Engine cleaning

[emac]

Is it safe to use Gunk or power wash our motors?. I have a stock 81 SC. I know that I would have to cover up the dizzy etc.

[Paul K]

Great question. I saw in a recent issue of the UK magazine '911 & Porsche World' that a guy sprayed that foaming cleaner stuff on his engine then pressure-washed it off. Anyone?

Cheers,

Paul.

[SCWDP911]

Let me please add the question of whether or not you can clean the area under the shroud (with the heater ducts off) by using something similar and water... I am wondering if the water will run out OK, or ??

This is probably a stupid question, so be kind... please...

[4flyboy]

There are no stupid questions just tough crowds.......I'm subscribed!

Scott

[Rot 911]

As long as you don't point the power washer at something critical like the dizzy or the airbox, powerwash with abandon! Try to just point it at the substantial metal parts and not gasket edges. That sort of thing. Once you have it cleaned up a once a year spraying with some Orange Citrus, or the like, and your water hose will keep it nice and clean.

V8, I have kept up with your backdating thread. If it was me, I would pull the alternator then vacuum out all the loose material you find. Then have at it with the power washer.

[RWebb]

I would NOT use a pressure washer.

START with a shop vac - esp. for the tops of the fins under the shroud

next up - use a scraper - an angled piece of soft wood like pine or fir is ideal - Forest Certified Redwood will work too

Then, move to a non-polar (water based detergent).

Next, a polar cleaner - depending on what it okks like use Gunk or Oil Flow Safety Solv., varsol, etc.

In the 2 steps above, use a brush - brass if you must; or nylon - avoid steel bristles even stainless steel bristles.

Repeat these 2 steps.

You are now ready for a touch up with brake cleaner if you want.

The only thing better than the above procedure will be to pull it all apart and soda blast it.

Be SURE anything Made of Mg is carefully coated again when you are done - Gady says use the Tectyl wax based product. I have done fine (with a garaged car) using Gibbs Brand and/or "Corrosion Block" - the latter is used on marine items.

Many threads on this so do a search

[davidbir]

I think it is worth bearing in mind that there are pressure washers and PRESSURE washers-if you see what I mean? I have a small, electric motor driven power washer that is rated at 1000 psi-I use it on my boat, on car engines etc. On the other hand, if you have a pressure washer with it's own gas engine it is probably putting out 2500-3500 psi and that CAN do damage. Horses for courses....

[rusnak]

You can do a lot of damage with a power washer.

I think it's safer on the underside of the car, but if you do use a power washer, use one with an adjustable regulator, and start with a wide spray pattern and the lowest possible pressure.

I use Super Clean, but dilute it with water by pre-washing the motor. It is an acid, so it will etch aluminum and harm paint, rubber, and cloth if you are not extremely careful.

Also, never wash a hot motor.

On the topside, I use strictly soap, water, and some mild degreaser like dish soap or Wurth.

[RWebb]

I would not use 1,000 psi - that is 10x to 14x supply pressure in a home.

I WOULD use the very hottest water I could find. A steam cleaner would be great.

I would wash a warm motor - be very careful not to spray water on a really hot component as rusnak notes.


Once clean, it is very very easy to keep it clean once a year with little effort.

[Por_sha911]

Pressure washing gets water in places you really don't want to go. An electric low power pressure wash may be safe if used carefully but I wouldn't do it. Pay special attention to the fuse cover on the left and the dizzy.
I learned from Car Care Specialties Inc that Gunk, Simple Green and and other strong cleaners are a major no-no. They react with AL and MG. The USAF will not allow Simple Green on the base due to the danger it poses to metals on their planes. Citrus cleaners are heavily acidic and can also cause problems. You can read all about it at www.carcareonline.com. If you are going to own a nice car, why cheap out on things? Do it right.
P21S Total Auto Wash is a citrus based cleaner that ph balanced. It works great but won't harm the metals. Our host sells it: http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/CARE/POR_CARE_P21SCL_pg4.htm.
While we're on the topic, P21S also makes a fantastic wheel cleaner that is a spray gel designed to work specifically on brake dust and the gel stays right where you spray it. http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/CARE/POR_CARE_P21SCL_pg5.htm
After using both products I won't use anything else.

[Jeff Higgins]

I simply warm it up and spray it down with Castrol Super Clean. Rinse with a garden hose spray nozzle, and it looks good as new. If your motor is really greasy, try one of the motorcycle washes. I like a product called "S100", available at any motorcycle shop. They say to use it on a cold motor, but I find it works better when it's a bit warm, but not hot. Be sure to rinse with a lot of water when using any of these products - they continue to attack aluminum and magnesium if not thoroughly rinsed.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Be sure to rinse with a lot of water when using any of these products - they continue to attack aluminum and magnesium if not thoroughly rinsed.

Why not just use a product that works great and will not attack the metal?

[The Curator]

I never understood why it did not catch on here, but in Europe specialty shops use steamers and not power washers. I certainly would never use a power washer, not on paint or on an engine!

[boxster03]

Steam

[KarlCarrera]

After reading all the previous threads, talking with other 911 owners, and based on my own experience, the question remains.....could I go to a car wash, using the engine cleaner selection, (the same one I use on all my cars), with very good results), and with-out pulling the trigger (thereby greatly increasing the available pressure) simply lay a cleaner on the engine (only) wait a few minutes, switch to rinse and (again w/o pulling the trigger) gently wash the engine throughly? I do know enough not to BLAST the engine, electronics, or alternator. I have been told by other owners to use simple green but this thread says no......All my vehicles have been cleaned this way, GTI's, Alfa's, 240 Z's, domestics, etc...
I've been waiting for this thread to come up and it will only enhance my 2 year ownership.
Not trying to hijack, just agree with the original post.

Karl

88 Targa
92 Spider Veloce (now in Pa.)
85 GTI (during the kids)
87 GTI (during the kids)
72 240 Z (before the kids)

[CT944]

I used a regular degreaser, let it soak in for 10 minutes, used a wheel brush to get into some of the tough-to-reach areas then rinsed it down with a garden hose. It came out great. I did the transmission while I was at it.

Do the top and bottom of the motor at the same time.

Just cover the fuses, dist and ignition box for added safety.

[davidbir]

Plain common sense goes a remarkably long way....

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

..... The USAF will not allow Simple Green on the base due to the danger it poses to metals on their planes. Citrus cleaners are heavily acidic and can also cause problems.....

I work for the Air National Guard. As in many things, partially true.

When I first heard about this, I checked with the guys in Corrosion Control (metal work and painting) Shop about the Technical Order concerning Simple Green. He told me that it is true that Simple Green is not allowed on the base. However, it is not it's corrosive effects on the metal but because of its effects on the coatings where it significantly reduces it's life and they need to strip and repaint more often.

[Vino]

Guys,

I used an engine degreaser from Wurth only on the underside away from the paint.

Honestly from all the other products I used from simple green to all kinds of citrus cleaners, non hold a candle stick to this product.

Caked on dirt to old baked on cosmoline just emulsifies within a couple minutes, you don't have to kill your self scrubbing like an idiot and I believe it's safe for the environment.

I would use the p21s on the top side of the engine instead of the wurth.
For the wheel wells try the wurth citrus degreaser.

If our host here sells any of these products, it's the best.

[Vino]

Here is the degreaser I used