R6T7

Would appreciate any tips on best ways to clean C2 engines - what others have found are the best cleaning agents, what to protect from water, etc. I'm mainly concerned with oil and dirt buildup on my 327/300, not major restoration.

Do I mask off distributor, carburetor and alternator, spray it down with simple green and hose it off, or are there better ways?

Thanks,

Bob

Bluestripe67

It all may depend on how dirty it is. Anything caked on will need scrubbing or scraping. Beyond that, warm the engine up, cover/wrap the alternator, carb and regulator with foil. Spray Simple Green or equivalent on, let it sit a while, then spray with low to moderate pressure. This is exactly what I have done for several years. Dennis

pop23235

Best/easiest/least damage I've encountered is a warm engine, a paint brush and the old GoJo hand cleaner. Not the one with pumice!

Yellow6t7

Been doing the same as Dennis, aka Bluestripe67.

But yesterday at the BMW dealership I notice that they clean the engines with Acetone aerosol spray cans. Asked the mechanic and he said they also use brake cleaner, but the acetone has less smell. Should tell you I have not tried this yet myself.

Bluestripe67

Acetone, brake cleaner....really! I'm far removed from being a chemist, but those things don't seem compatible with sensitive components under the hood of a car. Dennis

Nowhere Man

That and will remove or blister paint.

AkrHack

I've always used a similar process that Bluestripe67 uses with a warm engine but I only cover the carb (with the air cleaner removed) and the distributor with plastic grocery bags. I then spray the engine and engine compartment with the degreaser named Gunk. I let it sit and work for 15-20 minutes before hosing it down with hot water.

KC John

When I was a kid I worked at a dealership making used cars ready for sale and we used kerosine with a paint brush, then rinsed with water and sprayed the engine and bay with clear lacquer. I'll bet the dealers still do that today.

It looked almost brand new when we were done, but I often wondered how long the clear took to flake off and look terrible. The kerosine was safer than gas or anything that was very flammable, but the clear was something I would never do to any of my cars.

davekp78

An old formula was kerosene and Mr Clean- 50/50 mix.

65hihp

Gunk, hot soapy water, Presto!

Yellow6t7

Dennis, I must agree with you. For as long as I can remember I have always cleaned engines with either Gunk, for heavy greased areas, or simple green and dish washer soap and rinsing off with water from hose.

I think if I looked more closely at the BMW mechanic I bet he was just spraying off heavy grease and dirt. But he did use 2 cans of the aerosol.

Pop Chevy

I'm in the kerosene camp, I even use it on my Harley's. Small container with a soft parts cleaner brush or a stiffer brush for really bad areas. Rinse with water.

warrenmj

I do same as Dennis, but use Dawn dish detergent.

ghostrider20

High pressure washer with hot water. Works great.

jimh_1962

I get to do clean my engine bay and underneath this weekend. Lots of fun!

survivor66

Anybody try diesel fuel? A rebuilder I know uses it on really bad engines and frames.

jimh_1962

I have used mineral spirits to clean some things.

survivor66

The problem with that is it's a paint remover!

jimh_1962

No not really when it is very light use. Mostly, I used it on the bolts and such to remove any deposits. Yeah, I am not doing it on the painted body. Just cleaning the exhaust and unfinished surfaces. I have used it on the bare glass underneath. Like i said light use. I did use it with a scotchbrite pad on the exhaust pipes to remove oil from a valve cover leak.