Full Version: Engine Degreasing
My engine is filthy, I would like to clean it. How do I do this? I really need some good instructions because I have never done anything like this before.
well, if it's grease, then I find varsol and a paintbrush or nail (like the kind on your hands) brush works great. have a small pale with some varsol in it to dip the brush into (and clean it) and loads of cloths, use the brush to apply the varsol, srub it around a bit, wipe clean with cloth. varsol is combustable, so afterwards give your engine compartment a mild hosing (not much pressure) to rinse residue off.
I used to use stuff called "Gunk" for doing this. It was a spray on engine cleaner and it worked a treat although it was also highly toxic
my dad works at a shop they use this cleaner called SF77 ( I use it at home too ) they just spray it all over the bay, lather, rinse, repeat...
just make sure not to use too much pressure and to not get water into the air intake...lol
just make sure not to use too much pressure and to not get water into the air intake...lol
Alright, I am thinking about trying, but I am too afraid... I don't want to destroy anything.
Does a greasy engine cause smoke if the grease boils? It doesn't look like a leak, but the engine smokes and I think it's because the engine is filthy.
I'm no expert, but I've seen that people use Simple Green. They spray Simple Green around the engine bay, let it sit, then rinse it off with a high pressure washer. Here is a link with some tips on cleaning the engine/engine bay. Also, it has some tips on cleaner other things aswell. http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=790409
QUOTE(Azadre @ May 9 2005, 14:05)
Does a greasy engine cause smoke if the grease boils? It doesn't look like a leak, but the engine smokes and I think it's because the engine is filthy.
[right][snapback]585896272[/snapback][/right]
[right][snapback]585896272[/snapback][/right]
It would have to be EXTREMELY filthy for that to happen.
More likely, you have a leak somewhere. Where is the smoke coming from? Engine bay or exhaust? What color is it (the smoke)?As far as cleaners, Simple Green works great. So does a cleaner called Deep Purple. Just be sure not to spray any in the intake/throttle body/carburetor. Try not to get any electrical/computer componenets too heavily with it. It can be hard on them. Don't spray the alternator up real hard either with cleaner or water. Other than that, you should be alright.
you go to a auto store and you buy something called engine degreaser.
QUOTE(The Burning Rom @ May 10 2005, 13:28)
It would have to be EXTREMELY filthy for that to happen. More likely, you have a leak somewhere. Where is the smoke coming from? Engine bay or exhaust? What color is it (the smoke)?
[right][snapback]585900335[/snapback][/right]
More likely, you have a leak somewhere. Where is the smoke coming from? Engine bay or exhaust? What color is it (the smoke)?[right][snapback]585900335[/snapback][/right]
I can't tell you because I don't know what it is called. It is towards teh bottom of the car and about 3-5" from the fan. I believe it could be from the grease because it is thick, almost a centimeter thick. The smoke is whitish/greyish.
if it is at the bottom of the car it could be grease that is being burnt of the extaust pipe or manifold. or the extaust has cracked and is letting out smoke
QUOTE(Azadre @ May 10 2005, 18:08)
I can't tell you because I don't know what it is called. It is towards teh bottom of the car and about 3-5" from the fan. I believe it could be from the grease because it is thick, almost a centimeter thick. The smoke is whitish/greyish.
[right][snapback]585901822[/snapback][/right]
[right][snapback]585901822[/snapback][/right]
Whiteish smoke is usually a sign of burning coolant. And the coolant could be leaking from almost anywhere. You would have blueish smoke if it was oil. What you're describing sounds like a buildup of oil that has leaked down or been spilled over the years. I guess my first suggestion would be to wash the motor and engine bay...get rid of that layer of goo. Then it will be easier to tell if there's a leak from somewhere.
