Best Way To Clean Engine

It's starting to get like spring here in Texas and I've got spring cleaning a bit early.I've read the Pelican parts tech article by Bev Frohm and it deals mainly with the going to the car wash thing.I'm interested in cleaning the engine in my garage.What is the best way to accomplish this? what is the best cleaner to use?
Thanks !

If you can pull your car outside where you can get a hose to it and have good drainage, then go to auto zone and get a gallon of that engine cleaner in the purple and white jug. Get a parts cleaning brush too. I take it you'll leave the engine in the car, so pour some of the cleaner in a pan or bowl and using the parts brush (after you've covered your distributor well) slop that bad stuff all over it. Let it sit for ten minutes, then scrape the thick dirt & grease off with a screwdriver. Keeping the brush wet with cleaner, scrub the engine everywhere, going over and over the dirtiest places. Don't rinse with water till you've lathered it up really good. When you think you've scrubbed enough, hit it with a hard spray of water. Rinse it till all the white residue comes off. Then you'll probibly have to do it again- and again. Pretty soon your engine and anything else in the vicinity will look really clean. Do wear some rubber gloves cause that stuff will dry your hand skin till it cracks. Of course when you're through, wipe all your electrics nice & dry.

I just did this for two of our cars. I will only need to do this once for each car; once you perform this procedure going to the local car wash is good enough.

Car is on four 'jacks; lots of room under car to move around. Old blanket is used for my body, cardboard sheets (bicycle boxes from local shop) under car. I use the Foamy type of degreaser, spraying it on and then loosening the dirt using a combination of large to small paint brushes along with a couple of stiff bristle brushes like those you see for degreasing tubs. Careful around pickup points, electrics, etc.

I get as much crap loosened up as possible, getting in from all angles and making sure not to push dirt into areas where it oughtn't be. Spray on more cleaner, push it around. When I am happy, I then use warm water in a 5-gallon sprayer we use for gardening. You pump to create pressure, has wand, etc. I regulate the light flow from the wand end of warm water, letting the water and gunk pool together on the carboard sheets I have under the area I am cleaning. Keep at it, and eventually I have a very clean engine/trans area. The carboard is toast, but my garage floor remains clean.

Then I go with a jack to the local car wash. Jack the car up and finish the job with the caustic and nasty chemicals available. The point is that you need "hands-on" cleaning to get things started; very difficult to remove years of crud with a simple wand and pressure at the local.

Crude but effective you might say!

Jw

How about the Porsche dealer "steam cleaning" the underbody? How might that be different than what's described here (other than the obvious cost!!.. San Antonio dealer quotes $75 for this procedure.)

I used the foamy STP/Gunk stuff like JDUB, but wasn't nearly as neat as he describes! Worked like a banshee and got even dirtier, but it worked. Got about 80% of the crud off, but would still like to get the last few crumbs out.

Cotton:

I think the $75.00 could be well spent doing this. First off, if any electrics act up it is already at the dealership, and next you have a very clean underside that can be inspected by a reputable tech/body guy for hidden problems. If possible, be there when it is done with dirty clothes on (keep a sheet for the driver's seat) and poke the crud that remains, letting him soak it off after your "dirty work". Basically the guy doing the work is not going to go the extra, extra mile to do this.

I'd also make sure it was done on a hot day after which all of the moisture will be wicked out via the heat. Take the car for a good long drive.

Jw

If you have a truck or car with a hitch...

I rented a 1200psi, 200degF pressure washer for a day for $40. This is also known as a "Hotsy" machine. I soaked the really dirty areas with brake cleaner the night before. Towed it to my house, put the car up on blocks in the driveway, covered up the important electrics and went to work. Man did this work great! Totally clean w/in about 1.5 hours. Then I cleaned the driveway with it. Well worth the effort and pretty cheap too.

Hope this helps.
Nick.

------------------
_ ______ _
Nick Shumaker
1982 911SC Coupe