Degreasing agent for engine

[TimS996]

Can anyone recommend something good for degreasing an engine block and gearbox?

The car was stood for ten years with a variety of small oil leaks dried on. Now that I have it running again I need to clean the engine up to trace any small oil leaks. I know I have one from the gear box or drive shaft but at the moment there is too much dried oil to see where exactly it is from.

I have tried Halfords spray on degreaser but absolutely no use. I need something a bit tougher or another way of cleaning the underside of the engine.

I'd rather not kill all the electrics either as they're French, 30 years old and temperamental at best!

Thanks.

[RichB]

Well depending on the layout could you cover it in Gunk and get a jet wash in there? Blast it off? Sounds drastic but shouldn't be a problem if you're careful.

[benjj]

Autoglym engine and tool cleaner is expensive but excellent. I've used it on lots of 30/40yr old bits that have come up spanking.

[TimS996]

It was Gunk Ultra spray on that I tried. Followed the instructions but it barely budged it. Maybe I need to need it on longer and scrape it off?

[GAjon]

I've always favoured Jizer, it doesn't leave any residue if rinsed off thoroughly.

[midgeman]

I'v always found Gunk to work well, but the aerosol not the brush on stuff, tried both, aerosol seems better. Also Muc Off works fairly well too but I also have the luxury of a steam cleaner in the yard, easy way to bare metal any engine block!

[lowdrag]

midgeman said:

I'v always found Gunk to work well, but the aerosol not the brush on stuff, tried both, aerosol seems better. Also Muc Off works fairly well too but I also have the luxury of a steam cleaner in the yard, easy way to bare metal any engine block!

+1 It's also very good at getting oil drips off the blocks in my lean-to as well! Leave it to act for a while, cover the electrics well and get out the power washer. Works every time for me.

[e600]

Place a large drip tray underneath and using a stiff degreaser brush scrub with parafin ensure battery is off the vehicle first. Once scrubbed spray with degreaser and hose/jet wash off.

I now await the wrath of Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the H&S Exec'

[RichB]

What's the drip tray for?

[Iang84]

Parraffin and stiff brush and hose down after just dont light a smoke when you have still got the cleaning gloves on or you could lose your eyebrows as my friend found out much to my amusement

[RicksAlfas]

Surfex is brilliant. Buy a 5 litre tub and it will last you ages as you can dilute it right down.
http://www.bilthamber.com/cleaning-and-degreasing/...

[chevy-stu]

I've only ever used Gunk spay on then a gentle brush and soak and hose off ... seems to work with most dirt and grease.

[felixlighter]

TimS996 said:

Can anyone recommend something good for degreasing an engine block and gearbox?

The car was stood for ten years with a variety of small oil leaks dried on. Now that I have it running again I need to clean the engine up to trace any small oil leaks. I know I have one from the gear box or drive shaft but at the moment there is too much dried oil to see where exactly it is from.

I have tried Halfords spray on degreaser but absolutely no use. I need something a bit tougher or another way of cleaning the underside of the engine.

I'd rather not kill all the electrics either as they're French, 30 years old and temperamental at best!

Thanks.

Dishwasher - Don't tell the wife, plead ignorence.

Edited by felixlighter on Monday 29th April 23:05

[Fastdruid]

felixlighter said:

Dishwasher - Don't tell the wife, plead ignorence.

Edited by felixlighter on Monday 29th April 23:05

Unless it's a CG125 bike engine its going to be a bit tricky to fit into the dishwasher...

[droopsnoot]

I used the Halfords engine cleaner, the stuff in a darkish blue bottle, not aerosol. Sprayed an engine bay using an air-operated gun, left it for twenty minutes, then off with a jetwash. This was a fairly modern car, but everything came up like new - loom, plastics, all the stuff that normally makes it look bad. Without the pressure wash, I don't think it's any better than any other degreaser, if anything it's a little too thick a solution.

[peteA]

I cleaned my cerbera engine with a cheap degreaser...car pride I think....and it was great! Bought loads of them the local pound shop where they were only...err...a pound each compared to nearly £5 for gunk

[david.h]

Paraffin & a stiff brush, then Gunk!

[TimS996]

Think I need to get the pressure washer on it, carefully though, with the Gunk.

[RichB]

I was giving the Aston a thorough going over today and did just that; gunk and jet wash, works a treat...

[tr7v8]

RicksAlfas said:

Surfex is brilliant. Buy a 5 litre tub and it will last you ages as you can dilute it right down.
http://www.bilthamber.com/cleaning-and-degreasing/...

+1