I won't rule out a leaking exhaust manifold as I can't look at the car in person, but the car would be noticeably louder if that were the case.
scared?! cmon man, there are thousands of small EXPLOSIONS inside the engine every minute, and your firghtind some soap and a hose will damage it?
dont worry about it, all you have to watch out for is your air box. as long as no water gets INSIDE the engine, your cool.
any degreaser will work. i allways like to havea can or 2 of break clean when i clean outr the engine bay, its got a nice thin staw tha goes in the spray nozzle to get those, hard to reach spots.
ill use simple grean usualy. ill water it down a bit, usualy 1 part water, 3 or 4 parts simple green. put it in an old spritzer bottle (old windex bottle, 409, etc, just make sure its CLEAN) and i spray that stuff EVERYWHERE. douse that some bitch. then ill use a hose to clean it up. you can use a hose atachment, with difernt spray settings. usulay use the shower to get all the loose stuff off and clean out the first run of simple green. then ill take the 2 cans of break clean to work for the thick/sticky grime then do another run with the simple green and use a more harsh setting on the hose to get the thicker stuff off.
should clean up nice.
just remember, dont stuck the hose in the air box.
oh, if you have an open element air filter (like a K&N cone filter) wrap it in a plastic bag, or, you can do what i do, and take it off and stick a plug in the intake.
if you do have a k&n, this would be a good time to clean that as well. use the simple green on it, hose it off REALLY good (you cant have any simple green in it) and then let it dry in the sun for an hour or so, and then spray some K&N oil on it (auto parts shop, 5 bucks a can)
hope this help!
dont worry about it, all you have to watch out for is your air box. as long as no water gets INSIDE the engine, your cool.
any degreaser will work. i allways like to havea can or 2 of break clean when i clean outr the engine bay, its got a nice thin staw tha goes in the spray nozzle to get those, hard to reach spots.
ill use simple grean usualy. ill water it down a bit, usualy 1 part water, 3 or 4 parts simple green. put it in an old spritzer bottle (old windex bottle, 409, etc, just make sure its CLEAN) and i spray that stuff EVERYWHERE. douse that some bitch. then ill use a hose to clean it up. you can use a hose atachment, with difernt spray settings. usulay use the shower to get all the loose stuff off and clean out the first run of simple green. then ill take the 2 cans of break clean to work for the thick/sticky grime then do another run with the simple green and use a more harsh setting on the hose to get the thicker stuff off.
should clean up nice.
just remember, dont stuck the hose in the air box.
oh, if you have an open element air filter (like a K&N cone filter) wrap it in a plastic bag, or, you can do what i do, and take it off and stick a plug in the intake.
if you do have a k&n, this would be a good time to clean that as well. use the simple green on it, hose it off REALLY good (you cant have any simple green in it) and then let it dry in the sun for an hour or so, and then spray some K&N oil on it (auto parts shop, 5 bucks a can)
hope this help!
white smoke usualy isent smoke, its steam, which means water is burning off.
QUOTE(Nose Nuggets @ May 10 2005, 21:06)
scared?! cmon man, there are thousands of small EXPLOSIONS inside the engine every minute, and your firghtind some soap and a hose will damage it?
dont worry about it, all you have to watch out for is your air box. as long as no water gets INSIDE the engine, your cool.
any degreaser will work. i allways like to havea can or 2 of break clean when i clean outr the engine bay, its got a nice thin staw tha goes in the spray nozzle to get those, hard to reach spots.
ill use simple grean usualy. ill water it down a bit, usualy 1 part water, 3 or 4 parts simple green. put it in an old spritzer bottle (old windex bottle, 409, etc, just make sure its CLEAN) and i spray that stuff EVERYWHERE. douse that some bitch. then ill use a hose to clean it up. you can use a hose atachment, with difernt spray settings. usulay use the shower to get all the loose stuff off and clean out the first run of simple green. then ill take the 2 cans of break clean to work for the thick/sticky grime then do another run with the simple green and use a more harsh setting on the hose to get the thicker stuff off.
should clean up nice.
just remember, dont stuck the hose in the air box.
oh, if you have an open element air filter (like a K&N cone filter) wrap it in a plastic bag, or, you can do what i do, and take it off and stick a plug in the intake.
if you do have a k&n, this would be a good time to clean that as well. use the simple green on it, hose it off REALLY good (you cant have any simple green in it) and then let it dry in the sun for an hour or so, and then spray some K&N oil on it (auto parts shop, 5 bucks a can)
hope this help!
