Suggestions Wanted for Engine Compartment Clean Up...

[Dunamis]

I am currently in the process of cleaning up my 95 Chevy. I hand scrubbed most of the engine bay and what I could get to on the engine. Any suggestions on a good cleaner would be good. I grew up on a dirt road, so there was, and still is in some places, a lot of Georgia Red clay under my truck. I've tried a couple degreasers so far. They are good at "degreasing", but I need something to cut throughstubborn red clay. The most noticable areas are on the intake (underall the front mounted components, fenderwells, and frame.

A good bit came off with a pressure washer, but not all. SHould I try to get all of it off or just paint it?

HELP!!

[J-Ri]

If you paint over it, that paint will probably not stick, and WILL come off if the clay loosens. I would try keeping it wet for a day or two, just gently spray it with a garden hose to keep it wet every few hours, it should soften up and come off. I strongly advise against using a pressure washer under the hood. I've got the same stuff on my truck around the exhaust manifolds, it gets on there and the heat bakes it into almost a brick. PITA to get off, so I just left it.

[jveik]

maybe buffing if you want to spend a lot of tedious hours on it... other than that, you could sand and paint it

[Dunamis]

I've sprayed the engine bay and undercarriage three times in total with degreaser and pressure washed it. I'd say 60 percent came off. Then I sprayed some dawn dish detergent/water on the fenderwells and hand wiped about anoher 10 persent off. I used degreaser and some wire brushes to clean the head/intake valve covers, air conditioning/oil cooler/transmission cooler lines. I went back and wiped WD-40 over all hoses fter cleaning. If I can ever fingure out how, I will post some pictures.