Engine degreasing/cleaning

Devonrod · Post by **Devonrod** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:58 am

Ive got to clean my 4.6 Rover engine before the rebuild, whats best Jizer then a powerwasher and or steamcleaner ?
thanks
Dave

gelmonkey · Post by **gelmonkey** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 3:54 pm

Hi Dave
Use Nitromors paint stripper on all of it.
sound sharsh but works a treat with no problems or residue left once cleaned down.

cheers
Paul

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 6:44 pm

I was lucky enough just recently to get the use of a proper diesel powered steam cleaner. My mate gave me a bucket of traffic film remover which i brushed on. The steam cleaner was really hot !! Seriously hot!! I've never used one before and it amazed me...

It took 40 mins and 3 lots of brushing to turn a big black blob of greasy crud into what looked like a new block. The down side was me being soaked and covered in all sorts

Much better than the local jet wash which i normally use.

I am just experimenting with a product we use at work for cleaing and brightening ally heating coils in air handling units. hopefully this will be ok. Mainly because I can get it for free !!

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 7:05 pm

I've said it before . . . . . fairy power spray a jet washer a and a set of bottle brushes for the oil gallerys works for me.
Mike

DaveEFI · Post by **DaveEFI** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:13 pm

gelmonkey wrote:Hi Dave
Use Nitromors paint stripper on all of it.
sound sharsh but works a treat with no problems or residue left once cleaned down.

cheers
Paul

Glad you've found a use for Nitromors. It's f-all use as a paint stripper since they changed the formulae.

Post by **katanaman** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:21 pm

kiwicar wrote:I've said it before . . . . . fairy power spray a jet washer a and a set of bottle brushes for the oil gallerys works for me.
Mike

+10 or if it is really crudded up Mr muscle oven cleaner.

ChrisJC · Post by **ChrisJC** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 7:21 am

I use jizer in a dishwasher. Works a treat. Makes any steel parts go very rusty though - will need a hone afterwards!

Chris.

Devonrod · Post by **Devonrod** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:20 pm

Many thanks for all the replys, I have been soaking the pistons in cellulose thinners which worked really well on the hard baked crud.
This weekend I was in Tescos and they had a big pink plastic sandpit on end of season offer for £3.50! so now ive got something to clean it in!
thanks again
Dave

ian.stewart · Post by **ian.stewart** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:32 am

Dave,
Stuff it in the dishwasher, Linda wont mind,

Quagmire · Post by **Quagmire** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 6:27 pm

+1 vote for Fairy Power Spray. Just wash it off properly afterwards.

unstable load · Post by **unstable load** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 6:15 am

Dishwasher is the best if the bits will fit in.
Nitromors, thinners, fairy liquid also good for the big bits. Heat always helps, too, hence the dishy being so good.

If all else fails get some paraffin or diesel and scrub it clean then hose off with hot water and Robert's yer muvva's brudda.

Remember to treat cleaned steel bits with WD40/Rocket/engine oil to stop it going festered after cleaning.

For the engine bay I use a pneumatic cleaning gun with paraffin in the bottle to spray it all down and then a good hose off sorts it nicely.

ramon alban · Post by **ramon alban** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 9:55 am

About the time when my son was learning about cars by working in a scrap yard, I watched him do a perfect engine wash on a dirty S/H car I bought.

Drove it to a hot wash garage, emptied two full cans of spray "GUNK" all over the hot engine bay, engine and oily under bits, left it to matriculate for 5 minutes then paid his two quid for the hot spray, and starting at the bottom, clean the whole kit 'n kaboodle with hot water under pressure.

He then emptied a can of WD40 on the lot and wiped it all dry with a soft cloth. For good measure - removed the dizzy cap for a spray of wd40 and wipe dry.

Bit of a horror to watch but I was assured by the fact that the engine sparkled and did not miss a beat afterwards. Not just that but all the under-body and under arch crap too for another quid.

Came out shining like a jewel and the best bit of all that we left a horrid oily, muddy mess with the garage, not on my front drive.

When I commented, he said - that's what I paid my 3 quid for.

DaveEFI · Post by **DaveEFI** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 10:30 am

At one time, London black cabs had an annual check, and had to be cleaned underneath etc before it. There was a place quite handy to here which did just that by steam cleaning. Got the oily mess off an engine etc as well as anything I've seen. But the machine they used looked like it cost quite a bit - and was far too big for hobby use.

unstable load · Post by **unstable load** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 6:20 am

I apprenticed with one of the local Mercedes Benz dealers in Cape Town and we had an outside area with ramps that were about shoulder high and afer maintenance all cars went up for a full steam clean top and bottom and a mini valet.
We used a WAP diesel fueled steam cleaner with a soap dispenser attachment that left things spotless. When I was in the engine shop we used to take stripped engines there to clean and often we had to leave the bits to cool down before being able to pick them up.

sean · Post by **sean** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:07 pm

So a dishwasher will work for not very dirty head and front covers. And what about after? I was going to just blow them out with an air line and spray on WD40 down the guides and seats until the heads get rebuilt. Should this suffice? Cheers