[right][snapback]585902087[/snapback][/right]
dont worry about it, all you have to watch out for is your air box. as long as no water gets INSIDE the engine, your cool.
any degreaser will work. i allways like to havea can or 2 of break clean when i clean outr the engine bay, its got a nice thin staw tha goes in the spray nozzle to get those, hard to reach spots.
ill use simple grean usualy. ill water it down a bit, usualy 1 part water, 3 or 4 parts simple green. put it in an old spritzer bottle (old windex bottle, 409, etc, just make sure its CLEAN) and i spray that stuff EVERYWHERE. douse that some bitch. then ill use a hose to clean it up. you can use a hose atachment, with difernt spray settings. usulay use the shower to get all the loose stuff off and clean out the first run of simple green. then ill take the 2 cans of break clean to work for the thick/sticky grime then do another run with the simple green and use a more harsh setting on the hose to get the thicker stuff off.
should clean up nice.
just remember, dont stuck the hose in the air box.
oh, if you have an open element air filter (like a K&N cone filter) wrap it in a plastic bag, or, you can do what i do, and take it off and stick a plug in the intake.
if you do have a k&n, this would be a good time to clean that as well. use the simple green on it, hose it off REALLY good (you cant have any simple green in it) and then let it dry in the sun for an hour or so, and then spray some K&N oil on it (auto parts shop, 5 bucks a can)
hope this help!
[right][snapback]585902087[/snapback][/right]
I don't know what the air box is...
cleaned it with gunk
It looks a little cleaner
It looks a little cleaner
QUOTE(Azadre @ May 10 2005, 18:28)
I don't know what the air box is...
[right][snapback]585902152[/snapback][/right]
[right][snapback]585902152[/snapback][/right]
It's the box that holds the filter of the intake.
QUOTE(ahfunaki @ May 9 2005, 06:13)
my dad works at a shop they use this cleaner called SF77 ( I use it at home too ) they just spray it all over the bay, lather, rinse, repeat...
just make sure not to use too much pressure and to not get water into the air intake...lol
[right][snapback]585894437[/snapback][/right]
just make sure not to use too much pressure and to not get water into the air intake...lol
[right][snapback]585894437[/snapback][/right]
Do not ever rinse or wet the engine bay area or engine period.
QUOTE(San Diego @ May 12 2005, 08:00)
Do not ever rinse or wet the engine bay area or engine period.
[right][snapback]585908428[/snapback][/right]
[right][snapback]585908428[/snapback][/right]
Too late... I rinsed the engine with water after spraying the gunk....
QUOTE(San Diego @ May 12 2005, 06:00)
Do not ever rinse or wet the engine bay area or engine period.
[right][snapback]585908428[/snapback][/right]
[right][snapback]585908428[/snapback][/right]
Even though your statement is flawed...I would like to hear your reasoning
I need a good laugh
QUOTE(San Diego @ May 12 2005, 06:00)
Do not ever rinse or wet the engine bay area or engine period.
[right][snapback]585908428[/snapback][/right]
[right][snapback]585908428[/snapback][/right]
you can wet the engine... just make sure that all electronics are covered... also dont use high pressure.
QUOTE(The Burning Rom @ May 12 2005, 12:08)
Even though your statement is flawed...I would like to hear your reasoning
I need a good laugh
[right][snapback]585909420[/snapback][/right]
I need a good laugh
[right][snapback]585909420[/snapback][/right]
Let's see, water in engine = hydrolock. My statement is flawed? Ha...rookie.
QUOTE(Space Guy @ May 13 2005, 03:50)
you can wet the engine... just make sure that all electronics are covered... also dont use high pressure.
[right][snapback]585912639[/snapback][/right]
[right][snapback]585912639[/snapback][/right]
Riiigghhttt...don't forget to cover the intake, manifold, etc., etc...
I've seen time and time again people who attempt to wash their engine bay with a hose and gunk remover and end with hydrolocked engines. For those that don't know what that is: imagine water boiling inside your crank creating pressure that cracks your engine block. Then, all of your fluids (oil, etc.) run out the bottom through the crack.
QUOTE(San Diego @ May 13 2005, 20:05)
Let's see, water in engine = hydrolock. My statement is flawed? Ha...rookie.
Riiigghhttt...don't forget to cover the intake, manifold, etc., etc...
I've seen time and time again people who attempt to wash their engine bay with a hose and gunk remover and end with hydrolocked engines. For those that don't know what that is: imagine water boiling inside your crank creating pressure that cracks your engine block. Then, all of your fluids (oil, etc.) run out the bottom through the crack.
