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 used Purple Power and a pressure washer, then blowed it dry with an air compressor and started to paint everything

 

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

 

goo gone!

 

Meguairs makes a pretty good professional Product called "Super Degreaser" it works very good as well.

 

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.

 

Thanks everyone!

 

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

 

Simple green followed by washing the **** out of the engine bay

 

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

 

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

 

Even with the opti gone, I still don't feel comfortable spraying water in my engine bay LOL
Maybe I'll stick to damp rags

 

^^ Been there, Done that... Went the LS route.

 

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

 

I used undiluted purple power. Painted up the engine bay and underbody afterward.