What did you use?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
What did you use?
I purchased a car with two leaking valve cover gaskets. 
Needless to say the under body is quite a mess. I tried some Gunk Engine Cleaner and a garden hose and it didn't touch it. The grease and grime is pretty thick in places. I want to be able to spray a product on liberally. Then I thought I'd power wash it. What products have you used that will cut through this mess?
Needless to say the under body is quite a mess. I tried some Gunk Engine Cleaner and a garden hose and it didn't touch it. The grease and grime is pretty thick in places. I want to be able to spray a product on liberally. Then I thought I'd power wash it. What products have you used that will cut through this mess?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
Castrol Super Clean does a decent job. If it's that messy, I doubt you're gonna find a spray it on, hose it off cleaner that will get it completely clean. You're probably gonna have to get dirty on this one by scrubbing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Simple green works pretty well but most any of the engine degreasers will do ok, go ahead with the pressure washer, it will not hurt anything, just be careful around the wireing. Depending on the pressure washer you can blow off labels, cut insulation and that kind of thing. Don't worry about water in the distributor, you can dry it out. Take off the air cleaner for better access and put a towel and plastic bag over the carb with a rubber band and go to town on it
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 38
From: Los Gatos CA
In San Jose we have a place that does steam cleaning. They did "top and bottom" starting on a lift and then on level ground. Best $120 I have ever spent. As Six posted, be mindful of labels, etc.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 67
From: Midland Ontario
NCM Sinkhole Donor
If you have access to this, it's as trick as removing paint with dry ice. Our maintenance guys at work use this procees to clean all their presses......where you need a quality job in a short period of time.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
I did a search for the steam cleaning procedure in the Austin area with no success. So it looks as though it's time to get dirty. I'll take all of your advice and do it right with the scrapers and such. Then I'll get out the degreaser and pressure washer. Thanks guys. 
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 149
Likes: 3
From: Chadron Ne
Super Clean from Wal-Mart proved to be pretty great at removing the grease from underneath my 72. Its dirt cheap but really workes well. Most parts I could just spray it on, wait about 5 minutes and hose off the grease. I did not expect it to work as well as it did, it is pretty caustic stuff but the label says its all biodegradeble.
Just my 2 cents.
Mike
Just my 2 cents.
Mike
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,325
Likes: 1,588
From: Western NY
I purchased a car with two leaking valve cover gaskets. Needless to say the under body is quite a mess. I tried some Gunk Engine Cleaner and a garden hose and it didn't touch it. The grease and grime is pretty thick in places. I want to be able to spray a product on liberally. Then I thought I'd power wash it. What products have you used that will cut through this mess?
Needless to say the under body is quite a mess. I tried some Gunk Engine Cleaner and a garden hose and it didn't touch it. The grease and grime is pretty thick in places. I want to be able to spray a product on liberally. Then I thought I'd power wash it. What products have you used that will cut through this mess?I'd begin with a "milder" cleaner first, before "bringing out the Howitzers", by using a pressure washer. My suggestion would be as others mentioned, Simple Green or Castrol Clean, and use a stiff bristled "parts cleaning brush", that's available at most auto parts stores. Something else I've also used in the past, is laundry detergent or Dawn dishwashing liquid, again with a cleaning brush...
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
I used a combination of Simple Green and a generic brand oil/degreaser. Spray it on, let it sit, and clean with either a scotch brite pad or rags depending on the location.
For some spots I also used a spray such as WD 40 or some other petroleum lubricant then cleaned with a rag.
kdf
For some spots I also used a spray such as WD 40 or some other petroleum lubricant then cleaned with a rag.
kdf
Pro
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 517
Likes: 2
From: Orlando FL
Zep industrial degreaser and cleaner from Home Depot, no scrubbing, I did my engine compartment when I took the engine out. I did power wash after it is super clean. You can get it in 5 gal or 1 gallon. you can make 25 gallons from the 1 gallon.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
Update
Well I got out the power washer and the Castrol Super Clean this morning. Got all geared up in a suit, mask, gloves, and goggles and crawled under the beast. It was a pretty messy job but I got it done in about 45 minutes. There are still some grease deposits on the side of the transmission and on the rear end housing. That stuff is really on there good. I'm going to get the Zep industrial strength cleaner and go after those deposits again. For the most part it got pretty clean under there. Thanks for all of the advice my friends!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 3
From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
This 250 degree steam cleaner...works like magic on baked on grease/oil. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...1859_200321859
