Joe's keys to proper engine degreasing...

[Joe's detailing]

Sooner, or later were going to have to degrease our engine, here's the steps for a safe, effective, technique...

1) Make sure engine is cool

2) Cover all water (sensitive) equipment like distributer, fuses, etc with plastic bags or whatevers available...

3) Spray (APC) or (degreaser) over engine {scrub} if necessary...

4) Start vehicle, hose off chemical with fan sprayer nossle, if possible
never soak engine, get off as much grime and grease with the least amount of water.

5) If using pressure washer keep 3 feet away, never get to close to engine with washer you want it set at (FAN) pattern spray no stream...!


6) If you hear belts squeaks it's normal, but if something sounds just not right, turn off motor for a few minutes then restart.
Most vehicles, won't be any problem with these steps.

7) Never attempt these steps on Foreign, exotic vehicles completly different engines and your mistake could be costly....:eek:

Thanks for reading (Happy- Degreasing) to you...Joe...:bigups

[VonLego]

Thank you so much for this... been wondering how to do this safely!

[AeroCleanse]

Sooner, or later were going to have to degrease our engine, here's the steps for a safe, effective, technique...

7) Never attempt these steps on Foreign, exotic vehicles completly different engines and your mistake could be costly....:eek:

Thanks for reading (Happy- Degreasing) to you...Joe...:bigups

So whats the technique on foreign, exotic engines?

[Mark2]

I have washed engines on alot of cars, and I wouldn't use a pressure washer. Never had any problems on any car, foreign or exotics included.

[buckshot333]

So whats the technique on foreign, exotic engines?

A good insurance policy.....:xyxthumbs

[AeroCleanse]

A good insurance policy.....:xyxthumbs

Already have a $2M policy

[Jeepster04]

Just wondering, why do you think they should start the engine then spray the engine off? Seems to me like that would pose a chance of hurting sensitive electronics if you get them wet while they are in use. You will also be working around the belt and fan which isnt the best thing to do while the engine is running.

The way I look at it, I plunge the front end of my Jeep underwater when Im offroad so alittle water hose isnt going to hurt anything. With that, here is a vid of me spray off my engine before I spray it with a degreaser(APC+). I usually spray it off, spray APC+ and scrub, then spray it off after letting it soak for a bit.

I like to clean a 'warm' engine and not a hot or cold engine. I start it after I rinse the degreaser off and let it run for a few min to dry it off.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v612/jeepjeepster/Detailed/?action=view&current=9919fb69.flv

My engine does not have a distributor and the fuse box is sealed fairly well. Do not spray the alternator directly.

Even though I use a decent amount of pressure I recommend that you use a slow steady stream of water.

[Joe's detailing]

Just wondering, why do you think they should start the engine then spray the engine off?
Most cars will not start after motor is wet been there, done that..

[Joe's detailing]

So whats the technique on foreign, exotic engines?
Do it by hand ...

[Joe's detailing]

Bluelibby, your engine didn't look dirty to begin with thats, not stream water pattern, it's more fan friendly...:coolgleam

[AeroCleanse]

Do it by hand ...

That's the way I do it it now. :xyxthumbs

[RaskyR1]

Nice write up Joe. :bigups I do pretty much the same but I also leave the engine off.

Does anyone remember the old 2.5 liter 4 Tech motors that GM put in the early 80's Grand Am, Cutlass, Celebrity???

Those by far were the worste motors to clean!!! The cap was a MAJOR PAIN to get at!!!

[RaskyR1]

Sorry for my Spelling "worst" :LOLOL:

[jfelbab]

Another tip. Do this degreasing in the street or put a tarp under the car as the grease that is released will stain the driveway.

[Joe's detailing]

Nice write up Joe. :bigups I do pretty much the same but I also leave the engine off.

It's preference leaving engine on thanks Rasky for the kind words ...Joe

[J. A. Michaels]

Thanks for the write up. I guess I will try this out. Alittle hesitant. Been doing it all by hand. No water sprayed on engine. I just feel safer this way. Thanks again.

[Jossy92]

I appreciate the write up too.

It's been mentioned about placing a tarp under the vehicle. I am worried about the soap/oil running off the tarp onto the driveway. Not sure what to do.

Thought about sprinkling cat litter or sawdust on the tarp to catch the soap/oil and then just rolling up the mess into a package

[Joe's detailing]

I appreciate the write up too.

It's been mentioned about placing a tarp under the vehicle. I am worried about the soap/oil running off the tarp onto the driveway. Not sure what to do.



Take it down to the car wash bay so all oils and other contaminates are filtered....

[AeroCleanse]

You could **** it up with a wet dry vac. If your a professional, you should have some kind of water reclamation system.

[Jossy92]

Take it down to the car wash bay so all oils and other contaminates are filtered....

Don't have one nearby and I don't think they are legal where I live. I am more concerned about neighbors as I live in condo. If anyone saw the slightest trace of oil. It would be curtains.

Maybe I will do it by hand with a cloth and brush. When I get most of the **** off, I will hit it with the hose and cleaner.

Thanks for the help

[Jossy92]

You could **** it up with a wet dry vac. If your a professional, you should have some kind of water reclamation system.

