Removing Gunk From Engine Bay
Removing Gunk From Engine Bay What do you use to remove the gunk (grease, oil, ect.) with.
I'm trying to clean up the engine bay and paint it while I have the motor out.
I'm trying to clean up the engine bay and paint it while I have the motor out.
anything really, But check out whats in it, alot of stuff now has alkaline acid in it. Grease lightning, Castroal super clean, And I think purple power? If you dont wash it all off really well in 20-30mins it coroids (sp?) raw alum and makes it look really bad. Like the ABS,master cly, rack. So look out for that, it happened on a car once. And the onlt way to make the alum look fresh again would be a have it blasted, or paint it.
I've had good luck not useing some super chemical. Some mild stuff like foaming engine cleaner, and just dawn warm water, and some brushes. scotch bright pad scuff, wipe is down with cleaner non residue paint prep, and paint comes out really nice for $20-30 in supplies.
If you not going black, to macth the car you can get the color in GM cans. Like $8-10 for a mini spray can. I dont think it has clear? so matches the stock bay with no clear from the factory. I redid mine agian with a can with clear, and looks good really shiny. From autotouchup paints.com or something? that looks really good too.
stock
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y11...n/IMG_0753.jpg
GM mini spraypaint
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y11...n/IMG_0983.jpg
online touckup paint
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y11...n/IMG_5118.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y11...n/IMG_5122.jpg
I've had good luck not useing some super chemical. Some mild stuff like foaming engine cleaner, and just dawn warm water, and some brushes. scotch bright pad scuff, wipe is down with cleaner non residue paint prep, and paint comes out really nice for $20-30 in supplies.
If you not going black, to macth the car you can get the color in GM cans. Like $8-10 for a mini spray can. I dont think it has clear? so matches the stock bay with no clear from the factory. I redid mine agian with a can with clear, and looks good really shiny. From autotouchup paints.com or something? that looks really good too.
stock
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y11...n/IMG_0753.jpg
GM mini spraypaint
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y11...n/IMG_0983.jpg
online touckup paint
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y11...n/IMG_5118.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y11...n/IMG_5122.jpg
Last edited by studderin; Feb 24, 2011 at 01:22 PM.
IMO, if you have a pressure washer, I'd try using dawn in it. Probably gonna be a sudsy mess... but that will eat the grease and oil off, and shouldn't harm anything, just rinse until it's clean. I've used it to wash the engine bay of my car after an oil leak got it pretty soaked.. and it got it off pretty good I thought.
Trending Topics
TECH Regular
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 453
Likes: 0
Laquer thinner dissolves grease better than anything. Put in on a rag and wipe.
It is more for with the engine still in the car. However, you wont have to wipe the paint off a second time if you want to re-paint, which you would if you use a soapy mess and water.
Al
It is more for with the engine still in the car. However, you wont have to wipe the paint off a second time if you want to re-paint, which you would if you use a soapy mess and water.
Al
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Laquer thinner will take some of the paint off, just wiping it down with some on the rag. (the rag will turn paint colored). You need to wash it off really well and use a good prep cleaner, that will mess up the new paint. And it will take the lettering and the clear film off the under hood decals, so don't get it there. And not be good for the plastics, and rubbers. Like the wiring, the loom and tape, and hoses, if you didn't know.
If you have some really thick grease, like it s 93 car with 150K and it just cloggs up a scrubbing brush, and you don't want to have to scrap it off its so thick. Oven cleaner works great, if you have a warm water hose to flush it off. Shake the can up good and spray it direct and let it foam up. it will turn brown in a few sec. And get a ton of thick crud off fast. Hose that off, and do it 2-4 times till it stops working, and go to warm water and dawn and scrub it.. Thats what I use on alum heads, intakes, rear ends and a few engine bays. I dont let it sit for the 30-45mins I think the can says just 30secs, maybe 2-3 mines and its never hurt any alum. Get the fume free or lemon sent. Its the best for cooked, and burnt crud. Its some strong stuff, try to use it outdoors and have a mask, glasses and gloves.
Getting the car warmer helps a ton too, if its out side or inside. Put a heater in or blow hot air into the engine bay. Even getting it over 50, normal winter inside garage temp. To 70-80 so its warm to the touch will clean it easier and better, huge help on engine parts
If you have some really thick grease, like it s 93 car with 150K and it just cloggs up a scrubbing brush, and you don't want to have to scrap it off its so thick. Oven cleaner works great, if you have a warm water hose to flush it off. Shake the can up good and spray it direct and let it foam up. it will turn brown in a few sec. And get a ton of thick crud off fast. Hose that off, and do it 2-4 times till it stops working, and go to warm water and dawn and scrub it.. Thats what I use on alum heads, intakes, rear ends and a few engine bays. I dont let it sit for the 30-45mins I think the can says just 30secs, maybe 2-3 mines and its never hurt any alum. Get the fume free or lemon sent. Its the best for cooked, and burnt crud. Its some strong stuff, try to use it outdoors and have a mask, glasses and gloves.
Getting the car warmer helps a ton too, if its out side or inside. Put a heater in or blow hot air into the engine bay. Even getting it over 50, normal winter inside garage temp. To 70-80 so its warm to the touch will clean it easier and better, huge help on engine parts
Just wanted to add my experience to this thread. I have found out the hard way that Bleach White will take the paint right off with the rag if you rub too hard. Just something to watch out for if you plan on using it. I was contemplating on repainting it anyways, so it was all good. 
I just decided to go ahead and paint it black since there was no turning back.
-James
I just decided to go ahead and paint it black since there was no turning back.
-James
11 Second Club
iTrader: (27)
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,799
Likes: 5
From: Your girl's back door giving her the long stroke while you're at work
I'm currently using Greased Lightning on the underside of my car and it's doing a damn good job of cutting the grease and grime
