Anyone steam clean the top and bottom of their rear engine?
 

What do you have to watch out for? Any downsides? How about just the bottom?

Stay away from electronics and intake and you are good.

Why steam clean? Is it that dirty? Start with the engine warm, spray a safe degreaser like P21S Total Auto Wash (ph balanced citrus cleaner), scrub a few heavy areas, rinse and repeat if needed. Pressure wash and steam cleaners can get water into places you really don't want.

Hold on there, Joe.

Steam cleaners have about the same pressure as the squirtie bottle of the P21S, which is not much. Given old Porsches have no rubber seals in their connectors, I think the risk is equal.

Melt the grease vs dissolve the grease. Both/either are better than 3000 psi water pressure.

Dry ice cleaning is worth checking into

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I was against degreasers for their toxic qualities, I will check out P21s, thanks for the heads up.

Trying to see if there are any current leaks under there.

Hot pressure/steam cleaners are the way to go. The underside of a 911 engine, (or really any other engine), has nothing that cannot be blasted all day w steam. It's less heat than the normal operating temp of the engine and transmission and there are no sensitive hoses or connections underneath.

The top of the engine requires some care but is still cleanable. The smart time to do
it is when the engine and trans are out for some normal engine out service. Dropping an air-cooled 911 engine trans is a small job that can be done in any garage or level driveway.

People suggesting other methods such as Simple Green and cold water or solvent simply don't know what they are talking about. I've spent half my life doing this stuff. I work on cars/bikes/trucks and I'm a clean freak.

Thanks Denis, sounds like you know your stuff; any leads on where to get it done in our area?

Those little mini-steam cleaners do not work.

These work, but are not cheap

https://www.pressurewashersdirect.com/power/steam-pressure-washers.html

Plastic bags over the alternator, distributor and intake. Blow out the spark plug holes with compressed air right after.

Use a lower-pressure power washer or hose.
Always wear eye/ear protection and even a shower cap you dummy. (Grease aint the word.)
The P21s stuff is pretty effective and mild stuff, but as always reduce it and don't let it sit on paint as always.
Wash all the other grime off while you are at it.
Repeat.
You did not get it all the first time, and you don't want to do it again next month.

Drive it on clean streets.
You are tired but now is a good time for fresh wax or whatever else is needed.

there are.

It's not a leak, it's rust preventer!

SmileWavy

We use one of those in our shop, all the time. Works great. The heat makes a huge difference. Losses up and removes the baked on oil, tar and dirt.

With those larger ones, you could clean the engine bay of an old ship or the bottom of an old locomotive, etc. Those are serious tools.

Even the smallest hot pressure washers will remove chewing gum from rough sidewalk pavement that's been there for 20 years and is as flat as the cement. Think about that one. :)

It's getting tougher to find a place, I used to use a truck wash in DTLA near my studio but they did a terrible job and charged a lot so I quit them. Haven't found another. I have my own hot pressure washer but the problem is finding a place to use it, you need a serious clarifying drain to be legal.

I usually do a first clean at a coin car wash w Gunk spray engine cleaner and then do the finer touch-up w my hot pressure washer. Coin car washes have clarifying drains but most don't like you doing any engine cleaning.

You haven't mentioned what your car is exactly but the very best job would be done @ the Dr. Detail place I referred to earlier:

https://www.doctordetail.com/

You can also PM me for my phone# and I'll try to help you as best I can. :cool:

i soak it with engine degreaser and go at it. good way to find out if you have any issues, especially with EFI.

On rare occasions I will hook up a hose to my hot water heater, and turn the temp up to "Boil Alive" I pre-soak the engine with degreaser - I like the yellow stuff from Harbor Freight

On my 911 I wrap any of the electronics with zip lock bags, then hit the top with simple green or purple power (mixed not straight) then use a pump sprayer with hot water to rinse. I have a bit more control with the pump sprayer. On the bottom, I spray with purple power mix then turn down pressure and turn up heat on my pressure washer and clean the bottom of the engine. Once done, I use my backpack blower to dry the top end and remove the bags.

I have a 92 964 5spd coupe. Let me try Dr Detail and let you know. I am not a big wrench myself, always hire an expert when I can; the trick is finding the right expert.