I am not a pro, just learnng. Trying not to ask dumb questions. Maybe if after I have applied the cleaner, I could hose it off a little, Vacuum up the water and repeat. Dunno, I can see my little vacuum rolling down the street since my drive is sloped.:)

Thanks for the help on a problem that is way too limited to just me.

You gentlemen please take the thread back and I thank you

[PorscheGuy997]

Can we see this reclamation system? It shouldn't be a shop vac, either.


Have you tried putting a tarp under the vehicle?

[Jossy92]

Have you tried putting a tarp under the vehicle?

The only kind of tarp I have is plastic and with the slope of the driveway, I don't want to risk runoff.

Thinking about getting a small childs inflatable rubber swimming "pool" (4 feet accross) Partially inflated it would slide between the front wheels and catch the water. Afterwards, throw in some absorbant, cat litter, deflate, roll up and package.

Or.....I have too much time to think. :o

I like the idea of cleaning with engine running. THis thread is about thinking outstide the box. Under certain circumstances, on certain cars, it could be the best option. I need to adapt it. Lot of tips on this site. I am getting ready to develop a game plan... which I will share with before shots and plenty of mistakes.

[AeroCleanse]

Can we see this reclamation system? It shouldn't be a shop vac, either.


Have you tried putting a tarp under the vehicle?

Here are a couple of ways of doing water reclamation:

http://www.rightlook.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=64

http://www.rightlook.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=22

I'm sure you could make something yourself if you have the skills.

[AeroCleanse]

The only kind of tarp I have is plastic and with the slope of the driveway, I don't want to risk runoff.

Depending on your slope, you could try sandbags.

[Jossy92]

http://www.rightlook.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=22


I sure hope someone follows up on this "wash berm" that attaches to a shop vac. Too pricey for an amature like me, but, for a pro? For environmental compliance?

[TXShine]

Just wondering, why do you think they should start the engine then spray the engine off? Seems to me like that would pose a chance of hurting sensitive electronics if you get them wet while they are in use. You will also be working around the belt and fan which isnt the best thing to do while the engine is running.

The way I look at it, I plunge the front end of my Jeep underwater when Im offroad so alittle water hose isnt going to hurt anything. With that, here is a vid of me spray off my engine before I spray it with a degreaser(APC+). I usually spray it off, spray APC+ and scrub, then spray it off after letting it soak for a bit.

I like to clean a 'warm' engine and not a hot or cold engine. I start it after I rinse the degreaser off and let it run for a few min to dry it off.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v612/jeepjeepster/Detailed/?action=view&current=9919fb69.flv

My engine does not have a distributor and the fuse box is sealed fairly well. Do not spray the alternator directly.

Even though I use a decent amount of pressure I recommend that you use a slow steady stream of water.



:iagree: I'm with you........been doing like that for a very long time.

[BigLeegr]

Do you start the car with the stuff still covered? That seems to be a bit hazardous to me.
If you take the covering off, aren't you then exposing them to the spray of water?

[Jbirk]

The stuff that comes off cars doesn't seem to hurt anything. I get more brake dust than anything really when I clean a car. Other than that, there is some grease and stuff on the microfibers used to clean the door jambs. Run off is going to happen one way or another. If you reclaim the water, all you are doing is moving the problem somewhere else. Each time your oil is changed, there are 4 quarts or more of oil drained out of the engine. That has got to be much worse for the environment than the runoff for a dozen car washes. Besides, water is heavy weighing it at over 7 pounds per gallon. Why would anyone want to haul it around? Look at the maximum capacity of your vehicle. You will find that it ads up very quickly.

[AeroCleanse]

The stuff that comes off cars doesn't seem to hurt anything. I get more brake dust than anything really when I clean a car. Other than that, there is some grease and stuff on the microfibers used to clean the door jambs. Run off is going to happen one way or another. If you reclaim the water, all you are doing is moving the problem somewhere else. Each time your oil is changed, there are 4 quarts or more of oil drained out of the engine. That has got to be much worse for the environment than the runoff for a dozen car washes. Besides, water is heavy weighing it at over 7 pounds per gallon. Why would anyone want to haul it around? Look at the maximum capacity of your vehicle. You will find that it ads up very quickly.

Its the EPA that will bust your chops if your a professional and not reclaiming your water. In fact you are not just moving the problem somewhere else as you need to dispose of your waste water down a sanitary drain (so it goes to a sewage treatment facility). You should be recycling your engine oil so its not an environmental hazard.

[BlueZero]

Each time your oil is changed, there are 4 quarts or more of oil drained out of the engine. That has got to be much worse for the environment than the runoff for a dozen car washes.

:( You just drain you oil on the ground? (Please provide me with your address if so.) You should be recycling it.

[superbogel]

nice tips, bookmarked for learning :D

[Joe's detailing]

Thanks..

[roushstage2]

Each time your oil is changed, there are 4 quarts or more of oil drained out of the engine. That has got to be much worse for the environment than the runoff for a dozen car washes. Yeah, but you drain the oil into an oil pan and take it and the filter to be recycled.....:nervous1

[Subydude06]

Each time your oil is changed, there are 4 quarts or more of oil drained out of the engine. That has got to be much worse for the environment than the runoff for a dozen car washes.

Wow. I've never heard of or seen anyone actually putting oil down the drain. Each time MY oil is changed, it's recycled so there is no damage to the enviornment. I'm in the water treatment business so that's no bueno.