Best Way/products To Clean Engines

[allye 530 3 Cars]

As I'v just started my project/rebuild of the rallye I fully intend to clean as many parts as possible to get them looking nice, and stuff! things such as engines, gearboxes, brake claipers, hubs and sub frames. As I'm having the engine bay resprayed, putting on a rebuilt beam and re-stone chipping the underneath.

 

In the past I'v used degreaser in an airline attachment, rattle can type degreaser and just liquid degreaser in a pressure garden type sprayer. All returned ok results with a pressure washer.

 

Has any one got any good techniques/products to get stuff looking good? Or is it as simple as elbow grease and soapy water!!?!?

 

Thanks! Ali

[JRL 14 1 Cars]

I have found oven cleaner on parts like carbs, throttle bodies engine mounts, gearboxes unpainted stuff etc I have used mr muscles but apparently ovenpride is even stronger.

[Cameron 16]

Swarfega Jizer is good stuff.

[blniasgti 0]

i like JRL use ovenpride but i coat it over and over again and then when the misses has gone to bed stick it in the dish washer on the hottest wash your machine does !

[allye 530 3 Cars]

Nice one, cheers for that. Not sure the engine will fit in the dishwasher!

[MerlinGTI 3]

Swarfega Jizer is good stuff.

 

Good stuff.

 

Autoglym engine & machine cleaner is also very good.

 

Anyone else find 'Gunk' has no better de-greasing properties than WD40? even smells the same(ish)

[Rippthrough 98]

Surfex HD is great on all sorts.

[Sandy 191]

I'm one for the Autoglym engine cleaner. The others either don't work very well or leave it very greasy in the case of Jizer and Gunk etc.

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

Astonish is the best engine cleaner I;ve found so far, Bargin too at around a 1.00 a bottle

[swordfish210 20]

A mate gave me an unlabled can full of this clear liquid that apperntly gives you liver cancer via the fumes. Worked a treat on my engine block though:

 

 

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

It may be more time / cost effective to take it to a metal refinishers where they have a proper parts cleaner or something.

 

Is Brick Acid any good as that is what some places use on really bad alloy wheels. Wonder wheels is a diluted form of this I think

[stefan 4]

I use a professional automotive degreaser which you mix in water. 10 parts of water on 1 part of this washes everything! Carwash services use it in a 100 to 1 ratio. Really powerfull stuff. A bit agressive on aluminum, but you leave it on just for a few minutes because it acts immediatelly, you don't need to soak the part's in it, just spray them over with it. The best thing really. If you have a miniwash with heated water to rinse it of, that's a win win situation. A lot of other garages, machine shops, use it. Mind you, out of 5 liters you can get anywhere between 50 and 500 l of the stuff, depending on what you clean. On this market it's called Dimmer and comes in 5l canisters, at a price of 40€. Don't know about the UK, maybe under a different name. Tomorow i can check the label to see what's it's composition...

[Redtop 14 2 Cars]

I normally use Nielsen impact extra and spray it on straight and let it soak. It lifts all the oil whenever you go over it with a hot water pressure washer. If the blocks really bad I get it soda blasted and then wash them down with a hot pressure washer when it's come back and then with thinners in a wash gun, before re-building. I use that nielsen stuff on more or less anything at different dillution rates e.g red carpet, seat belts engine bays and cleaning oily workshop floors.

 

I found from experience that alloy wheel cleaner, acids etc can stain the parts and leave them white and streaky.

 

swordfish210 that block looks dam good :thumb: Mine are similar to that after I do the above.

[stu8v 68 1 Cars]

Nice one, cheers for that. Not sure the engine will fit in the dishwasher!

 

 

Plus 1 for the dishwasher.

 

I built my mates Impreza engine which we washed in his mums dishwasher, It brought everything up like new.

 

We only got caught on the last cylinder head. LOL

[SurGie 54]

I find elbow grease the very best at cleaning anything.

[jord294 94]

carplan 'tetroclean' is what i'd recommend

 

ecp sell it

[allye 530 3 Cars]

I don't plan on taking the engine to bits and cleaning it, just want to give the GTI6 lump a clean before it goes in. I will be doing the head, timing belt and a couple of other things thats all. I assume its not really ok to steam wash the engine in its complete state!?

 

Ali

[welshpug 1,666]

it'll be fine as it is to steam wash it, just plug up the oil breathers and cover the intake ports.

[allye 530 3 Cars]

it'll be fine as it is to steam wash it, just plug up the oil breathers and cover the intake ports.

Shweet! Will hire one when i get my hands on the motor and the sub frame!