Cleaning under the hood...

[SakoTGrimes]

I want to get the engine bay of the Loyale looking all nice and clean. What type of cleaners do you guys recommend? I powerwashed it at a quarter-sucking machine, but it's still greasy and stuff.

[Caboobaroo]

I would recommend using either Simple Green or the purple Castrol degreaser in a pressure washer or spray it on by hand and scrub it till its clean. A lot of work yes, but I did it on my Brat and wow, it made a difference!

[MorganM]

For just a quick easy cleaning I prefer a rag and some gear oil. Cleans okay, leaves a nice shine, moisterizes rubber hoses and stays shinney for over a week.

 

If I'm cleaning up after a mud run wel... gotta get seriouse. I have little problem sticking a pressure washer at a self serve car wash. I do NOT pull the trigger to go full pressure. I do NOT hose down the battery/fuse box/coil/dizzy area very much. I've had good luck doing this (read: never had it not start) might run like crap for a few miles but it dries out and drives on.

 

Just my 2 cents.

[thealleyboy]

I usually run the vehicle nice and hot, then spray on a couple cans of Engine Brite. The can says not to do this, but I have never had an explosion, or other mishap.

 

I let it sit for awhile so that the chemical has time to dissolve the grease. Then I start up the car, and power wash the engine bay (while running). I have never had a "stall out" or "no start" as long as the car was running.

 

The first cleaning may take a few cans, and some scrubbing, but the subsequent cleanings are quick and easy. I usually clean the bay once a year.

 

good luck, John

[Sweet82]

There is no easy way.

 

I second what TheAlleyBoy said,

 

Engine Brite and some Quarters. I let it soak in while driving to the car wash.

 

What won't come up after that...Engine Brite and a scraper/scrubber.

 

Once it's clean, Keep it that way!!!

[mtsmiths]

Ditto, spray it all over with Simple Green Degreaser when warm, drive it to the wash bay and spray it off while running.

 

Simple Green overspray wont hurt your paint.

[Sweet82]

Ditto, spray it all over with Simple Green Degreaser when warm, drive it to the wash bay and spray it off while running.

 

Simple Green overspray wont hurt your paint.

 

Does Engine Brite hurt paint

I have Simple Green around but have never used it under the hood?

 

Thanks,

Glenn

[mtsmiths]

I think that most, if not all of the solvent based engine cleaners have paint warnings on the containers.

 

Shyte, you can drink Simple Green, and then ... refer to the first word.

 

It cleans fine, sometimes takes a couple of applications, but you don't have to worry about hurting anything with it. Our house just got sprayed with a plume of highly atomized Rotella oil from a Caterpillar Bobcat.

 

It took four of us four hours, but we got all the oil off the walls, window frames, gutters, decks, furniture, hot tub, the cat ... used three quarts of SG Degreaser concentrate at a 10:1 solution from a pump sprayer.

[81wagoon]

dont steam cleaners work good too? i heard they did, we just go a steam cleaner too but my wagons in the exhaust shop right now so i cant see how well it works.

[mtsmiths]

I wouldn't steam clean the engine on an older car. It's just too much for old rubber and insulation.

[81wagoon]

ok, haha convinced me, the last thing i need is another non running car at my house. lol

[thealleyboy]

Steam cleaning is ideal for cleaning the undercarriage. A lot of vintage car restorers like to do this first (before doing hoses and belts). Unless the frame/undercarriage requires sandblasting, this is the preferred method.

 

Problem is there are not too many places that do this, and it can be expensive. To do it right, you need a lift, and the right kind of equipment.

 

You can do almost as well with engine decreaser, jack stands and a power washer. I have installed an outdoor hot water supply near my driveway just for this purpose.

 

good luck, John

[ShawnW]

Motorcycle cleaner works nice for general cleaning, grease and oil come off best with a harsh degreaser like the Gunk Brand stuff or if you want the best deal around go to Wal-Mart and get their "SuperTech" 99 cent degreaser.

[Scoobywagon]

I use a red, water-based degreaser from Spurrier Chemical. Its (more or less) non toxic insofar as you could drink it and it won't kill you, though you might wish it had.

 

Generally, I get the engine good and hot then apply the degreaser (without diluting it) with a spray bottle. Let it soak a bit, then hit it with a power washer. Axle grease and such comes off in chunks. The stuff won't eat your paint, but it WILL remove any wax it comes in contact with.

 

I'm in the process of acquireing the parts to build myself a parts washer. It will consist of a small electric water heater and an electric pressure washer with a pickup tube. This way, I can crank up the heat as hot as it will go (should be 150+) and have degreaser in the stream. Should clean up nicely.

[subaru_styles]

or you can have friends at a detail shop and get a full engine bay clean/detail for $30;)