Need a Good Degreaser/Cleaner
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 425
Likes: 3
From: Jefferson City Missouri
Need a Good Degreaser/Cleaner
What do you guys suggest to soak some parts in that have 45 year old grease on them? This is grease is that has turned into solid wax. Nothing seems to touch this stuff.
I'm cleaning up the tie rods and all other steering items. I believe the ball joints may still be good, but I need to get the grease out of them and new grease in. I hate to sandblast everything and I don't have a soda blaster (willing to get one if that is the only option).
I used a powerful power washer on it and it wouldn't touch most of it!
I'm cleaning up the tie rods and all other steering items. I believe the ball joints may still be good, but I need to get the grease out of them and new grease in. I hate to sandblast everything and I don't have a soda blaster (willing to get one if that is the only option).
I used a powerful power washer on it and it wouldn't touch most of it!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 140
From: Sadieville Kentucky
What do you guys suggest to soak some parts in that have 45 year old grease on them? This is grease is that has turned into solid wax. Nothing seems to touch this stuff.
I'm cleaning up the tie rods and all other steering items. I believe the ball joints may still be good, but I need to get the grease out of them and new grease in. I hate to sandblast everything and I don't have a soda blaster (willing to get one if that is the only option).
I used a powerful power washer on it and it wouldn't touch most of it!
I'm cleaning up the tie rods and all other steering items. I believe the ball joints may still be good, but I need to get the grease out of them and new grease in. I hate to sandblast everything and I don't have a soda blaster (willing to get one if that is the only option).
I used a powerful power washer on it and it wouldn't touch most of it!
Wes
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 497
From: Chino Hills CA
Use a screwdriver to scrape off as much of the crud as you can. Then use a wire wheel attachment on an electric drill. Then get a wide bucket or pan and use a hand wire brush, a stiff bristle brush and a solvent like gasoline, Don't forget eye and hand protection.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 425
Likes: 3
From: Jefferson City Missouri
I have and tried a couple of different degreasers, Right Stuff, Simple Green, etc and they work somewhat on oil and light grease. But none of them really eat away at the old grease that has turned to wax.
Oddly one of the products that really surprised me is Evapo-Rust. It's not really a degreaser but soaking rusty, dirty, greasy parts in it and they come out looking like new. But it doesn't work well on really greasy, waxy parts.
Oddly one of the products that really surprised me is Evapo-Rust. It's not really a degreaser but soaking rusty, dirty, greasy parts in it and they come out looking like new. But it doesn't work well on really greasy, waxy parts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
When I purchased my '81 it apparently had valve cover leaks for sometime. When I pulled the motor I tried to clean the frame and engine compartment of the old grease and oil. The gunk had turned exactly as you said. Similar to a wax. A power washer would not touch it. Unfortunately neither would any of the chemicals mentioned in the above posts. I ended up using laquer thinner, scotch brite pads, and a scraper. Tedious, time consuming, and very messy. Good luck with your endeavor. 
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 140
From: Sadieville Kentucky
and they look like new
Wes
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 497
From: Chino Hills CA
For medium size parts, put a wire wheel in an electric drill and mount the drill on a bench vise. Turn it on at a med speed and have at it. Just make sure you wear eye protection, heavy gloves, and watch for flying projectiles if the part slips out of your hand.