All that gunk and grease and dirt...

[Sidney'61]

There's probably already on thread on this somewhere but I can't find it, anyway, just trying to clean up the old engine and make it look a bit nicer but of course it's covered in thick black goo which is a bit reluctant to come off. Whats the best to clean it off? Will hot water and washing up liquid do the trick?

[alex_holden]

You can buy some special stuff called "Gunk" to do the job, but I tend to use white spirit and an old paint brush.

[AndrewSkinner]

Try some engine-degreasant. Put a large sheet of carboard or lots of rags under the car then apply with a hard brush. Keeps working it in and puts lots on. The dirt should slowly start coming off. Once your happy all the grime is loose then you simply hose down!

Make sure you hose down the drive after aswel otherwise it will leave all that gunk from your engine all over.

[AndrewSkinner]

You can buy some special stuff called "Gunk" to do the job, but I tend to use white spirit and an old paint brush.

Beat me to it Alex

[Sidney'61]

Incredibly quick responses there, thanks!
I'll try later with some white spirit then, if that doesn't work I'll go buy some special degreaser stuff, thanks again

[ASL642]

I used Fairy degreaser - worked wonders before repainting and didnt remove any paint I didnt want remover. That was expensive so I moved onto Tesco (whoops advertising) that seemed to do the trick.
Afterall ovens and engines its all carbon/grease!

[Peetee]

CILLIT BANG!
Sorry, couldn't resist it. Somebody was going to do it we'rent they? And it might as well be me as I have used it and it works

[ASL642]

Well I didnt like to use that word on here!

[MoggyTech]

CILLIT BANG!
Sorry, couldn't resist it. Somebody was going to do it we'rent they? And it might as well be me as I have used it and it works

Do you have to apply it using a really loud and annoying voice

[Peetee]

Yes, it reinforces PMA

Positive
Mental
Attitude

Gets a job done twice as quick

[Orkney]

One of those houshold little steam cleaner jobbies might be handy for engine crud, dont have one so cant try it.
Mind you it would probably cause much disharmony getting it all covere in engine grease !

[alex_holden]

One of those houshold little steam cleaner jobbies might be handy for engine crud, dont have one so cant try it.

I tried it and it didn't work very well (plus it got the whole engine bay soaking wet).

[Packedup]

Woolworths have one of those steam tank and long hose type household cleaners for 25 quid at the moment. I keep thinking about getting one, but there always seems to be something more important to spend the money on

I've become a bit of a fan of Jizer after getting a couple of blocks quite nice and clean with it. And currently I'm trying to get myself to understand sticking a cylinder head in the dishwasher is not a good idea...

[alex_holden]

I wouldn't bother with another household steam cleaner, it's rarely been useful for anything.

I did stick the cylinder head in the dishwasher after having it skimmed. It came out with some very very fine rust on the bare metal surfaces that wiped off with a paper towel.

[10852sm]

Central heating oil is the thing, much cheaper than Gunk, but not sure for how much longer!

[bmcecosse]

Just take the car to the local pressure wash - and blast the muck off there. Try to avoid the dizzy!

[dalebrignall]

you can run the degreaser through aparrifin gun have not tryed it yet

[bmcecosse]

Trouble with doing it at home - no matter which method - is the mess on the ground. This tends to cause Domestic Unrest.

[aupickup]

not if you live on your own

[bmcecosse]

It's a constant 'threat' !