use simple green. . put it in a spray bottle and have at it. . the drivers side only seems to get dirty, so it gets more, and pass side gets very little. . turn on the hot water in the garage and spray it down to get it clean. sometimes the el cheapo electric pressure washer comes out if i feel like it [it gets done maybe once a year] i don't even bag up my bhaf. . it has the WR outerwears on it, so i just avoid direct spray. .

hmm, i need to remember to buy some too. .

oh, that castrol superclean stuff works pretty good too, but it will melt plastic/rubber. great for vinyl floor mats as it will strip off a thin layer along with the dirt [will look brand new]

 

[IanF]

Well, I used up about a 24 oz of Simple Green and let it soak for a good 1/2 hour... then hosed it off with full-hot water... it made a denti n the grime... a small dent...



I think I'm going to need to find something with a bit more "horsepower"...

 

[rbattelle]

Gunk engine brite works pretty well, and is a little stronger than Simple Green.

Beyond that, there's always lye, which comes conveniently packaged as "Castrol Superclean". Be careful with that stuff, though... can melt plastics.

Ryan

 

[Hammer]

Be careful with either Gunk or Super Clean...

IF you have any polished items under the hood they will both mark the aluminum and cause another round of polishing and you may never get the etching back out,been there done that... ... . Andy

 

[Cummins Pilot]

100LL will take the grease & oil off the engine. It will take white off rice. Haven't found a better cleaner yet.



I will not use simple green at all. Simple green if left on (areas hard to reach) will cause corrosion. Even drenching your engine with lots of water you still will probably miss some of the soap somewhere. We won't use it cleaning airplanes anymore because of this. I know some of you won't care about possible corrosion but in aircraft world corrosion is killer.

 

[David_VT]

I am with above...



I've done the simple green a few times now and will not do it again. I thought I had done a bad job rinsing after the last degrease because the corrosion under my hood has exploded from last year.



I actually went back this spring with light weight oil in a windex bottle and hit everything I could on the firewall and fenderwells.



Really sad to see what this environment is doing to my truck...

 

[IanF]

Great... well... I don't think I have to worry about corrosion to much... the thick layer of grime all over the engine bay should over good protection... Gee... I didn't know when I bought the truck I'd be buying another British vehicle...



What is 100LL and where do you get it?

 

[Cummins Pilot]

100LL is Aviation Gasoline(not to be confused with jet fuels). It is not intended to be a cleaner. I've found it works even better when the block is warm (NOT HOT!) so the oil loosens up. It also contains lead though not much. Most airports have it. Right now its about 4bucks a gallon.



I'm not advocating use of 100LL as a cleaner, I'm just letting you know what it can do if someone where to use it, do as you please though.

 

[ADugger]

This is about the sweetest underhood photo-op that I have seen on a 12V. What's the scoop on your valve cover?

 

[IanF]

100LL is Aviation Gasoline(not to be confused with jet fuels). It is not intended to be a cleaner. I've found it works even better when the block is warm (NOT HOT!) so the oil loosens up. It also contains lead though not much. Most airports have it. Right now its about 4bucks a gallon.



I'm not advocating use of 100LL as a cleaner, I'm just letting you know what it can do if someone where to use it, do as you please though.

Ah... gotcha...



FWIW (as you probably already know), gasoline is classified as a solvent, whereas deisel is classified as a lubricant... one reason why gas in a diesel fuel system is so bad for the fuel pump... as it's designed to be lubricated by what it's pumping...



Hopefully, I can find time to give the engine a good cleaning... unfortunately, I have about 3 other car-projects ahead of that... I might drain the coolant (again... ) and pull the radiator (again... ) and start removing other ancillary components to get better access since I still need to tab the KDP as well... have parts; need time...

 

[Hammer]

This is about the sweetest underhood photo-op that I have seen on a 12V. What's the scoop on your valve cover?

ADugger...

Its a set of breather valve covers off of a Case/New Holland tractor application which allows more vents for the crankcase pressure. I have mounted two of them and ran the hoses back to the transfer case area. It helped a ton relieve pressures accociated with big turbos and rpms.



Thanks for the props on my underhood shot and I try and keep her clean like that as much as possible.



Its nice to see Dan still lurking about too... ... ... Andy

 

[PSteinis]

FWIW,I use hydro-Force degreaser at work and it does the job. However,after having used this product for awhile,I've noticed an increase in belt dry rotting quicker. That degreaser is pulling the oil right out of the belt. i'm not saying don't use it,just be judicious as to where you are spraying it.