Degreasing - your suggestions / recommendations please

[restoman]

I've always used petrol or parrafin to clean grease and grime from engine parts rather than buy a proper engine cleaner.

What do the rest of you use / recommend?

[crankedup]

I too always used paraffin for degreasing until earlier this year when I tried GUNK. An old age established cleaner which is economical and cuts through the grease and grime very effectively. I won't be using paraffin for this job again.

[AndrewW-G]

25 litre drums of degreaser, costs about £20-25 a time from my local motor factors, like most factors, will happily deal with none trade customers

[restoman]

crankedup said:

I too always used paraffin for degreasing until earlier this year when I tried GUNK. An old age established cleaner which is economical and cuts through the grease and grime very effectively. I won't be using paraffin for this job again.

I did try Gunk years ago and was put off by the rather potent and lingering smell - is that still the case?

[jostgo]

restoman said:

crankedup said:

I too always used paraffin for degreasing until earlier this year when I tried GUNK. An old age established cleaner which is economical and cuts through the grease and grime very effectively. I won't be using paraffin for this job again.

I did try Gunk years ago and was put off by the rather potent and lingering smell - is that still the case?

Unfortunately yes, the smell is still very strong and headache-worthy. Very good product though, the spray cans are handy for small area application, but you can't beat a big tub o' GUNK.

Edited by jostgo on Wednesday 19th May 11:52

[lowdrag]

restoman said:

I did try Gunk years ago and was put off by the rather potent and lingering smell - is that still the case?

Happily yes. To me Gunk is like an autumn bonfire, the smell of freshly cut grass or laying tarmac. Just as well we aren't all the same I guess. Owning cars which used oil leaks as their anti rust system, Gunk is the best for cleaning up the concrete floor or in the lean to every now and again, and as far as the engine is concerned petrol, paraffin are good but Gunk has the best smell!

[trickywoo]

Bilt-Hamber Surfex HD is very good. Doesn't really smell of anything much.

[JB!]

Jizer

[belleair302]

Surfex HD is a wonderful cleaner and can be diluted for a variety of tasks. A number of the delailing suppliers such as Meguiars, Chemical Guys, Autoglym etc make good degreasers too. The question is are you looking to spray and wipe / rinse or submerse greasy parts?

[Andy Mack]

I have a 2nd motorbike engine that is caked in crap and i need it cleaned.

Could i just submerge some of the bits in a dilute gunk mix overnight? would that harm the engine components?

Ta

Andy

[Cobra Andy]

JB! said:

Jizer

+1

Far better IMO than gunk ever was / is

[dbdb]

I use Autoglym engine and machine cleaner and have found it to be effective. I don't know how it compares with the others since I have not tried them.

I used it on my Jag's engine bay:

[bucksmanuk]

Cobra Andy said:

+1

Far better IMO than gunk ever was / is

+1
Flash liquid is quite good as well
also washing soda crystals mixed into a dilute solutiion is effective also,, nice soft hands too

[mgroadster]

I've got 3 buckets of stale petrol poured from cars I've broken, smashing de- greaser, No smoking aloud LOL!

[Mr Recovery]

If you want to clean a whole engine or engine bay I find that oven cleaner is very good, just don't leave it on the paintwork too long. Spray it on, scrub it a little just to loosen the stubbon stuff, spray again, leave for 10 mins and jet wash off.

[cptsideways]

TFR with about 20% petrol in it is mega, stick it in a pump up bottle & it foams up lovely. Squirt off with the jetwash. Does engine bays in one hit, clean as a whistle.






It probably makes agent orange, phosgene gas or cyanide or something similar no doubt some chemist will tell me but its really good

[mxspyder]

dbdb said:

I use Autoglym engine and machine cleaner and have found it to be effective. I don't know how it compares with the others since I have not tried them.

I used it on my Jag's engine bay:

I can second this, as a degreaser its very mild so is forgiving on paint and chrome - I have used it on bodywork to remove fuel spills without issues.

[Yuxi]

Central heating oil is the best stuff I have used