What to use/do to clean engine?

[Killoe]

This stuff is one of the best degreasers on the market, just be careful as it is hell on rubber and seals. It takes every bit of oil out of them. My friend used it on a car he bought used from a dealer, washed his engine with it and it leaked like a sieve. Luckily, the dealer warrantied it.

[Scandell]

I will be buying some Zep. Thanks for the recommendation.
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"Come on over...and we can work on it together."

[35mastr]

Home Depot has a product called Zep Purple. That stuff will stip all the grease off of anything with a quickness. Comes in gallon containers and I have used it alot.

[islandghia]

Although this is not my post, i too have a '67 k.g. and recently pulled my motor and have been slowly working on removing years of dirt and grease. These ideas all sound great and i think i may be headed to wal mart to pick up some products but what about any other methods such as chemical dips that may cost a helluva a lot more but will give that showroom look...Anybody pay for this kinda work before?
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1967 Karmann Ghia - Bought 20+ years ago
1967 Karmann Ghia - Bought 2+ years ago

[vw4ever]

I noticed you guys were talking about Purple Power. Here is a bitchin little story for you.

I was living in Las Vegas a few years back and I had a ton of stuff to degrease. I went to my local Auto Zone to buy some PP. They had five gallon buckets of the stuff, so I thought, I have a good job, pockets full of money, might as well go big or go home.

I carried the bucket up to the register and the kid rang me up. The total sale price was $.01. The kid did not even balk, he just said that will be one penny please. My response was, you need to go get your manager please. He did. The Mgr. said thats what the computer says so it must be your lucky day. I asked him if he had any more in the back as that was the last one on the shelf. We just got a pallet in he says. Go get it I tell him. I filled the bed of my Tacoma for a wopping $.25. Yes thats right, one quarter.

Long story short. I sold all but two of the buckets at a Garage sale for $10 a bucket.

Purple Power.....I put that SH!T on everything.
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67 t1 resto-custom
69 Type 3 Squareback Rat-in-da-werks!!!

[djkeev]

[Jeckler]

[noexit]

[djkeev]

Jeckler, no interrogation, we all have Home Depots, if this stuff works so great I want to know what it was so I can copy you. Purple Power LIKE doesn't sell product, ZEP Industrial Purple Cleaner does.

Your engine looks great! I don't like perfect looking engines, not real, too shiny and clean. Too clean makes me think of a used car lot where they glossy clear coated EVERYTHING under the hood, always makes me think, what are they hiding with all of that shine? The engine cases never looked that perfect silver when new. Also, If a car is 50 years old, I haven't any problem with it looking like it is a 50 year old well kept engine.
For me, yours has just the right amount of clean and shine. Maybe put the stickers back on the fan shroud and air cleaner but outside of that, excellent.

Dave
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Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[Jeckler]

[swhitcomb]

By the way the case was painted on my engine. I removed the paint. It was pealing and looked awful.
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My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[swhitcomb]

I used Purple power also. My engine was COATED in oil. We took it apart down to a short block, replaced all the seals, purple power, and pressure washed it. I powder coated the tin, and intake.

The Ghia went from the way I got it a in Jan of 09:

Then the way it looked after I cleaned it up a little:

To how it looks now:

I'm not 100% done yet, but WOW. What an improvement.
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My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[Jasonscool]

I have used toilet bowl cleaner in the past. As long it doesnt sit in a puddle in it over night it works great. It will actually etch the metal but not too much. The etch will give your high temp paint a better surface to adhere to. My .02

[TC/TeamEvil]

Full strength in an old plastic spray bottle.

[jjjjjoey]

Nice looking engines.

Was the Purple Power diluted with water or did anyone use the full strength straight from the container way....?
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67 Ghia n00b

[djkeev]

[Jeckler]

I used some generic Purple-Power-like stuff from Home Depot. I left the intake/exhausts open, but removed the rocker arms. The distributor and generator stand were still attached.
I knew I was starting it fairly soon after (6 months ), so just blew out the intake and exhaust with compressed air, then hosed them down with WD40. It runs fine.

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Andy
'63 Bug rebuild here.
Did you know that sellers can't charge a fee to accept PayPal?

[djkeev]

[analogmax]

I just used purple power and a brush then painted the case and other parts with heat paint.

[TC/TeamEvil]

I have to agree, Purple Power is pretty amazing. I've had similar results with it. Spray it on, maybe do a little brushing with a stiff bristle brush (sometimes not) and hose it off. Once dry, all ready for paint and detail.

Engine bays, undercarriages, front ends, works just as well.

Luck,

T