Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Engine cleaner

[tkirkpatrick]

Anybody know of a good engine cleaner and should the engine be hot or cold?

 

[madmanmanick]

I have found simple green concentrate to be a very good for cleaning engines. The stuff can be used in parts washers. As for hot or cold, that depends on you. I find that it works better when the engine is hot, but I tend to burn myself on the engine parts. Hope this helps.

 

[Sticks]

I have found simple green concentrate to be a very good for cleaning engines. The stuff can be used in parts washers. As for hot or cold, that depends on you. I find that it works better when the engine is hot, but I tend to burn myself on the engine parts. Hope this helps.

+1



I'm partial to a colder engine - below 90*. Gives the simple green time to run down rather than flash evaporation.

 

[Curious Dave]

I like Super Clean. It is in purple gallon bottles at Walmart for 8 bucks. It is caustic and will eat the top layer of skin if you get it on you. Use gloves and use it straight. It works awesome.

 

[tkirkpatrick]

Thanks everyone for your expertise. TK

 

[BIGNASTY]

Super clean

I like Super Clean. It is in purple gallon bottles at Walmart for 8 bucks. It is caustic and will eat the top layer of skin if you get it on you. Use gloves and use it straight. It works awesome.

If it eat's up your skin and you need gloves what will it do to elect. wiring and plastic? Sounds like the driveway cleaner I use but dont tell the tree huggers here in Commiecal.

 

[ShawnC]

I like a warm engine and Dawn soap, sent to work in all oil spill wildlife clean-ups. I've also heard engines have a coating that engine cleaners can remove and possilbly open engine parts to rust. Dawn worked great for me, a sponge and a hose- don't wash your pcm (pass side firewall). Have fun

 

[Midnite]

If you use Simple Green, make sure you rinse it all off. It can chew up aluminum.

 

[Hitec.Redneck]

I found this soap called Charlies All Purpose Cleaner and was amazed how it cleans. You can dilute it but on really oily stuff I use it pure. I just spray it on, let it sit a few minutes and blast if off with the water hose. Its really good stuff.

 

[Ncostello]

I make a strong solution of plain Dawn water and my pressure washer siphons that in at low pressure to coat everything. I also have a stubby pressure gun with changable tips, so I can get into the tight areas around the motors, axles and other places.



I also use Simple Green (fairly strong) in a pump up sprayer. All this works really great. And I've never seen SG do anything to aluminum. Its biodegradable too.



I avoid using "engine foams" or anything that has petroleum distillates in it. Makes an oily residue on my concrete drive, stinks and on and on. Simple Green just flushes away clean.



And I don't like the purple clean, super clean and other type of cleaners. Mainly because they always turn my hoses whitish and leave a chalk like residue on EVERYTHING it touches. Thats my experience.



Biggest tip in washing??? Ain't nothing fast about the job. Its gonna take time to do an engine bay properly and get everything at all angles. You're gonna get wet, dirty and mad sometimes. And if its spring or fall... COLD!!!



If your into things like cab air fresheners or indoor plug in air fresheners... Dawn soap comes in many new scents like "Spring Rain" or "Country Fresh". I use the good ole blue plain soap smelling stuff.



And if I do a serious clean down with lots of water usage... I usually plan (schedule) to do an oil change afterwards. You never know here a gulp of water might enter the engine.