Cleaning Engine

B D · 05-30-2003, 02:28 PM

Going to detail the engine area on my 68 and remove all that old grease and dirt. Does anyone have any tips on cleaning the engine area, specifically what products to use on the all the rubber? Should I use a degreaser or just good old elbow grease? Anything I should avoid or be careful of?

Superman · 05-30-2003, 02:44 PM

Don't be shy, unless you want this to take many many many hours. Take it to a car wash and pressure wash the poop out of it. Or better yet, get it steam cleaned. After that, your detailing job will be easier.

steve911 · steve911's Garage

there are a couple of tech articles on cleaning/detailing your engine compartment that are very helpful

kpfoten · 05-30-2003, 02:52 PM

I got the stubborn spots out with a toothbrush and some mineral spirits/paint thinner... (New concept for tooth whitening?)

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

This stuff is the she-it.

Tom

edit: bigger picture

Jim Richards · 05-30-2003, 03:08 PM

Tom, where do you get that she-it?

pbs911 · pbs911's Garage

That she-it is at pep-boys. I like it too, but it says it is not to be used on paint. I find that Simple Green works great and will not harm the paint. It will also please the tree huggers.

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

It is a Castrol product, I get it at the local auto parts chain, but you should be able to find it damn near anywhere. I know Wal Mart has it, and I think I have seen it in grocery stores.

It is "Biodegradable and phosphate-free, non-abrasive and non-flammable."

Tom

HarryD · 05-30-2003, 05:57 PM

A few weeks ago, I removed my alternator and noticed that I could not see the fins on the tops of my heads or cylinders

. I used a few cans of Gunk Engine Brite to clean that stuff off. Engine seems to run a bit cooler.

You should consider cleanng this area as well as the outside of your engine.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Simple Green and hot water!!! Works great on grease/dirt, etc....

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Simple Green and hot water!!! Works great on grease/dirt, etc....

I don't dilute it, use it full strength and rinse with hot water before and after spraying it on.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 05-31-2003, 02:29 PM

P21S Auto Wash. Unless you _want_ to use all that cheap she-it.

Stephan

chrisp · 05-31-2003, 05:25 PM

How about waterproofing the electrical stuff? I want to do my SC and I would expect that I should plastic bag some stuff in the engine bay to keep water off of it. Maybe I don't need since none of you have mentioned it yet.

HarryD · 05-31-2003, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chrisp
How about waterproofing the electrical stuff? I want to do my SC and I would expect that I should plastic bag some stuff in the engine bay to keep water off of it. Maybe I don't need since none of you have mentioned it yet.

It is strongly suggested you DO waterproof. I think I haven;t mentioned it becuz I KNOW

we all know to do this.

thanks for keeping us on our toes.

GSpreeman · GSpreeman's Garage

The last time I used Gunk it turned left a white film on all of the aluminum parts. Use the she-it referenced above.

code7rpd · 05-31-2003, 09:14 PM

Another good product is the engine degreaser sold by Griot's Garage. It works really well and does not have noxious fumes. A bottle of that, a high pressure sprayer, and a few cans of brake cleaner will do a good job. Be careful with the Gunk degreasers because if you get any on a plastic or rubber surface and do not rinse it off thoroughly, it will eat through the surface. Ask me how I know.

HarryD · 05-31-2003, 09:38 PM

Well,

No more gunk for me.

Don''t want to find out if these horror stories are true.

hbrand · hbrand's Garage

If you really want to clean an engine, you have to : disconnect battery, remove fan, alternator, carburettors and fan shroud. Then you need to put a lot of towels into the intake manifold.
Then you vacuum all the stuff between the fins AND the OILCOOLER! then you flush. After you cleaned and detailed then you can reinstall all the parts taken out. this takes only one day.

thanks, harold

sithot · 06-01-2003, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by emcon5
This stuff is the she-it.

Tom

edit: bigger picture

This stuff will take the paint off of motorcycle wheels. I know this for a fact. Any of the concentrated "purple" cleaners out there should be dealt with carefully. They do work but know what it is you are putting it on first.

304065 · 06-01-2003, 07:14 AM

Yeah, don't breathe the vapors from that Sheez-Nit. I squirted a whole bottle on my 901 trans yesterday, it does the job well (with some agitation to take off the caked on stuff) but will irritate your eyes, lungs and stings exposed skin. Not QUITE in the same way that brake cleaner will, but be careful.