Best way to clean an engine

[wickann15]

Hey guys, Just a quick question. I've just had an oil leak fixed and the engine has quite a bit of oil on it. Just wondering what would be the most effective way of removing it myself?
Thanks

[2005vzute]

diluted mag wheel cleaner, engine degreaser etc..spray it all around the engine bay and where there's shit everywhere...then use a gerni to blast it off...you'll find alot of dealership after they service a car do this

cheers mate

[johnsy_vs]

when using degreaser make sure u dont use the stuff in the spray can its rubbish, get the pinky coloured stuff like they use in the workshop

[soop]

Dish washing detergent and hot water + rag.

[ari666]

^^^ im with soop on this one. engine degreaser is way too harsh and will stain all your alloy stuff. unless you get the REALLY expensive stuff, which i doubt your gonna do.

[sweefu]

Make sure to get some plastic shopping bags and cover up all electrical items, fuse box, coil packs etc.

[2005vzute]

yea that pinky purply shit is good...we had big 50 litre containers of this orange degreaser stuff, it brought the engine bay and windscreen up pretty good...one time we ran out and had to use the eagle one alloy whele cleaner or something like that...it works good aswell at 2:1 water to product

[VYMAD]

Make sure to get some plastic shopping bags and cover up all electrical items, fuse box, coil packs etc.

Yeah, I agree, I also use shopping bags to cover anything that looks like it would not benefit from a drink. I have never used a pressure cleaner, just normal garden hose to rinse off.

[soop]

If you use a rag, you don't need plastic bags.

[2005vzute]

i wonder how many things dealershis have ****ed because of this hahaha...:P they just gernied the shit outta that engine bay and that was it...using degreaser aswell...i think only on some engines, i remember they done it on astras etc, they would use the air blower and blow the water away from around the spark plug leads or coild or whatever they had, can't remember, whatever made the sparkplug fire:P

[wickann15]

Thanks for all the tips mates.
Will have to get onto it asap.

[ari666]

If you use a rag, you don't need plastic bags.

lol, i dont think they are paying attention to us soop. dishwashing liquid and a rag sounds like a really complicated way of doing it, surely using caustic degreaser on the engine bay would be easier? just cover everything in plastic...

also, if the inside of your bonnet is painted in basic flat paint, degreaser will wash it off... nothing better than a little toothbrush, a bucket of hot water with detergent in it and some elbow grease.

[soop]

I used some floor cleaner with amonia in it today.
That shit is terrific. The baked oil just washes straight off. I cleand up a sump and block in about 30mins and the rocker covers look brand new.

Also, anyone who pressure washes an engine bay needs a good back hander.
Especially anything with a 5.0ltr.

[axemurderer101]

haha i remember when i was still at school and did work experience at holden, every time a car was serviced they degreased the engine bay and used the pressure cleaner to hose it off

[ari666]

you should see what a pressure washer does to a 34 skyline. water gets in under the spark plug cover and actually kills coil packs. each coil pack (and there are 6 of em') is worth 110 bucks new from nissan!!!!

[coolvxss]

For the past 6 years of having a car i have always just sprayed degreaser on everything if really dirty, or just spray dishwasher stuff on. then hose off with garden hose. never covered anything before and had no problems. just take it for drive after to dry it.

[scottysvtcommie]

yer same as above i always just spray on degreaser everywhere, but avoid the electric's as best as possible and than just hose it all of and take for a drive after to dry of

cheers scott