Degreasing the engine and engine bay

[retiredat44]

I have worked on cars all my life. Some cars I end up with or working on get old and have tons of grease all over the basck side of the engine, on the frame, etc..

example..

my daughter used 1993 Toyota Camry has had some oil leaks long before we got the car used. The oil and grease has caked up all over and between the engine and firewall it is all over and on the steering rack. There is no room to get in there and clean...

I recently replaced the valve cover gasket hoping that will stop one of the oil leaks, or hopefully that is the only oil leak. I would like to remove much of the grease, oil, grime, dirt from the engine,, behind the engine, and the frame..

In an ideal situation the engine would be removed and everything cleaned out in the open using the proper cleaners and solvents..

I know about not getting hte electrical and wiring wet.. and is using high pressure cleaning hoses not to point it at anything it can damage with high pressure and water..

But, using just the stuff bought at auto parts stores like foamy engine cleaners, degreaser liquids, bottles and sprays..

Anyone have any good ideas on getting rid of most the grease and grime,

I would most likely use a self use car wash, with an engine cleaing bay with high pressure hose and soap... but often, the grime and grease is hidden between the engine and firwall, lots of electrical bs and cables,, and even the engine degreasing soap you can select ont he machine usually doesn't help much with heavy grease...

at $3.00 a pop for each time you use the car wash engine bay,, I think you get about 3 minutes for $3.00... it would be nice to use a really good degreaser before using the engine wash spray wand.. and in the tight places without destroying parts with the high pressure hose..

any comments of the degreasers that work the best?



thanx..

[96stgreendemon]

Ok there are a few different options that you could use, say your going to the carwash to do this, before you get there go to the store and get unlubricated condoms and put them over all of the electrical fittings that you can find/cover including the dizzy. then get some stuff called purple power degreaser (they usually sell it at lowes) spray the entire bay, but dont get it on the paint outside the bay, and wait 15 minutes then pressure wash off, it works great! good luck