What is the best and easiest way for engine cleaning?

Sorry, but I could not locate anything on this subject in the archives. Maybe I plugged in the wrong thread ***le, but I could not find what I am looking for. Here is the thing I want to do:

I have a donor car that I am going to be pulling the engine, ****** and rear end from at some point in the future. I don't have access to a power washer or a steam cleaner or such. I want to clean up the engine and ****** before I actually pull it out from the donor car. I realize I can do a more thorough job once the engine and all is actually removed, but that may be a bit, and I wanted to clean as much as possible now. I have tried the engine degreasers on it, and I am not well satisfied with the results. Other than stinking up the place and taking my money, I don't see them as particularly effective. My water hose is just the normal pressure, and I can't pull the donor car from the drive to a local car wash (not an option at present).

What is the cheapest and best way to be able to clean up this ****** and engine while it still resides inside the dornor car engine bay? Is there anything I can do to get the grease and grime off with something that actually works well? Would Easy Off or such a product work ok? Any tips are appreciated.

As I said, I know I can do a much more thorough job once the engine and all is actually pulled out of the vehicle. However, that may be a bit, as I am on a limited budget presently and taking everything in stages at the moment.

Thanks for any thoughts and ideas. Like say, there may be some good threads on this topic, but I did not seem to be able to access them in the search.
Huey

 

Simple Green

 

I have used Easy Off , but actually prefer the "cheap stuff " from the dollar store --. It doesn't have the fresh lemony smell , but actually works much better. I will warn you though , it is not good on aluminum parts , it dulls the finish and does set up corrosion . anything you use though will take some elbow grease as the really old and tough grease won't come off without that main ingredient. I don't know about any regulations that may hinder you on this cleaning project, I live out away from most people so neighbors getting into my business isn't a problem .

 

Yes , have used it too and it does work good , but not as good as the oven cleaner

 

I got a pressure washer for under a hundred bucks, and it is amazing. Hook it up to the sump drain of the hot water heater, and in conjunction with Simple Green and some dishwashing soap, that ****er will be clean soon.

Like most tools, it seems kind of expensive, but after I figured out what to do with the damn thing, it really is useful for a lot of cleaning tasks.

 

"Awesome" cleaner from the dollar tree, lives up to its name. Spray on , rinse off. Keep it away from gl*** in indiluted form will etch it.

 

EASIEST way ive found is to have someone else do it!

 

Aerosol brake parts cleaner and the trusty pressure washer. May not keep the bunny huggers very happy, but it works. Spray the suf on and let it sit for a minute and try hitting it again with the can. Most times the pressure of the can will knock the softer stuff off before you fire ip the pressure washer.

I have a little 1200 psi Coleman pressure washer that I grabbed at Lowes for under a $100 and it's great for this kinda stuff.

Vance

 

Thanks, guys, for all the input. Elbow grease I got pleanty of, but ready cash is on the slightly scarce side at the moment. Trying to not add on to the tool collection I already have little space for, so not trying to purchase a power washer at present. (Haden't even thought about hooking it to the sump area of the water heater, but that is a great idea.) Sounds like a good idea for future expense, but Simple Green and Awsome seems like the cheapo way to start out with. Since funds are low at this point, I'll check into the cheapo methods first and save the power washer for later.

Again, thanks for the input.
Huey

 

I just went through this. I use Spray-nine. It may the the same as Simple Green.

Buy one of those parts washing brushes too.

I also use the Brake-Clean to clean off the residue.

 

......rent one..cheep and you don't have to find a place to put it...get some "simple green" & a gallon of "castrol super clean"..mix um up get some eye protection ...and get busy!!...we rented a power sprayer (1000psi +) under $ 30.$$...can you even get "super clean" there?..herd the "EPA" banned it......

 

take it back when you're done, tell them it leaked from the pump.
my cousin sells refurbished coleman stuff. I'll see if I can pick one up cheap, I'll let you know.