Engine Cleaning

I am looking for a proven method for cleaning your automobile's engine under the hood. I have always been reluctant to use the car wash's high pressure wand with engine dergreaser. How are those used car dealerships getting their engines so clean for resale ?

I think they steam clean them.

yup, they use a pressure washer/steam cleaner.....you just have to be very very careful what you point it at.

Its best to start with a heavy degreaser and let it setup first so that you don't need a lot of pressure washing. Depending how bad the grease is, it can take a few applications

Has anyone tried oven cleaners?

Has anyone tried oven cleaners?


Hmmmmm, acid + engine =

Hmmmmm, acid + engine =

That's the plan, trying to brighten up aluminium as well as cutting through grease.
Mild acids (vinegar etc) didn't do squat.

You just need lots of engine degreaser and some aluminum polish.

You just need lots of engine degreaser and some aluminum polish.

Polish, bugger that.
The parts I'm cleaning up are mottled finish, polishing would take forever (remove about 0.5mm of material all over) and not give the finish I want.
A caustic cleaner (like oven cleaner) can clean and brighten it without the hassle.

It's working well so far. Chemtech degreaser doesn't work quite as well.

Besides leaving a build up similar to soap scum, paint finishes and certain types of anti corrosive pastes used on electrical plug connections can be harmed by using oven cleaner, among many other things like your lungs and brain. Relays and many other more sensative electrical equipment can be ruined by it too. Some people use it to remove vehicle undercoating, wich might clue some folks in on its "cleaning" potential. It might seem like it makes the job easier, but its too effective and damaging something with it isnt out of the question and is actually quite easy.

Im simply pointing this out (not to shoot down any bright ideas) because if somebody reads this thread and starts spraying down a car with it they might end up with more than just filth washing away.

Not to sound like a testimonial but.. I use engine degreaser + a little elbow grease in the thick of things. After the bulk of the crap is off the engine i follow up with coil cleaner (triple D for the stubborn or coil kleen for not-so-stubborn). Coil cleaner works well on aluminum and will not color it like oven cleaner is known for. I use it on aluminum wheels before i buff them down with polish.

After the bulk of the crap is off the engine i follow up with coil cleaner (triple D for the stubborn or coil kleen for not-so-stubborn).

What is coil cleaner?

I should add, I'm using oven cleaner on a stripped down engine and individual parts. Paint removal is part of the attraction.
There's no way I'd spray it in somewhere that I couldn't clean out or onto electrical components.

Right on, when you said "cleaning it under the hood" i thought you was just opening the hood and letting it rip ...

Coil cleaner is a type of cleaner used on commercial refrigeration equipment, designed but not limited to aluminum coils similar to a radiator. It can be had in several different varieties, capable of cleaning anywhere from normal junk like you would find stuck in a radiator, all the way up to heavily corroded/dirty/oily equipment. I clean my rims once or twice a year with it, wich is the only part of my car that gets complimented other than how it sounds.

Actually, for hard ot get to spots( or just small areas, IE parts of the frame), i foudn that some good 'ol wd40 works out well. just spray it on, let it soak for a few, then whipe it down. Got layers of dirt off of the strut towers and grease on top of the engine (valve covers, etc) pretty easily. just a cheaper and safer way