Cleaning the Engine
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
Cleaning the Engine
I bought my 96 LT4 not long ago and the engine is greasy and what not. I want to spiff it up...that way I open the hood and the grand sport engine just blings. Where do I start? I can wipe it down and all that but it still wont look snazzy. I dont want to add chrome or anything like that but I want to do basic things within a minimum budget possible to get it looking nice. Any tips...
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: st. Louis MO
re
I would not recommend heavy applications of engine degreaser and water. For obvious reasons. The secondary and other electric compnents can be easily damaged. I got my 1994 and the engine was not what I hoped it would be, but it was not bad either. I just took soap and water in a bucket with a sponge and varying size brushes and went to work. You could use some solvents in more heavily caked on parts. after all that I take a good plastic protectant and wipe down everything plastic. Let all the water dry then use 3-in-0ne or equivalent drip oil not spray can and re lube all the oil you just washed off. IE hinges,throttle linkage, hood latches like just a small dab of bearing grease. I'll post pics in a few minutes of my 94. It's all stock except for the k&N but it's so clean you could eat off it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 772
Likes: 6
From: Huntsville AL
I used the cheap brake cleaner that you get from Autozone for about $1.29 a can.
Does a good job of removing grease and buildup. Spray on and wipe off.
Just don't get it on painted surfaces. Bare metal parts - it works great. It will remove paint from the shocks and stuff.
After that - small bucket, brushes, rags, lots of dawn dishwashing det.
As for the aluminum parts - you can remove clean w/ a wire brush, paint w/ clear high temp engine paint and reinstall to keep them from oxidizing.
Still working on mine but it is getting there. Notice the shock, upper A-Arm, etc..
Does a good job of removing grease and buildup. Spray on and wipe off.
Just don't get it on painted surfaces. Bare metal parts - it works great. It will remove paint from the shocks and stuff.
After that - small bucket, brushes, rags, lots of dawn dishwashing det.
As for the aluminum parts - you can remove clean w/ a wire brush, paint w/ clear high temp engine paint and reinstall to keep them from oxidizing.
Still working on mine but it is getting there. Notice the shock, upper A-Arm, etc..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,604
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, Arizona
-Flame Suit On- 
I cover the opti area w/ rags, use a mild degreaser, and carefully hose away
-avoiding any direct spray @ opti. Then I use a can of the engine detailer spray and voila...
I've done this 4 or 5 times over the past couple years of ownership w/ no ill effects. While I'm not promoting hosing down your motor, I can tell you from experience that as long as you do as I have (cover the opti & do not direct spray directly at it) you SHOULD be fine. Click on "My LT4" for some larger engine pics.
Jeff
BTW...The whole process takes an hour or so.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Originally Posted by Achilleus07
Any tips...
Then go out and pressure wash that engine bay with Simple Green or Gunk or your favorite degreaser.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,770
Likes: 175
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
I agree with Jeff............ take your time, and as long as you don't spray directly on the opti you should be fine. A little Simple Green and a roll or two of paper towels goes a long way. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
Originally Posted by JEFNLSA
-Flame Suit On- I cover the opti area w/ rags, use a mild degreaser, and carefully hose away
-avoiding any direct spray @ opti. Then I use a can of the engine detailer spray and voila...
I've done this 4 or 5 times over the past couple years of ownership w/ no ill effects. While I'm not promoting hosing down your motor, I can tell you from experience that as long as you do as I have (cover the opti & do not direct spray directly at it) you SHOULD be fine. Click on "My LT4" for some larger engine pics.
Jeff
BTW...The whole process takes an hour or so.
I've had my '93 for 12 years and just spray degreaser all over it and then lightly spray it off. Then I blow it dry with my shop vac, then spray the whole darn thing with a protectant. I have never had opti issues.
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