Engine cleaning – the safe way!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,461
Likes: 161
From: Las Vegas Nevada
St. Jude Donor '08
Engine cleaning – the safe way!
I know this is a much-debated topic, but I tried a can of brake parts cleaner on my engine and it seems to do a great job. I just spray it on and wipe with a shop towel. I don’t rinse with water or anything as I have heard it will just evaporate and that will be it. Does this method sound safe, or should I be doing something else?
Thanks,
Clayton from Las Vegas
Thanks,
Clayton from Las Vegas
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 96,209
Likes: 75
From: Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
Straight brake cleaner with no rinsing....?
Not a good idea. Rubber hoses and plastic trim under the hood deserve better than that....
Do a search here for engine compartment cleaning and read up......
Good luck.....
Not a good idea. Rubber hoses and plastic trim under the hood deserve better than that....
Do a search here for engine compartment cleaning and read up......
Good luck.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,041
Likes: 4
From: Rockford Illinois
I agree the Brake cleaner will dry out your hoses, belt, seals anything that is rubber. It can also dis color plastics.
I find the method of using Simple Green with a 50/50 mix of water does a great job.
I find the method of using Simple Green with a 50/50 mix of water does a great job.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 272
Likes: 3
From: South Louisiana
While I do not use brake cleaner to clean the engine I will have to say that brake cleaner isn't like carb cleaner in the rubber and seal department.
It is designed to not dry out rubber due to the dust seals and other rubber parts of the brake system.
I have never had issues with brake cleaner and rubber and I spray down my rear race rotors after EVERY pass down the track.
It gets on quite a few rubber parts (tires included)
lol
It is designed to not dry out rubber due to the dust seals and other rubber parts of the brake system.
I have never had issues with brake cleaner and rubber and I spray down my rear race rotors after EVERY pass down the track.
It gets on quite a few rubber parts (tires included)
lol
Last edited by stampede3; Feb 18, 2007 at 07:43 AM. Reason: Changed a few words.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,447
Likes: 14
From: Sheboygan Wisconsin
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
While I do not use brake cleaner to clean the engine I will have to say that brake cleaner isn't like carb cleaner in the rubber and seal department.
It is designed to not dry out rubber due to the dust seals and other rubber parts of the brake system.
I have never had issues with brake cleaner and rubber and I spray down my rear race rotors after EVERY pass down the track.
It gets on quite a few rubber parts (tires included)
lol
It is designed to not dry out rubber due to the dust seals and other rubber parts of the brake system.
I have never had issues with brake cleaner and rubber and I spray down my rear race rotors after EVERY pass down the track.
It gets on quite a few rubber parts (tires included)
lol
Administrator
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Might want to try some Simple Green on a rag - probably a better method of cleaning just minor spots.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,581
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From: Communist Colorado
Flamesuit ON:
Heres what I have been doing with every single car I have ever owned. This includes trucks, & cars alike. Also older cars with distributors & carbs.
I warm the engine to fully operational temp. Leave it running throughout the process.
In the old days, I would just get out the Dawn dish soap & kind of squeeze some out all over the engine, then hit it with the water hose, scrub with a soft brush & rinse. I know it sounds barberic, but it worked. I just covered the distributor & carb with a plastic bag.
Today, I use some Simple Green or other cleaner like it. I give the engine a quick spritz with water, spray the Simple Green all over it at 100% strength, scrub what needs to be scrubbed with a rag or soft brush, then rinse with my power washer.
In both cases, days of old & present day, I run the engine after I'm done to evaporate as much water as possible. Now that I have compressed air, I dry the engine off with the air.
I cant understand why so many people think its taboo to wet an engine with water.....use a bit of common sense & avoid doing stupid things like holding the psi washer an inch away from the computer
, and you wont have a problem.
I warm the engine to fully operational temp. Leave it running throughout the process.
In the old days, I would just get out the Dawn dish soap & kind of squeeze some out all over the engine, then hit it with the water hose, scrub with a soft brush & rinse. I know it sounds barberic, but it worked. I just covered the distributor & carb with a plastic bag.
Today, I use some Simple Green or other cleaner like it. I give the engine a quick spritz with water, spray the Simple Green all over it at 100% strength, scrub what needs to be scrubbed with a rag or soft brush, then rinse with my power washer.
In both cases, days of old & present day, I run the engine after I'm done to evaporate as much water as possible. Now that I have compressed air, I dry the engine off with the air.
I cant understand why so many people think its taboo to wet an engine with water.....use a bit of common sense & avoid doing stupid things like holding the psi washer an inch away from the computer
, and you wont have a problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 16
From: las vegas NV
the best way I have found and have been doing for years is simple green. let your engine warm up than turn it off. spray the engine with the simple green until it is about half gone. than let it sit for about 15 minutes. than rinse it off with a hose avoiding getting water onto wires and electronics for exteneded pereiods of time. than dry everything off. once your done with that wax any paint that is visible in the engine bay to help with future cleaning of the engine bay. Like i have said my friends and i have been cleaning our engines like this for years. you might want to wait a couple hours after you are done before you drive just to make sure everyhting is dry
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 940
Likes: 0
From: Surprise Arizona
Simple Green is great stuff, but I only use it as necessary. Usually, my only problem is dust. My engine compartment tends to stay remarkably clean. I use a California Duster and apply rubber & vinyl protectant on a regular basis. Simple Green only as needed.
