How are you cleaning baked on oil off engine parts

[rcx132]

This baked on engine oil isn't coming off with degreaser. What are you using to get the stuff off? I'm thinking hot detergent? Maybe hot caustic soda for the steel parts?

 

[AndersK]

Oven cleaner dissolves most burned stuff

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

As above.

Or in a hot water bath with washing powder for a few hours.

 

[Stueeee]

Soaking the parts in a bath of gunwash thinners for a hour or so has worked for me, even the carbon build up and oil glaze on pistons etc. comes off after an overnight soak.

 

[Screwdriver]

Cheapest bulk product I have found (if cost is a consideration) is trisodium phosphate. As with most chemical processes it really benefits from heat and will turn the nastiest oils and grease into soap. As with all chemical agents it needs care in both handling and disposal, this one is a very strong base (alkali) so brush up on its safe storage, use, disposal etc.

 

[nickk]

Ultrasound cleaner?

 

[8ob]

I have a water soluble non caustic powder that goes in my heated Bupi parts washer, that's ali friendly and will shift everything including paint. From applied chemicals.

Bob

 

[colnerov]

 

[8ob]

Hot tank dip or hot tank/spraybar is the way to go.

Bob

 

[Screwdriver]

My guess is baking soda judging from the mildly alkaline "simple green" bumf.

 

[Morris]

I find Screwfix's own degreaser to work well, neat if need be. Even better in my ultrasonic cleaner.

 

[Melvyn Best]

That doesn’t look bad at all compared to some I’ve seen . As already suggested oven cleaner or better still gasket stripper works well for small parts

 

[rcx132]

Oven cleaner is usually costic soda
I had to Google trisodium phosphate, from what I see it's also an alkaline cleaner but safer that caustic soda.

 

[bricol]

As I lost access to decent, powerful, ultrasonic cleaners and detergents when I moved jobs, I now use a 20 quid tea urn, with some old industrial detergent, with a 12V ebay pump running through a brush intended for those machine mart/SGS/Kennedy wash tanks - works well as its runs pretty hot.

 

[Anguz]

caustic for steel, then the dishwasher while the wife is out shopping

 

[Ctreanor13]

I find Screwfix's own degreaser to work well, neat if need be. Even better in my ultrasonic cleaner.

Just cleaned the back of my engine with this today. Mixed about 3-1 and a couple of brushes. Came up like new!

Out of curiosity, how would you use it with an ultrasonic? Half temped to buy one some day just because...

 

[Ubique]

Gunk 6868 Ultra Engine Degreaser, spray it on neat and work it with a nylon / polypropylene brush.
Or whatever Safety-Kleen put in their parts washers.

 

[Kram]

I would first soak it in diesel before trying caustic and disassemble first so its only steel parts.

 

[Roger440]

Ive been using an aqua blaster.

 

[bricol]

Just cleaned the back of my engine with this today. Mixed about 3-1 and a couple of brushes. Came up like new!

Out of curiosity, how would you use it with an ultrasonic? Half temped to buy one some day just because.

Fill the tank, dunk the part in, keep it off the bottom, switch it on and leave it alone. The ultrasonics help clear the crap away from the surface to keep exposing the contaminant to the degreaser, speeding up and improving the process.