Have you ever hosed down your 911 motor or any motor to clean it? How to?

[cantdrv55]

I screwed up. I've had the motor out of my SC for, Vash says a year-and-a-half, I say a few months. Anyway, it's been on a furniture dolly next to the car collecting dust. My house is in the middle of a remodel and the contractors had to stash materials in the garage. No big deal. But, they've been cutting on my driveway and now the SC motor is covered in a layer of sawdust. Fuch!

Anyway, the motor was out because of an oil leak so all that sawdust is stuck on the oil. My intention is to vacuum and spray with Simple Green and wipe down but I think it'll be faster and easier if I hosed it down with degreaser then water. What do you think? Have you ever done this to your 911 engine? What's the process? What cleaner/degreaser should I use? Or, should I get off my lazy a$$ and proceed with plan A?

By the way Vash, would it be OK if I got your furniture dolly wet? I know you'll be reading this thread.

[yelcab1]

Chris,

Mistake number 1 was to remove the engine and then stop working on it
mistake number 2 was to stop working on the engine and not covering it up with a piece of plastic

Never fear, this is doable but you will want to

remove the air box, intake manifolds, very easy now that the engine is sitting on a dolly. Plug up the intake holes. Cover the dizzy with a tight plastic bag. Remove the plastic air shrouds and clean that real well on the front lawn with soap and water.

Spray engine with simple green, scrub, lightly spray with water, and repeat. you can finish it up with carb cleaner and rags.

Vash won't mind if his furniture dolly gets wet and real dirty after this episode. You can always buy him a new one at Orchard Supply for $20.

[yelcab1]

By the way, it would have been better if you can mount it on a engine stand and rotate it to let the water drip off, and or leave it out in the sun to dry off. Come over and borrow my engine yolk if you need one.

[JJ 911SC]

It took some time (10 hrs) but I did it in situ using 7th Generation: Natural All Purpose Cleaner, Green Mandarin & Leaf http://www.seventhgeneration.com. Its better than Simple Green.

[Jim Garfield]

Simple Green will etch aluminum, I wouldn't use it on the engine.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Jim Garfield

Simple Green will etch aluminum, I wouldn't use it on the engine.

7th Generation does not... and you can even clean the big white telephone with it.

[cashflyer]

I have washed more than one engine and have not had a problem, however my situation was a bit different than what you describe.

When I did the reseal of my 911 engine, I had it out of the car and on a stand. I removed the CIS and electrical stuff, then I sprayed the engine down with Gunk, let it soak a few minutes, and hosed it off. Repeat as necessary. I didn't use a power-washer, but I did use a hose with the handle that concentrates the stream for more direct force.

I left it in the sun the rest of the day, then wheeled it back into the shop. It was a couple of days before I really got started back on it, and I was removing the heads, jugs, etc, so I was not worried about any remaining water anyway.

Your engine does get wet in the rain, so it can stand water ON it. But you will have to be careful about getting water IN it. Or, since you said it was OILY - take this opportunity to reseal it.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I've been hosing down engines for 50 years and maybe twice got something electrical wet and had to dry a few plug boots or a distributor. I've hosed down engines in 1936 Fords with Strombergs and and in 2009 cars filled with microprocessors and it works just fine.

Obviously you use a little common sense. Keep the direct spray away from carburetors, don't continually drench delicate electronics, etc. Sure, I should carefully bag the PMOs on my SC but I don't--I'm just careful not to spray them.

I now use P21S Total Auto Wash as the solvent on engines and other stuff I want to de-oil. The name of the product makes it sound like it's intended as carwash, but it's actually a degreaser. And no, I wouldn't dream of using a powerwasher.

Okay, now I'm ready for the flood of responses telling me I'm going to destroy my ABS or whatever. Hasn't happened so far, and soon I'll no longer care...

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I pressure wash stuff under the hoods of my cars all the time. Just pay attention to where you're shooting.

Simple Green Extreme Aircraft & Precision Cleaner is what I use - great stuff and is much less reactive than the (pretty alkaline) regular S.G.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

+ on the P21S. That stuff works very well. Also, DO NOT use Simple Green. Not good for aluminum. Just cover all the electrical bits with plastic and have at it.

[porschenut]

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

I now use P21S Total Auto Wash as the solvent on engines and other stuff I want to de-oil.

+1. There is nothing safer and it's a great degreaser. It's really an all-purpose cleaner and it won't harm the paint either. In fact, I use it on the front bumper as a bug remover when I wash my cars.

Simple Green isn't a good idea on an aluminum engine. There are plenty of other products that are safer and just as effective.

[GaryR]

Originally Posted by JJ 911SC

It took some time (10 hrs) but I did it in situ using 7th Generation: Natural All Purpose Cleaner, Green Mandarin & Leaf http://www.seventhgeneration.com. Its better than Simple Green.

That is some great stuff!! I'm worried about it changeing the color of my wires and dissolving my air box though..

[FastCarFan]

Originally Posted by JJ 911SC

It took some time (10 hrs) but I did it in situ using 7th Generation: Natural All Purpose Cleaner, Green Mandarin & Leaf http://www.seventhgeneration.com. Its better than Simple Green.

Originally Posted by GaryR

That is some great stuff!! I'm worried about it changeing the color of my wires and dissolving my air box though..

But it looks like it makes decals reappear!

[cantdrv55]

Thanks guys. Thanks Mitchel for offering up the yolk.

[JP911]

Personally, I'd rather do it by hand rather than use a hose, sprayer, power washer, etc. The potential for problems that you will have to chase in the long run just isn't worth it.

[cantdrv55]

Yeah, I'm going to vacuum off as much as I can and then use a degreaser and a rag. If that doesn't work, I'll have to resort to a hose.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

You'll be resorting to a hose.

[cantdrv55]

I think I can, I think I can...

[vash]

my homemade dolly!!!!

shopvac, air hose, then water wash, then once you get the dolly clean, turn your attention to the motor.

[DanielDudley]

Do you have a compressor ? Blow it off with air before you start cleaning, if you are going to avoid water. I have hosed off many engines, but I have also wiped down many with WD40, a rag and some toothbrushes. Dirt in your cylinders is as bad or worse than water, so plug those ports.