What product to use to clean a dirty greasy engine?

[gabriel_gs]

Hi all

Trying to get my SV650 custom cafe racer cleaned up (since I've nothing else to do!) and wonder what folks use to clean engine cases?

Covered in grease, dirt and God-know what else

I've tried Sdoc100 in the past, Muck-off too... what's best? Gunk? Just basic Paraffin? Any other ideas?

 

[MickDB1]

Diesel and Petrol
They can be ignited - be careful

 

[MartinK]

I have been using Rhino Goo with an old 2" paint brush, then wash off with wax in water, and ACF365 to finish

 

[Posh Pete]

Washing up liquid mixed with petrol or diesel. Use only a small amount and in a well ventilated area i.e. out in the open. Diesel id better if there are rubber or plastic items nearby. Rinse with lots of water!

 

[Cook1e]

Gunk or Jizer

 

[gabriel_gs]

Hmm.. I don't like the idea of messing with petrol or diesel, but that Jizer stuff seems to get good press

I'll give it a try - thanks folks!

E

 

[EdRaket]

White spirit!

 

[Rich C]

Paraffin followed by gunk followed by sdoc or some such....

 

[Mzokk]

I tend to use Kerosene as I've got a big tank of it out the back for my boiler! Then Gunk!

 

[topcat2006]

Autoglym Engine Cleaner. Does what it says on the tin.

Oh no, not another signature....

 

[abraxas]

Diesel / WD40 if you buy in 5L canisters [same thing really, just nicer smell ]
I found Surfex HD good for some de-greasing applications too...

 

[DrFarkoff]

Check in Semi Chem shops for "Elbow Grease" for mucky grime and "Pink Stuff" for Metal bits like exhausts and chrome bits and alloy

Both are cheap as chips and work really really really well!!

 

[Smug]

Brake cleaner. Buy a gallon and use a spray dispenser

 

[JJH]

Dish washer. Really JJH

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

Anything really stubborn I use traffic film remover (TFR) but you don’t want to leave it on too long because it’s a bit aggressive

 

[Demongroover]

Hmm.. I don't like the idea of messing with petrol or diesel, but that Jizer stuff seems to get good press

I'll give it a try - thanks folks!

E

Diesel is good stuff for degreasing / cleaning (I used to use it on chains etc), and it won't ignite unless you apply lots of heat.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

Try a can of Sdoc chain cleaner

Spray it all over ( henry) and rinse off in 20 minutes

Never used it for anything other than the chain but it certainly does a good job of that so see no reason why it would not work elsewhere

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Hmm.. I don't like the idea of messing with petrol or diesel, but that Jizer stuff seems to get good press

I'll give it a try - thanks folks!

E

I wouldn't use petrol. Nasty fumes.
Diesel and Kerosene are effective and pretty safe (Pour a drop into a bottle cap and try lighting it with a match. You won't be able to.)
Jizer is good if you're doing it on the driveway because it'll wash away with water.

 

[AA388]

I wouldn't use petrol. Nasty fumes.
Diesel and Kerosene are effective and pretty safe (Pour a drop into a bottle cap and try lighting it with a match. You won't be able to.)
Jizer is good if you're doing it on the driveway because it'll wash away with water.

Just don’t do it on a really hot day. The flash point of kerosene is 38c and diesel is 52c.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Just don’t do it on a really hot day. The flash point of kerosene is 38c and diesel is 52c.

That's the theoretical figure but i'd defy anyone to achieve it even under lab conditions.
The practical flash point for Kero is in the mid 40's, the fire point isn't till the mid 50's and autoignition is well above 200C.
So....for the UK, not really an issue.