About Engine Degreasing

Contributor

By Don Bowman
eHow Contributing Writer

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There are many advantages to engine degreasing, including safety. If an engine is leaking oil, degreasing the engine helps to prevent fire as the oil soaks the exhaust system. It also provides a way to locate hard-to-find leaks. It is also good to keep the oil and grease off of all the rubber parts and gaskets as oil tends to react with rubber, causing it to become soft and disintegrate.

Facts

Engine degreasing can be done to the top side of the motor but the motor should actually be raised enough to do the underside which is usually the worst for oil leakage and to clean all the bushings in the suspension. By degreasing the engine and the suspension as well, it will preserve the upper and lower control arm bushings, sway bar bushings and link pin bushings, shock bushings, power steering boots and clampdown bushings and the motor mounts as well.

Time Frame

Engine degreaser usually takes 15 to 20 minutes to work on an engine that is at running temperature. If the engine is excessively dirty, it could take two or three treatments in succession in order to completely clean the engine and all the bushings.

Types

There are several different types of degreaser on the market and it is good to read the label before purchasing. Some are a liquid spray and some are foam. All of these have cautions as to inhaling, skin contact, the environment, paint or rubber components, chrome and plastic. Pick one that is not harmful to rubber and plastic and, if possible, to the paint as well. The best engine degreaser is foam.

Procedure

Raise and support the car on jack stands. Raise the hood and allow the engine to run until it reaches its operating temperature. Cover the coils and the computers, including the ABS computer and any other computer that is located under the hood. Use plastic shopping bags. While degreasing the engine the degreaser must stay primarily on the engine itself and on all the bushings that can be reached. Avoid spraying degreaser or water at the air cleaner. Soak the engine down from the bottom first and hit all the rubber components as well as the bottom side of the engine and transmission. On the top side spray the valve cover and both the intake and exhaust manifolds and then let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Start to spray the engine with a high-pressure spray from the top first and then the bottom. As the car is being sprayed pay particular attention to the degreaser getting on the paint and rinse it immediately. Degrease as many times as necessary for the proper results. When satisfied, remove the plastic bags and start the engine and let it run for about 20 to 30 minutes until it burns off all the residue of the remaining degreaser.

Benefits

After driving the car for 50 miles, look the engine over. Oil leaks should be able to be detected; if not, just keep checking (slow leaks will take a while to materialize). They will become evident and you will save money in the repair since the leak is definitely known and the mechanic will not have to take time to look for it.