PURPLE POWER!!!! IT WORKS GREAT!!!!! its cheep to you can get it at any auto parts store!

 

Castrol Super Clean and a stiff bristle brush. Always worked for me. Be careful around the aluminium parts with the Super Clean, because it will oxidize aluminium if left on too long.

To rinse, use low pressure water (garden hose).

I never recommend using a pressure washer. It can force water into areas that it would not normally be forced (ie. alternator bearings, TPS, solenoids, etc.).

 

simple green eats aluminum

 

Simple green and elbow grease worked wonders on all 5 of my owned rx7's. It doesnt eat aluminum either if you use it properly it is one of the best.

Castrol Super Clean on the other hand does eat sludge BUT it is apain in the *** for discoloring metal and leaving a white film all over the place especially where you cant reach. If parts are out of the car then it is ok cause you can rinse it in time etc. but I will never use it again.

Simple green is just plain simple

Terry

 

If I use a wire brush, isn't there going to be scratch marks all over?

 

Don't use a wire brush. Use a stiff nylon bristle brush. BBQ brushes (without a grill scraper) work well.

 

Thrust starting fluid WORKS WELL and it drys!!!!!it wont get the big **** but it will eat oil and little grease

 

I've been working on cleaning my engine bay for a while now. It seems to be getting cleaner, the more I do it.

 

P.S. last time I saw my car was in december, so I haven't cleaned it since then

 

greased lightning works on every thing. even the interior.

 

^ My mom uses that stuff for the stove top.

 

i used some of this junk called "LA's Totally Awesome" that i found at the dollar tree store, it worked better than any degreaser i have used before and only cost me about $.20 since i only used about 1/5 of a bottle for the entire engine bay. still needs some detailing but i prefer to avoid pressure washing. if you are cleaning metal or aluminum parts, carburetor cleaner works best avoid using it on polished aluminum surfaces though but it works great for removing oil and dirt from non polished surfaces and try and avoid getting it on the painted surfaces.

 

Whats going to kill me is my engine bay paint is white. When I go the car I had to wax it three times to get the black???(who knows what it was but it was on the paint) That same stuff, maybe oil residue, is all over the engine bay. The motor looks great but bay is still real dirty.

 

white is a tough color for an engine bay, once it gets oil soaked into it it is stained and won't come out, especially if it is baked in, the lower parts of a white engine bay will probably be more of a yellowish color even if you do get all of the grease off it, might be a good idea to repaint your engine bay while the engine is still out.

 

I am considering it. I don't paint, I have never painted anything but small parts with spray paint. BUT I do have a nice comressor hooked up so I might try to on the engine bay. It wouldn't show flaws as there isn't any straight panels to see flaws. Maybe I'll look into buying a spray gun.

 

well before you go gung ho i would probably try to degrease it first and see what you got under it, all the grease needs to come off before it gets paint anyways so at that point you could make the decision of whether to keep the current paint or repaint it.

 

Hell, why clean it if your going to paint??? I mean, isn't that what paint is for.......to cover the dirt/oil???

I have been 'mentally' preparing myself to sit in the engine bay for about a day or two cleaning all that area. There are wires and power steering pump and A/C compressors and all kinds of **** that needs cleaning. The way the motor turned out, I can go down to Fudruckers on Tuesday nights and pop the hood with the best of 'em. Just need to clean the bay first. I am going to update my short block thread soon. I'll have pics for everybody.

 

Paint wont adhere to a dirty/oily surface...

 

^ you do know I was joking.....don't you?

 

Somehow sarcasm doesnt get portrayed very well on the internet haha.

 

So, if I just wanted to clean my crossmemeber and some other hideous areas I wouldnt damage anyhting with some carb cleaner and the hose right? I have always been weary of spraying water into the bay. What should i cover besides the alternator and coils?

 

that cleaner i suggested and about 4 hours of cleaning is what yeilded me my engine bay, it still needs a little work but keep in mind that was with the engine in the bay...

 

hey ben, that bay looks NICE! next thing when i come back, 2 weeks, im going straight to the dollar tree. i found a manual steering rack at anderson last week so i'll be installing that and taking out that wasted power steering pump in mine. i like the way your setup looks without the ps stuff in the way. got the single ac bracket too.

by the way, u know that heavy gunk down low by the cross member, you think i can use those tire degreaser sprayer at the wash stations on it and high pressure wash that area. i'll go see if i can after work is over.

 

cool and if you need any extra cleaner i have plenty.