[right][snapback]585915619[/snapback][/right]
Does it happen at once, or does it happen when you least expect it?Riiigghhttt...don't forget to cover the intake, manifold, etc., etc...
I've seen time and time again people who attempt to wash their engine bay with a hose and gunk remover and end with hydrolocked engines. For those that don't know what that is: imagine water boiling inside your crank creating pressure that cracks your engine block. Then, all of your fluids (oil, etc.) run out the bottom through the crack.
[right][snapback]585915619[/snapback][/right]
QUOTE(San Diego @ May 14 2005, 00:05)
Let's see, water in engine = hydrolock. My statement is flawed? Ha...rookie.
Riiigghhttt...don't forget to cover the intake, manifold, etc., etc...
I've seen time and time again people who attempt to wash their engine bay with a hose and gunk remover and end with hydrolocked engines. For those that don't know what that is: imagine water boiling inside your crank creating pressure that cracks your engine block. Then, all of your fluids (oil, etc.) run out the bottom through the crack.
[right][snapback]585915619[/snapback][/right]
Riiigghhttt...don't forget to cover the intake, manifold, etc., etc...
I've seen time and time again people who attempt to wash their engine bay with a hose and gunk remover and end with hydrolocked engines. For those that don't know what that is: imagine water boiling inside your crank creating pressure that cracks your engine block. Then, all of your fluids (oil, etc.) run out the bottom through the crack.
[right][snapback]585915619[/snapback][/right]
your statment isn't flawed, but it is safe to clean your engine with water as long it's at low pressure and not entering anywhere it's not supposed to. I haven't once seen anybody crack their block from washing their engine though, and I live in dumb redneckville where coomon sense flies out the window. If these idiots can do it without messing up their engines, I'm sure most others can aswell.
azadre, it'll happen quickly afterwards when your engine's hot. If you've been running your car since then, then I doubt you have anything to worry about.
QUOTE(San Diego @ May 13 2005, 18:05)
Let's see, water in engine = hydrolock. My statement is flawed? Ha...rookie.
Riiigghhttt...don't forget to cover the intake, manifold, etc., etc...
[right][snapback]585915619[/snapback][/right]
Riiigghhttt...don't forget to cover the intake, manifold, etc., etc...
[right][snapback]585915619[/snapback][/right]
I'm not sure who the rookie here really is. I've been washing engine bays of cars for almost 10 years now, and I've NEVER had the problem you describe. My dad has been a mechanic longer than you've been on the planet, and he's never heard of this happening either.
Apparently the people you've seen that have done this have absolutely no friggin' clue what they're doing. They must be spraying water directly into the oil filler cap. What you're proposing may be possible, but to make it happen you'd have to screw something up big time.
Use carb cleaner, just spray it on and it will basically just wash away the grease, and if its inducted by the engine its ok because its combustible, all it will do is increase your rpms for a few seconds.
You can use water and cleaner, but you gotta keep it out of the intake, which is very easy on a new car (basically you cant get it in hte engine on a new car unless you put hte hose up to the filter lol). If its an older engine with a carb you need to be careful.
You can use water and cleaner, but you gotta keep it out of the intake, which is very easy on a new car (basically you cant get it in hte engine on a new car unless you put hte hose up to the filter lol). If its an older engine with a carb you need to be careful.
QUOTE(Chadwick @ May 15 2005, 22:15)
Use carb cleaner, just spray it on and it will basically just wash away the grease, and if its inducted by the engine its ok because its combustible, all it will do is increase your rpms for a few seconds.
You can use water and cleaner, but you gotta keep it out of the intake, which is very easy on a new car (basically you cant get it in hte engine on a new car unless you put hte hose up to the filter lol). If its an older engine with a carb you need to be careful.
[right][snapback]585925195[/snapback][/right]
You can use water and cleaner, but you gotta keep it out of the intake, which is very easy on a new car (basically you cant get it in hte engine on a new car unless you put hte hose up to the filter lol). If its an older engine with a carb you need to be careful.
[right][snapback]585925195[/snapback][/right]
The Speedometer failed on it... and the check engine light came on...
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.