Engine Cleaning?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2013
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Engine Cleaning?
Cordial Greetings,
Does anybody have a favorite product they'd recommend for cleaning the exterior of an engine? I've seen so many different products and it's left me thoroughly confused. I'm thinking some sort of foamy product and I can spray on the engine and let it soak for a while before washing it off with a garden hose and/or compressed air. I need to give the poor engine a good cleaning so I can accurately confirm the source of a major oil leak. I don't need it to be perfect, but do need to knock off a lot of crud.
I know I can take the truck to a wand-style car wash, but I'm a bit concerned I'll manage to drown the engine and be stranded there. Given my druthers, I'd much prefer to be stranded at home...
The tools I have at my disposal are a garden hose and compressed air. I don't have a pressure washer.
The truck is an '84 with a 351W, Duraspark II, 2150 carb, so not too much electronics under the hood.
Thanks.
Does anybody have a favorite product they'd recommend for cleaning the exterior of an engine? I've seen so many different products and it's left me thoroughly confused. I'm thinking some sort of foamy product and I can spray on the engine and let it soak for a while before washing it off with a garden hose and/or compressed air. I need to give the poor engine a good cleaning so I can accurately confirm the source of a major oil leak. I don't need it to be perfect, but do need to knock off a lot of crud.
I know I can take the truck to a wand-style car wash, but I'm a bit concerned I'll manage to drown the engine and be stranded there. Given my druthers, I'd much prefer to be stranded at home...
The tools I have at my disposal are a garden hose and compressed air. I don't have a pressure washer.
The truck is an '84 with a 351W, Duraspark II, 2150 carb, so not too much electronics under the hood.
Thanks.
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
None of them work worth a crap IMO... I suggest using oven cleaner, hot water under pressure, and a scraper/brush/mechanical abrasion device(s).
IMO the hot-water pressure washer at the car wash places is far superior but I understand your concerns about getting it running again - to which I would say: do your best to keep the distributor dry, water in there can and will cause no-start problems; have a few common tools (screwdriver, etc.) and be able to remove the distributor cap when finished to ensure everything is dry in there - WD40 is designed for this very job, of dispersing water in places where there shouldn't be any.
But in any case, whether using oven cleaner or those Gunk Engine Cleaner things, be prepared to make several attempts at washing stuff off if the goo you have is thick and heavy... warm water helps.
IMO the hot-water pressure washer at the car wash places is far superior but I understand your concerns about getting it running again - to which I would say: do your best to keep the distributor dry, water in there can and will cause no-start problems; have a few common tools (screwdriver, etc.) and be able to remove the distributor cap when finished to ensure everything is dry in there - WD40 is designed for this very job, of dispersing water in places where there shouldn't be any.
But in any case, whether using oven cleaner or those Gunk Engine Cleaner things, be prepared to make several attempts at washing stuff off if the goo you have is thick and heavy... warm water helps.
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Lead Driver
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Thanks, that reminds of something I forgot to ask. Is there any concern of spraying cold water while the exhaust is still warm? I just spent a couple of hundred dollars for new exhaust manifolds and don't want to crack them.
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Lead Driver
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The top of the engine is okay. You've given me a good idea. Perhaps I can keep the spray away from the distributor area for the most part and concentrate on the problem area around the side. Even if I drown the alternator (it's right in front of the problem area), I should be able to limp the short drive home on battery power.
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
Yes, the alternator getting wet shouldn't hurt it - remember all this stuff was designed to operate in a nasty environment, driving through puddles on wet, rain-soaked surfaces for example. If your spark plug wires are in crappy condition, then water at the plugs can cause a misfire-like condition that will exist until it's all dried out.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: Ft. Worth Texas
I get a cleaner from Dollar Tree called 'Awesome' that I've been using on everything. It's a really good grease cutter. It would take several long soaks and applications, but you might be amazed at well this stuff works. At $1 a bottle, it's the best thing going.
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Cargo Master
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From: South Dakota
If you use any spray on cleaner, such as gunk, it will work 50 times better HONESTLY if you can get to the area sprayed right after you spray it on and use a parts cleaning brush and brush vigorously.
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FTE Legend
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From: Angier, NC
Get in there with a putty knife and scrape off the heavy thick stuff first then get the motor hot and spray with degreaser let it work in some.
Hit it again with degreaser and a brush this time, hose off with hot water if you can.
Repeat as needed till clean.
Dave ----
Hit it again with degreaser and a brush this time, hose off with hot water if you can.
Repeat as needed till clean.
Dave ----
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From: Northeast Ohio USA
If you are concerned about damaging painted surfaces, use a plastic putty knife to remove the heavy grime. Once the thick stuff has been removed, most parts stores carry High Pressure Brake Parts Cleaner which will remove the residual crud. BPC is highly evaporative which means it will not stay on the surface long enough to do damage to the painted surfaces. I would avoid oven cleaners as they tend to destroy paint (creating the possibility of oxidation).
-> I've used oven cleaner to remove paint.
-> I've used oven cleaner to remove paint.
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Lead Driver
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As a quick follow up, the pressure wand at my local self-serve car wash was perfect for my needs. One minor downside was poor drainage at the facility, so I had to kneel in an inch of soapy water to get under the engine.
I mostly cleaned the lower half of the block, oil pan, and frame. I stayed away from the distributor and spark plugs as much as possible. The truck fired right up, thankfully, but the voltmeter show the alternator was dead for about 30 seconds. Even though I did my best to stay away from the alternator, some spray obviously got in there. Once it dried out, it was fine.
I mostly cleaned the lower half of the block, oil pan, and frame. I stayed away from the distributor and spark plugs as much as possible. The truck fired right up, thankfully, but the voltmeter show the alternator was dead for about 30 seconds. Even though I did my best to stay away from the alternator, some spray obviously got in there. Once it dried out, it was fine.
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
You can then have somebody rinse you off with the wand (from a distance) and you've just had a soapy bath.
I need coffee.....
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Northeast, OK
This is actually a neat feeling in the summertime when it's sunny and hot outside, lay on your back in warm, soapy water wearing only shorts and no shirt and then quirt all over underneath, the splashback hits you all over and gives you Chickenpox of grease spots.
You can then have somebody rinse you off with the wand (from a distance) and you've just had a soapy bath.
I need coffee.....
You can then have somebody rinse you off with the wand (from a distance) and you've just had a soapy bath.
I need coffee.....
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,477
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From: Sheffield, AL
This is actually a neat feeling in the summertime when it's sunny and hot outside, lay on your back in warm, soapy water wearing only shorts and no shirt and then quirt all over underneath, the splashback hits you all over and gives you Chickenpox of grease spots.
You can then have somebody rinse you off with the wand (from a distance) and you've just had a soapy bath.
I need coffee.....
You can then have somebody rinse you off with the wand (from a distance) and you've just had a soapy bath.
I need coffee.....
What about the bra?
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
Lack of sleep (wordpress updates) combined with his description making me remember having done that last summer... and I for some reason actually kinda enjoyed it! It was a smooth, painted-concrete surface (painted red) with a collection of warm, soapy water, it actually felt kinda good to slide around and squirt that thing underneath (this was my brother's Bronco).
Of course it was July and the weather was a lot more inviting for that kind of thing....
No bra.
Shorts only, not even shoes.
Of course it was July and the weather was a lot more inviting for that kind of thing....
No bra.
Shorts only, not even shoes.