Best spray degreaser?

C

Chris_D

Elite
 Mostly Holland. Sometimes UK.
I replaced my leaky oil filter housing gasket a while back and even though i gave the engine a bit of a cleanup, the smell of burning oil residue left around the engine casing in nooks and crannys is all-pervading.
I originally used a 50/50 fairy liquid spray mix brushed in, followed by autoglym engine cleaner, dried, then followed up with a dressing of gt85 where i could see most of the residue but the smell is still there and enters the cabin when stood at traffic lights. Topdown augments the experience :|
I've cancelled out the possibility of an additional leak as theres no evidence anywhere.
Anyone used a really effective degreaser/cleaner and cleaning method to get rid of oil residue? Not keen on steamcleaning the engine i might add.

Before gasket replacement....yuk:
image.jpeg
 
Hey Chris, I find a good dousing in spray carb cleaner or brake cleaner does the trick for me, it disperses the oil and then evaporates off.

Stuart
 
Stuartt said:
Hey Chris, I find a good dousing in spray carb cleaner or brake cleaner does the trick for me, it disperses the oil and then evaporates off.

Stuart
Click to expand...

thanks stuart, however i'm a bit wary of using anything too harsh for fear of zapping any electrical connectors and there are a LOT of them around the front of the engine.
Will be removing intake parts and other components in order to get access to the engine but i'll still be spraying stuff into areas i can't directly see, so need to be a bit careful :wink: ...
 
Lookin like i'll give this stuff a crack. seems popular on some forums...anyone used it? its from the good ol yew ess of ayy. yee haww! :lol:
http://www.hollandercorporation.com/index.php/product-lines-1/b52.html?mode=list
b11-s_9inch.jpg
 
Brake cleaner every time Chris, I go through it like water. But I only pay about a tenner plus vat for a case of 12 big cans from euro.

Mike
 
Chris_D said:
Stuartt said:
Hey Chris, I find a good dousing in spray carb cleaner or brake cleaner does the trick for me, it disperses the oil and then evaporates off.

Stuart
Click to expand...

thanks stuart, however i'm a bit wary of using anything too harsh for fear of zapping any electrical connectors and there are a LOT of them around the front of the engine.
Will be removing intake parts and other components in order to get access to the engine but i'll still be spraying stuff into areas i can't directly see, so need to be a bit careful :wink: ...
Click to expand...

Honestly Chris it's fine just don't smoke while your doing it :fuelfire:

Stuart
 
If you use Gunk, make sure you rinse it off your driveway fully. That stuff eats tarmac....

41fnsFMTPhL._SY300_.jpg
 
Stuartt said:
Chris_D said:
Stuartt said:
Hey Chris, I find a good dousing in spray carb cleaner or brake cleaner does the trick for me, it disperses the oil and then evaporates off.

Stuart
Click to expand...

thanks stuart, however i'm a bit wary of using anything too harsh for fear of zapping any electrical connectors and there are a LOT of them around the front of the engine.
Will be removing intake parts and other components in order to get access to the engine but i'll still be spraying stuff into areas i can't directly see, so need to be a bit careful :wink: ...
Click to expand...

Honestly Chris it's fine just smoke while your doing it :fuelfire:

Stuart
Click to expand...

Yeah, you must light up prior to using it Chris :whistle:
 
As others have said, I think brake cleaner is your best bet if you're worried and want to avoid using any water which may get into electrical connections. But, you have to work quite fast with it as it dries off very quickly leaving none of itself as a residue but if you haven't manually removed any residual oil and crud it will just remain where it is. It's more suitable for small, really stubborn areas.

As an alternative for bigger areas I've had good results with this:

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories/summer-essentials/car-accessories/summer-clearance/?542770960&0&cc5_1051
 
derin100 said:
As others have said, I think brake cleaner is your best bet if you're worried and want to avoid using any water which may get into electrical connections. But, you have to work quite fast with it as it dries off very quickly leaving none of itself as a residue but if you haven't manually removed any residual oil and crud it will just remain where it is. It's more suitable for small, really stubborn areas.

As an alternative for bigger areas I've had good results with this:

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories/summer-essentials/car-accessories/summer-clearance/?542770960&0&cc5_1051
Click to expand...

Good old Swarfega!
Reminds me of me poor old nan cleaning her front doorstep. That smell. Incomparable. lol
Might give that a go.... if only for sentimental reasons :lol:
 
It will work given time and effort....Swarfega's Jizer and brake cleaner were the only two actual degreasers/cleaners that I used on the engine bay on this car that I restored a few years ago:

Before: http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmGal=cc_before&spgmPic=0&spgmFilters=#pic

During: http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmGal=cc_during&spgmPic=70&spgmFilters=#pic

After: http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmGal=m535&spgmPic=10&spgmFilters=#pic

Under your Z4 engine bay doesn't look like it's starting off like this? :o :lol:
 
derin100 said:
It will work given time and effort....Swarfega's Jizer and brake cleaner were the only two actual degreasers/cleaners that I used on the engine bay on this car that I restored a few years ago:

Before: http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmGal=cc_before&spgmPic=0&spgmFilters=#pic

During: http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmGal=cc_during&spgmPic=70&spgmFilters=#pic

After: http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmGal=m535&spgmPic=10&spgmFilters=#pic

Under your Z4 engine bay doesn't look like it's starting off like this? :o :lol:
Click to expand...
:o
wow! top job buddy :thumbsup:
ok, I'm sold on the Swarfega now. Plus. it will bring back nice memories of me old nan singing away cleaning her front step with it... :lol:
 
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