Engine Clean-up; Degreaser/Solvent

[ftm1776]

I'd like to clean up my engine a little ,,,,,,Especially on the pulley side.

I've thought of using a diluted degreaser like Gunk or some such product......maybe just some detergent in water.

What would be a good cleaner???  What should NOT be used on the rubber??

I'm concerned about damage to the timing belt as I would be applying the cleaner to the pulley backing plate area. Of course, I would give a good rinse, maybe even with the engine running in order to rinse the area and belt thoroughly.

There is not a lot of grease or dirt. I just want to keep it clean.

Is there any problem with doing this??? Especially, will this damage the belt or deteriorate the rubber???

Tips, comments, please.

[bajacalal]

I don't think an engine degreaser product would hurt anything. I wouldn't use a petroleum based solvent on the rubber but a detergent should be ok. I do mine, never washed inside the timing belt cover but it's never got dirty in there. If you're worried about it just use water only around the belt. From my experience, the best thing to clean an engine with is a hot water pressure washer, those work really well but are expensive.

[Trips_B]

ive always been a fan of plain old dish soap.  Soft nylon brushes and a good garden hose attachment

[ftm1776]

I'm thinking of a good water based cleaner that can be diluted. Gunk and others on the market.

Still open to suggestions and comments though.

[ropadopa]

Do you have a Home Depot in your area............ if so     http://formula88.com/   

[bajacalal]

I don't even see why you would want to dilute it. Timing belts are made of highly saturated nitrile, same stuff that's in chemical resistant gloves. I don't think any water based chemicals would affect it, only some solvents. If you're concerned take a good look a the belt, if it looks like material has shed from it, replace it, but I don't think you'll have to worry.

[ftm1776]

Do you have a Home Depot in your area............ if so     http://formula88.com/   

Looks like my local Home Depot doesn't carry this product or at least it didn't show up on the search engine.

Timing belts are made of highly saturated nitrile, same stuff that's in chemical resistant gloves. I don't think any water based chemicals would affect it, only some solvents.

For such a potentially petro polluted environment not to use a belt material that resists invasion by those nasties would be pretty short sighted. Thanks for the material check-in.

[TimpanogosSlim]

fyi, removing 30 years of "no f*cks given" grade gunk from the engine compartment of my coupe ended up using a gallon of "commercial" formula 409 at full strength to get the mild stuff off, then a spray can of Gunk petroleum-based engine degreaser, plus a lot of scrubbing with a plastic-bristled brush, plus most of a gallon of Simple Green at full strength.

Whoever owned this car for most of it's life just did not care. I don't think they ever cleaned anything under the hood. Probably had the oil changed whenever the warning light turned on, too, from the state of the block i pulled out . . . .

[Blocksmith]

I second the pressure washer idea--if you don't own one, rent or borrow one. Pure mechanical force for blowing off old gunk is hard to beat. I don't know that I've specifically taken the TB cover off to clean underneath, but I've read that one should exercise caution to not leave or blow any oil / petroleum residues onto the belt system as it might jump teeth. Myself I would use dish soap, blast off with warm / hot water from a pressure washer, then blow dry with compressed air.

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

What makes a good pressure washer? What psi is needed for cleaning an engine? Do they run on cold water or hot water? I imagine hot is better.

[ftm1776]

Question on the pressure washer:
Might the high pressure water find its way into unwanted areas,  like past seals or wash out grease from where it is suppose to be???
In the past I've used the local commercial DIY car wash to clean the engine compartment and had the engine steam cleaned at the repair shop.
I've always wondered if over cleaning could be a problem. I was always told to keep the high pressure away from motorcycle wheel bearings as it might wash out the necessary grease.
Now I'm using Purple Power cleaner to maintain a clean engine.....a lot easier than letting it get overly dirty. It also allows for easy visual inspection for "wet" spots and leaks between cleanings.

[bajacalal]

No, there shouldn't be any lubricated parts open to the atmosphere like that on these cars as long as you don't somehow manage to spray water through the oil cap or blast a seal with a jet of water at close range. On gas cars I was always concerned about using pressure washers because of the delicate engine electronics (on some cars I owned these didn't even like to get wet, poor engineering imo) but on a mechanical diesel, spray away.

[vanbcguy]

The alternator is the only thing I'd avoid.  Pressure washing sand in to the brushes won't make them last too long.  You have an early car, but later cars have the clutched alternator pulley to worry about as well - grit inside that will ruin it quickly.

Everything else should be fine more or less.