Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Engine Cleaning
Forum Index -> Bay Window Bus Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
llamas1
Samba Member


Joined: July 27, 2003
Posts: 237
Location: Houston, TX
llamas1 is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 7:25 am    Post subject: Engine Cleaning Reply with quote

I'm going to clean/degrease my enging this weekend. Take it to a coin-op car wash, spray on some degreaser and blast it off.

I'm going to cover the distributor and coil with plastic. any other components I should avoid?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
NeverHadaBeetle
Samba Member


Joined: October 08, 2002
Posts: 442
Location: Missouri
NeverHadaBeetle is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 9:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Carb if you have one. The most important places to degrease are underneath the engine. Remove the tin (one on each side) that goes from the heater boxes to the block and degrease this area very well. Make certain to go all over the block and as much of the transmission as you can. You are going to get very dirty, wet, and greasy so take a towel to cover your seats on the trip back home. Good luck.
_________________
"Well, we shot the line and we went for broke
With a thousand screamin' trucks
An' eleven long-haired friends a' Jesus
In a chartreuse micra-bus."
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
crofty
Judas of the North


Joined: August 09, 2000
Posts: 19670
Location: Land of Whine and Phonies
crofty is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 10:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

STP makes a degreaser than comes in a purple bottle that works awesome. Spray it on and let it sit for a few minutes then blow it off.
_________________
Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.

HamburgerBrad wrote:

I slept on crofty's tent once. I passed out drunk from two bottles of Everett's brother's wine.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
llamas1
Samba Member


Joined: July 27, 2003
Posts: 237
Location: Houston, TX
llamas1 is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 12:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I hadn't thought about degreasing underneath the engine. Will this help with the cooling?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
bljones
Resident Wit


Joined: February 08, 2002
Posts: 2377
Location: ontario canada
bljones is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 1:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

yep. greasy, cruddy cooling fins don't work nearly as well.
_________________
OG JHC
Author of Original Rant #1
"It stingd itself to dead... now that is control on you"

2%
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Randy in Maine
Samba Member


Joined: August 03, 2003
Posts: 34890
Location: The Beach
Randy in Maine is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 1:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I like to go under there with a stocking hat and safety glasses (before it is all wet) with a screwdriver to remove the "fin tin", a putty knife and a steel brush to loosen the crud. If you have one, a air powered die grinder with a steel brush tip, works great. Do the transaxle also.

I like to spray on the Purple Stuff from Castrol (I buy it in the gallon size at WalMart for about $7 and put it in a spray bottle) and work it around really good. If you are afaraid of the mess, do it in you neighbor's driveway.

I have one of those "Thunder Guns" that work off both the air compresser and the garden hose to do mine, but going to the car wash is better because they have a grease trap.

A clean engine is a happy and a cooler engine. Not only can you find the oil leak that made the mess in the first place, but it is easier to work on.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
ratwell
Samba Member


Joined: April 26, 2003
Posts: 8717
Location: Victoria, BC
ratwell is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 1:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Using the powerwashing wand inside the engine compartment is a big risk in my opinion cause it's so powerful. I would take as much as you can off the engine and just labor over it or wait until your next engine pull. I know it probably doesn't look pretty right now...

You need to remove all the grease and mud from the aluminum fins on the bottom of the case to get effective cooling. It's also a good idea to remove as much crud so you can easily see where leaks are coming from.

I would remove the two deflection plates under engine and degrease and wash them by hand. Any degreaser will do even simple green. Use a scrubbing brush you plan to throw away.

The aluminum fins are narrow and anything you spray will want to drip off right away so I'd also recommend a gentle scraper and toothbrush (also plan to throw it away ;-)
_________________
'78 Westfalia CDN
'76 Doublecab
Read the Baywindow FAQ
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
EverettB Premium Member
Administrator


Joined: April 11, 2000
Posts: 69733
Location: Phoenix Metro
EverettB is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 1:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ditto on the purple stuff, it works great.

I use it in my front yard since it's biodegradable but I found out the hard way this doesn't mean it won't kill your plants.

Try to not let the engine get too hot on the way over to the booth, cold water + very hot engine = bad idea
_________________
How to Post Photos
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My wanted ads
"Water is the only drink for a wise man" | "Communication prevents complaints"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Facebook Instagram Gallery Classifieds Feedback
llamas1
Samba Member


Joined: July 27, 2003
Posts: 237
Location: Houston, TX
llamas1 is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 1:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ya see that's why I come here. For good info just like that.


Thanks all
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
chabanais
Samba Member


Joined: July 27, 2002
Posts: 4866

chabanais is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 2:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Isn't steam cleaning the best option?
_________________
"I spud therefore I yam."
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Bajatacoma
Samba Member


Joined: August 05, 2003
Posts: 675
Location: the Great State of Denial
Bajatacoma is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 3:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Steam cleaning is best, but more expensive- unless you have access to one and if you do I'll be over this weekend with my dirty old Land Cruiser Smile
_________________
'78 Westy

Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?
Hunter S Thompson
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
crofty
Judas of the North


Joined: August 09, 2000
Posts: 19670
Location: Land of Whine and Phonies
crofty is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 3:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I stand corrected, it was Castrol not STP. I agree with Everett, let it cool a bit too; cold water+hot heads=time for new heads!
_________________
Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.

HamburgerBrad wrote:

I slept on crofty's tent once. I passed out drunk from two bottles of Everett's brother's wine.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
TimGud
Samba Member


Joined: March 03, 2002
Posts: 6459
Location: Rio Rico Arizona
TimGud is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 6:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wouldn't steam clean it or pressure wash it. It's too easy to do more harm than good. I also use purple power or super clean. Just keep the stuff off your hands as it will turn them all slimey and it will peel off the next day. It also removes the cheap spray paint and paint that isn't prepped good.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
NeverHadaBeetle
Samba Member


Joined: October 08, 2002
Posts: 442
Location: Missouri
NeverHadaBeetle is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 6:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The purple stuff by Castrol is great and I use it in my driveway at home, but for the really dirty jobs like an engine I use Gunk or similar store brand engine degreaser. I use the "flammable" stuff as opposed to the non-flammable versions and it is the most powerful stuff you can use bar none. Unfortunately, it isn't environmentally friendly so I always take it to a car wash. Car washes usually drain back into municipal sewer systems so this water gets treated, but the water in your driveway goes straight back to the environment. I'm not a rabid environmentalist or tree hugging hippie, but I still admire a nice healthy and happy beaver from time to time. Let's all do our part to make every beaver a healthy and happy beaver. Very Happy
_________________
"Well, we shot the line and we went for broke
With a thousand screamin' trucks
An' eleven long-haired friends a' Jesus
In a chartreuse micra-bus."
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Bay Window Bus All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.