cleaning engine compartment
 

I'm looking for some advice/tips on how to cleanup the front/bottom of my motor and front suspension area on my '85 chevy c20. The motor,apparantlly, had an oil leak etc. for many years before i got it. After removing the fan,fan shroud, alternator, a/c compressor, power steering pump I got a real good idea how bad it is. At 1st I thought someone had tried to put and under-coating on the truck. It is really caked up on the front frame and suspension parts. Anyway, any help in this would be greatly appreciated.

Re: cleaning engine compartment
 

Once, at my job, I had to clean the engine bay of an old forklift that had shot main seals, which leaked oil for 20 years.

I found what worked really well is to first scrape the thick stuff, then spray a d-Limonene degreaser (such as Orange Away).

It softened the grease right up.

Re: cleaning engine compartment
 

Put your rain coat on and get a pressure washer to blow off the heavy stuff. Then use "Easy Off" oven cleaner and let it sit for about 30 minutes then pressure wash again. It will do wonders. Protect your skin and any painted areas you want to stay painted. Easy Off works better than paint stripper and it is excellent in cutting grease.

Re: cleaning engine compartment
 

Especially if you get the one with sodium hydroxide.....good stuff.

Re: cleaning engine compartment
 

I use engine bright, right after coming home from a track day. Let that stuff bake in there while I take a shower, then come out with a beer n hose it all back off with the pressure washer set to "mist". High pressure water is your enemy, but lower pressure water wont hurt anything under hood.

Re: cleaning engine compartment
 

I've always used Gunk. $4 or $5 a can at Walmart. Hit the heavy stuff with a scraper first though. 40 years worth of hardened grease came right off the trans and transfer case of my burb using Gunk and a small electric pressure washer. The raincoat is a great idea. Wish I had thought of that!

Paul