Best way to clean away years of gunk from engine?

[eltax91]

Hi folks

I am embarking on a chassis swap and resto of an old defender. I’ve got to the stage of the body being off and I have a rolling chassis.

Obviously it being a Land Rover product, it’s covered in years worth of oil that’s leaked from various orifices. There’s plenty of mud in there too.

Before I pull the engine, or perhaps whilst it’s on a stand, I’d like to clean it back the best I can. After getting soaked and filthy with the pressure washer today, it’s not really come up as good as I’d like.

My first thought was to steam clean it? Anyone recommend a good steam cleaner? Any other ideas out there? Chemicals instead?

[finlo]

Pound shop "elbow grease" is supposed to be the dog's bks for such duties.

[Krikkit]

finlo said:

Pound shop "elbow grease" is supposed to be the dog's bks for such duties.

This, it's amazing. Made short work cleaning up my engine which had baked on PAS fluid covering it.

It's also on Amazon

[Quisling]

Petrol and an half decent 50mm paint brush

[Haltamer]

Perhaps a bit upmarket for this application, but concentrated Surfex would make very short work.

[mike9009]

Coke

[bearman68]

mike9009 said:

Coke

Doesn't clean it, but you feel happy about it. ........ Oh, sorry, you mean cola?