Cleaning oily grime stuff off engine things

[Adoom]

So, has anyone got any tips/tricks/magic products for cleaning engine stuff?

I'm currently cleaning the alloy cylinder head and the inlet manifold, using simple green and a tooth brush.
The tooth brush is a bit too soft, so tomorrow I will get some of those little wire brushes.
Also the head has lots of rough bits from the casting 'seams', I am filing down the ones I can get to.

I don't want to completely strip the head to clean it, so bead blasting and dipping aren't really options.

GO!

[RS13]

Don't use a wire brush, you'll scratch the crap out of the alloy as its' much softer. Buy a $4 can of degreaser from supercheap, works just as well as the degreaser we use on aircraft parts at work! Spray it everywhere then let it sit for a bit, then hit it with a scrubbing brush and a rinse off.

[Dell'Orto]

Simple Green is more effective than cheap degreaser. Brass bristled brushes work good on alloy as its reasonably soft

[BZG Wagon]

Kerosene?

I find it a fantastic degreaser.

[sleeektoy]

If you want to get aluminum stuff really clean, use an alloy boat/hull cleaner.
CRC does one but they aren't cheap ($25/litre). Use a dish-wash brush with stiff bristles.
It does kind of etch the surface a little too so if you want it shiny then don't use this.
It is an acid so follow safety instructions - gloves/glasses etc

[~SlideWays~]

Carb cleaner, you won't even need a brush. Its AWESOME stuff.

[CAMB01]

Oven cleaner

[gt4dude]

+1 on the carb cleaner.

1st maybe easy to use the engine degreaser setting on the water blaster at washworld, blast everything u can out of there but avoid direct contact near electrical parts

finish off with carb cleaner and a rag

[gt4dude]

Jif is the secret for getting mechanic prints and exhaust stains off your paintwork

[Adoom]

Don't use a wire brush, you'll scratch the crap out of the alloy as its' much softer.

It's the outside of the castings that are dirty, and the casting is pretty rough anyway, so I don't really care if I scratch it.
I am not using the wire brush to remove the gaskets!

Buy a $4 can of degreaser from supercheap, works just as well as the degreaser we use on aircraft parts at work! Spray it everywhere then let it sit for a bit, then hit it with a scrubbing brush and a rinse off.

LOL, try four $4 cans of degreaser. It doesn't really work on the really old baked on 'stuff'.
I am using my little hand held wire brush and a stiff nylon brush and a screw driver for scraping and an old sheet and I've gone through about half a roll of paper towels.
All I have done is clean the SIDES of the head, and the cam cover and the inlet manifold. Still have to get the remains of the head gasket off.

I think I have been cleaning them for like 8 hours including yesterday?!

[RS13]

I am not using the wire brush to remove the gaskets!

Heh, I've seen people do that before, so nothing surprises me much anymore!

[Emperor]

I think it's called "Tuff". Yellow bottle at Repco, it's a concentrate degreaser.
I love it, covered my gearbox, block, etc and 5 minutes later without even scrubbing they're all clean

[XSVWGN]

Brake Clean. that stuff gets grease off everything!


Matt

[Dell'Orto]

I think it's called "Tuff". Yellow bottle at Repco, it's a concentrate degreaser.
I love it, covered my gearbox, block, etc and 5 minutes later without even scrubbing they're all clean

This is also good stuff, and smells infinitely nicer than simple green.

[Mr Ree]

Mixing petrol and kero is great cheap degreaser. Apply as required, let it soak, aggitate, rinse and repeat if needed

[Mr. Mainstream]

not long ago while i had a engine out i decided to give a good clean, i brought 4 different cans of degrease that repco had to see what works best.

Autohaus does the best job and its also cheap, its foams up and penetrates alot more, even warehouse stocks

after that use autosol and it shoud look mint

http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/catalog/product/Autohaus-Universal-Degreaser-400g?SKU=846691

[CAMB01]

Oven cleaner for the win