Cleaning Advice

[johnirue]

Hi, I've just started a new project, engine and gearbox are out and about to get into the cleaning. I would like to get as much of the grease, oil, underseal and general muck off in order to complete a full evaluation of the shell condition.
What do people recommend? I have a pressure washer, but that scatters the mess everywhere, does anyone have experience of a hand held steam cleaner? if so what type/make.
All advice greatly appreciated.

[Chipper]

You're best off just getting the car up on ramps and using a good old wire brush to shift the worst of the crud.

Wear gloves, old clothes/overalls and goggles and maybe a hat, as it will get mucky!

A steam cleaner would be the next best thing. If you're going to be pressure washing it, give it a good soaking about an hour or so beforehand to loosen up any caked on dirt.

[Trickydicky]

Other methods people have had success with is a heat gun and scraper or try soaking the old under seal in white spirit and scraping it off when it softens.
Whatever method you use you can guarantee it will be laborious and messy

[MarkyB]

hand held steam cleaner

If you mean something like a kettle with a nozzle fitted, no chance.

An industrial steam cleaner where you just hold the lance would do a good job but not remove underseal that was well attached.

What ever you do that is effective will scatter much everywhere, just clean it up afterwards

[bmcecosse]

If worried about contaminating the ground/slabs/concrete/tarmac/mono-blocks then you will need to buy a large tarpaulin - or sheet of Visqueen and work on top of that...

[chickenjohn]

To remove underseal, heat gun and scraper, or if the underseal is loose, just a scraper.

Oil/ muck grease, rags and paraffin.