Best Degreaser Experiences & Suggestions ?

[MrPlant]

Seen many of you fine folk getting those old engines cleaned up, allowing for better inspections, looking at our old perkins 4.108 and think it's time for a clean!. Was going to use GUNK, but whilst searching, I see there are 2 types, "ultra" & "the original in the metal tin". Anyone have any experiences, or better suggestions?

 

Also, after a good clean & once it's dried, would you recommend leaving it, adding a protection spray of some kind or paint?

Thanks

[mikeyboy1966]

Paraffin and a pump sprayer,

old paintbrush and a toothbrush for stubborn bits.

if you use gunk you’ll need to rinse with water I guess,

then you have a largish quantity of contaminated muck to dispose of.

maybe slightly less messy with paraffin,

handful of cheap nappies in the bilge to soak it all up,bag it and bin it.

[Vaughan]

Yes, I always clean parts with paraffin. Petrol is good, but expensive and rather dangerous!

If you are leaving it for a while un-used then use an inhibiting oil after cleaning.

[Cheesey69]

Spot cleaning? 
3m brake cleaner. Evaporates. 

[Smoggy]

Oil absorbant pads are cheap and don't absorb water meaning you can bin the pads and pump out the water.

Brake cleaner is good but need plenty of ventilation. 

[mikeyboy1966]

Brake cleaner is very effective,but leaves the residue dry in the bilge,

it’s also not good on the environment or on the operator.

parafinne obviously is not great but has a better working time so you end up with less muck to clean up

[MargeandParge]

Hi All

Not sure how brake cleaner or any cleaners of that type would react with rubber hoses,pipes . Or oil seals if accidentally sprayed behind a pulley.

Regards Marge and Parge 

[BroadAmbition]

A domestic house type steam cleaner is good too

Griff

[MargeandParge]

A good tip thanks Grff

[MargeandParge]

Rumour has it that Grendel uses the dishwasher.

Regards Marge and Parge

[grendel]

only for greasy things that fit inside, a whole engine might be pushing it

[Bikertov]

Its not a rumour - he has admitted it on open forum !

Its just a bit of a pain taking the whole engine out and putting it in the dishwasher ...

Edit: LOL, Grendel posted 5 seconds before I pressed submit 

[MauriceMynah]

I find alcohol is an excellent degreaser. That's why I always put rum in my coffee after a full English.

[annv]

Hi A sheet of plastic layed under sump with a absorbent pads on top to catch and prevent crud dropping in bilges, then a mixture of petrol and paraffin in a container, work mixture around with a long bristle one inch brush leave for a while then repeat, then rinsing of with water or wiping with rag, then start engine to evaporate the water. the paraffin stops petrol evaporating which has most power, and then leave a film of oil over engine to reduce rust take care to cover/prevent dirt mixture entering alternator and any wiring joints. steam cleaning is best but not practical in a boat as no drain to take the crude, frequent wiping of engine with lint free cloth during the year will prevent getting dirty in first place along with curing any oil leaks. AND obviously dont smoke or have naked flames. John

[annv]

Dont use brake cleaner it is for dust in brakes.Gunk was superseded by steam cleaners, it must be washed of with water hose, not recommended in a boat. John

[MrPlant]

Thanks for all your replies, I'll tackle in soon and hopefully post up some pics of before and after !