Engine Degreasing
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 8
From: Hamilton NJ
Engine Degreasing
Hi all,
I've replaced my leaky valve cover gaskets and want to clean the grease and oil from my engine. I did it once way back when on my (gasp) Hyundai and I managed to burn out the alternator. Any general words of wisdom on how to do this so I don't do any damage? My plan was to use GUNK or some equivalent and blast it off with the high presure hot water hose at the local car wash bay. Is gunk best used on a hot/warm engine? Seal off the alternator? Any other parts to avoid?
Many thanks
I've replaced my leaky valve cover gaskets and want to clean the grease and oil from my engine. I did it once way back when on my (gasp) Hyundai and I managed to burn out the alternator. Any general words of wisdom on how to do this so I don't do any damage? My plan was to use GUNK or some equivalent and blast it off with the high presure hot water hose at the local car wash bay. Is gunk best used on a hot/warm engine? Seal off the alternator? Any other parts to avoid?
Many thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 764
Likes: 2
From: THE OLDER I GET THE BETTER I WAS! NORTHERN ONTARIO
Avoid the distributor if possible cover it with plastic & elastic band...I never spray anything on a hot engine...warm at best...varsol & hot water works good too...cheap! try not to get it all over the paint & stuff you may end up with splotches no matter what you use.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Wrap the alternator, distibutor, and carb opening with plastic & tie wrap it tight. Avoid direct spray on electrical junctions, relays, etc... Carefull you don't splash the degreaser onto your fenders. Maybe cover them too..
Eddie
Eddie
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,338
Likes: 786
From: Redondo Beach, California
What year is your car? My 1968 was covered underneath with a lot of just awful grease/dirt/sand. I cleaned this all down to pretty much bare metal and painted the frame/engine parts. The metal surfaces, once i cleaned the grease, etc away were just like they came from the factory. The grease, oil,sand had done a great job preserving the frame and other parts. The thick film of grease and dirt is just horrible to look at but it does do a good job of protecting your car. Once you get all the grease, etc away, you should have plans to paint and protect parts.
I used an electric drill with a circular wire brush to brush away the grease and grit. Then I wiped the frame and parts down many times with lacquer thinner and paper towels. Finally when everything was pretty clean, I spray painted the frame and other parts. I like Eastwood chassis paints.
I used an electric drill with a circular wire brush to brush away the grease and grit. Then I wiped the frame and parts down many times with lacquer thinner and paper towels. Finally when everything was pretty clean, I spray painted the frame and other parts. I like Eastwood chassis paints.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 0
From: Beacon NY
Originally Posted by 68/70Vette
The grease, oil,sand had done a great job preserving the frame and other parts. The thick film of grease and dirt is just horrible to look at but it does do a good job of protecting your car. Once you get all the grease, etc away, you should have plans to paint and protect parts.
yup, I noticed the same thing with my '79. I attribute the bad oil leaks I had on my engine to saving the front half of my frame and suspension components.
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 5
From: Sacramento California
Originally Posted by Red_Shift
I sure wouldn't wash a hot engine. I think it would be a bad for it with the extream cooling in areas causing stress.
Oh and my 2 cents, simple green and the garden hose works quite well and won't damage paint.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Salem MA
Originally Posted by Red_Shift
I sure wouldn't wash a hot engine. I think it would be a bad for it with the extream cooling in areas causing stress.
1. cold engine, simple green, scrubbing, a controlled amount of water.
2. hot engine, steam cleaner, simple green. makes a total mess but if its real bad this is the way to get everything off of your engine and afterwards you can do whats left with step 1. the reason it has to be hot is because as soon as your done steam cleaning you gotta start the car and make it run against its will for like half an hour while the engine heat gets rid of the water that you just put everywhere you shouldnt.
disclaimer #2 shoudnt be used unless your car is a total **** hole. because all kinds of stuff will come off that you may not have wanted off. (decals, paint, chrome, wire insulation, anything that isnt really held on like its supposed to.)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,186
Likes: 45
From: detroit area
don't use degreaser on aluminum...... it'll fog it up.... trust me... my intake is proof....... and degreaser jacked up my paint on a few parts in the engine bay that i painted with engine paint..... so, i will be taking a few items apart and having them painted my body color so i can try to match it all up this time...
b
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,008
Likes: 38
From: Space Coast Gator Territory
DON"T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU: I sprayed some engine degreaser on my riding lawnmower engine right after mowing. I have been using engine degreaser on hot engines for many years with no problem, but not this time. The heat softens the grease and seems to move off much faster; and after 5 minutes I hose it off. This time the hot muffler must have ignited the degreaser spray and it burst into flames. Good thing a fire extinguisher was handy and it was quickly snuffed out. No damage and a lesson learned; I was lucky. I sure wouldn't want to hear about anyone losing their ride for wanting to keep it clean. Warm but not hot is the ticket and always keep an extinguisher handy. You can't have enough extinguishers in the house, garage and car. They saved me way more than their cost many times.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 33
From: Folsom Ca
Originally Posted by rihwoods
Ditto...Simple Green...sprayed it on...waited 10 minutes,power wash off...
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 7
From: Ontario
Unless it is really bad...it is amazing what dish soap and warm water can do with a long brissel soft brush. A little spray on brake cleaner for any oil/gas stains and they come right off. If you plan on repainting...SOS pads are great to both clean and scuff at the same time.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Brownstown MI.
I have owned British Triumphs for over twenty years and this is a very well known form of front frame preservation on these cars. As they say ,if a British car is not leaking oil then there is probably none in it.
