How to clean the engine?

[scooby_doo_do]

After replacing both exhaust manifold gaskets on the spyder and having a little clean up of the areas, i've noticed that the engine block has been painted a blue colour (not sure why?)

I'd like to clean up the engine as it's rather dirty and expose all the nice blue colour, but wondering whats the best way to do this as i don't think it's ever been cleaned?

I was first thinking of warming up the engine, then spraying it in engine degreaser and hosing off. But i'm not sure that would be too good of an idea as near all the spark plug areas etc?

Anyone have any suggestions/cleaning tips?

Many thanks

Craig.

[Steve_D]

scooby_doo_do said:

....Anyone have any suggestions/cleaning tips?....

It won't make it go any faster so why bother.

Alternatively engine degreaser and a tooth brush.....if you must.

Steve

[tjb]

On the odd occasion that I've felt compelled to clean the engine bay I used Autoglym Motorcycle Cleaner. Figured that if its good enough to use all over a shiny £10k Ducati, nothing in the engine bay is likely to come to harm. Did an okay job when used with a washing up brush and rinsed off. Mind you I've not used it on thick deposits of oil/grease.

Edited by tjb on Sunday 15th February 22:06

[GreenV8S]

I guess it's going to take a bit of scrubbing rather than just pour the degreaser on and rinse off, but I do seem to remember a comment on PH that it was better to do it on a cold engine. The explanation was along the lines that the heat tended to evaporate the solvents that were doing the work, leaving the water etc behind.

[ezakimak]

keep in mind that when you hose all this off it will end up on the driveway or grass or wherever you clean it.

just trying to keep you one step ahead of SWMBO and out of trouble.

[Stig]

ezakimak said:

keep in mind that when you hose all this off it will end up on the driveway or grass or wherever you clean it.

just trying to keep you one step ahead of SWMBO and out of trouble.

Quite a lot of the modern de-greasers are 'environmentally friendly'. Castrol Greentec works well as does Meguiars Super D Greaser or Surfex HD

[V8 DOM]

hi, degreeser ok on engines and you can even if very very careful jet wash it off. but do not get water in airfilter and cover msd / dizzy and any ecus with plastic bags. plugs and leads are not so bad because they are designed to work in wet conditions ie m/c and quads etc etc.If care is taken the egine can be cleaned all over. If you have a compressor blow water off electrics after

dom

[San Diego GTR]

I just did this yesterday. It worked wonderfully to just spray the degreaser on the motor/trans/axles.... ok everywhere. I used a light spray to wash it all off and it looks brand new. It was so easy, I won't have any excuses to not keep it shinny and bright all the time.
Paul

[scooby_doo_do]

Excellent. I'm going to do this tommorrow hopefully..

thanks for the advice about the bags/electrical bits etc..

Once i've done this, i'm going to try and paint the gearbox again as when i bought it, it's all flaked off and looks horrid. This is an older photo when it was really dirty:

http://tripkings.co.uk/ultima/large/0059.jpg

Thanks

Craig.