Cleaning the bottom of the engine...

[dd74]

I'd like to check my engine for oil leaks. What is the best way to clean the bottom of the engine? Would one of the DIY car wash places have a hose with enough pressure to spray off all the schmutz, and what sort of solution would I use as the spray? Or is it suggested I get the car up on a rack (if possible) and spray it that way?

Thanks for your help.

[scooter911]

Simple Green. Degreaqses and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Dowse heavily, and spay off with water

[dd74]

Okay, I did check the archives, and Simple Green was mentioned. Also "Gunk." I figure Gunk won't hurt the aluminum or magnesium that makes up the engine and trans, so maybe I'll go with that.

Thanks.

[scooter911]

Be careful with Gunk. Fumes are strong do in a well ventilated area. Wear safety goggles. Simple green is Bio degradeable, won't hurt you the aluminum or the environment. Also won't distrub the rubber hoses. Good luck...

[speeder]

Actually, Simple Green can react w/ aluminum, I prefer using Gunk "Engine Brite" in the spray can, (available @ Pep Boys but not Auto Zone), don't buy the "foamy" stuff, buy the regular. Go to a coin wash w/ high-pressure sprayer, let the car cool down for a while first, (I have had the Gunk ignite in flames on exhaust parts more than once), spray the whole can on bottom of motor and trans, then high-pressure spray it off. Usually takes a couple of applications on separate days to really get a professional result.

After you have done the Gunk treatment, if you want to really detail it you can use Simple Green diluted and a long-handle scrub brush+ a garden hose w/ nozzle, but that would be a really inefficient way to remove the heavy stuff.

I may be renting a small, hot pressure washer this week, I will PM you in case you want to share in the expense and have a real under carriage cleaning party.

[dd74]

Well, I used the Gunk. The fumes took me back in time to places I don't want to get into just now.

...but it worked; both on my car and my head.

Denis: I like your plan. Let me know.

[Eric Coffey]

Brake/carb cleaner sprayed on a running/warm engine works wonders too. Not to enviro-friendly though.

[azasadny]

I've had good results with pressure washer/Simple Green combo using hot water and letting the Simple Green sit for 30 mins before rinsing.

[speeder]

Originally posted by Eric Coffey
Brake/carb cleaner sprayed on a running/warm engine works wonders too. Not to enviro-friendly though.

Not to enviro-friendly? Dude, you're gonna have a hole in the ozone layer right above your driveway.

Your liver ain't gonna be real happy either. I definitely go for a pristine engine and under-carriage, but some of the Brakecleen suggestions that I read here make my skin crawl.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally posted by speeder
Not to enviro-friendly? Dude, you're gonna have a hole in the ozone layer right above your driveway.

Your liver ain't gonna be real happy either. I definitely go for a pristine engine and under-carriage, but some of the Brakecleen suggestions that I read here make my skin crawl.

You just need a stronger immune system Denis! I use it for mouthwash when I run out of Listerine. I just can't figure out why I'm growing hair on my tongue.

[Stu Wilkinson]

Go buy some generic engine degreaser, follow the instructions.
Be careful not to hose up towards any electical parts. Easy.

[9elevenNL]

Yo Dudes,
I just jacked the 911 up, and put 'm on jack-stands. (1)Toke a old srewdriver to get the hardend dirt of, in the corners. (2)Then use a plastic brush (or buy one, the type you use to do the dishes). (3)To remove remaining dirt with Green Soap. I removed the rest with a Highpressure Cleaning Hoose. Finaly i did step(2) ones more, only then with Engine Cleaner. Repeated step (3) to finishe the job ! See the righthandside of the engineblock. Leftside almost done.

[KTL]

Citrus cleaner like Wurth or Xenit tackles the underbody wax/cosmoline crud. You gotta scrub it though. Then a shot of Simple Green thins out the slime created by the citrus. Soapy water (I like Dawn dishwashing liquid) rinses everything clean.

[svandamme]

damn Kevin... that's clean...

[jchatfield]

What about tracking leaks? I cannot vseem to trace mine and have heard of doing "dye" tseting. Anyone know about this? What to use and do you need an UV light?

[CHILI]

I'm with Kevin. I used Citrus cleaner. About 3 different brands. I found that Zap is by far the best. Smells nice, too I can't beleive the stuff it gets off. A broken down cardboard box underneath the car soaks it up well, too. I also used a brass wire brush and a screwdriver for the creveces (sp).

[tobluforu]

Get "Castrol super clean". It is by far the best!

[KTL]

The camera flash makes it look brighter than in reality. It's pretty dull. But there's no crud on there and that's fine with me!

Gotta watch out for that Xenit stuff (made by Stoner) I mentioned. It's in a spray can and the fumes are pretty strong. A drywall mask helps you battle the fumes a bit. Rubber gloves aren't a bad idea either.

Another product that works is called oil-flo. Car Care Specialties carries it:

http://www.carcareonline.com/detail.asp?product_id=11002

Wil Ferch recommends it, so it's gotta work.

By the way, is anybody else not receiving email notification from the Pelican BBS? Just wondering if it's only me? Thanks.

[teamgomez]

Aren't there any steam cleaning places around any more? The old motorheads swear by it, pressure cleaning just forces water places you don't want it; steam cleaning will dislodge the grime with heat and leave it looking spotless (so I'm told).

Anybody tried that one?

[ischmitz]

Castrol Super Clean does an awsome job, make sure you rinse well. Use a brush to get the hardened stuff and then pressure-wash everything off. Be careful with the pressure washer, you don't want to blow any O-rings out.

BTW: I don't get Email notifications either since yesterday. Once in a while there are strange error messages showing up, when I use the POST QUICK REPLY function.

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