Best thing to clean engine block

[cmrose]

I have always used degreaser and a scrub brush to keep my engine block clean. I recently bought an older bike that was not washed regularly. It has baked on clay on the block, carb, frame and other components. I have tried brake cleaner, carb cleaner, degreaser and gas.

What is the best cleaner to restore/ block and other areas not easy to clean other than a wire brush?

[AJMAG247]

Oven cleaner works pretty good

[XLR8RR]

Eagle-One etching wheel cleaner and a stiff brush.

Keep it (and oven cleener) away from painted parts though. Just wash it off quickly if ya do land some where you should'nt, no biggie.

Works great.

Make sure you get the etching type though. The other Eagle-One stuff does nothing for baked-on crud.

[Steve W.]

pressure washer with warm soapy water. Keep away from the toxic chemicals, no need.

[choppertown]

a soda blaster!!!

[hawaiidirtrider]

This works well.

This will do it . It makes the aluminum clean. Read the directions . Spray it on and wash it off. It takes off the heavy stuff other cleaners don't.

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=MCF1458_0075100080

[BustedassYZ]

www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/

[BDubb106]

Another vote for soda blaster!!! Nothing on there that it wont take care of!

Ive used oven cleaner a time or two though... As mentioned, just be careful with it!

[hawaiidirtrider]

I thought I put a link to NAPA to show the spray on aluminum cleaner I use sometimes. I'm guessing it got taken off ? Maybe you can't put links in here ? Anyway that's what I use and it is very easy and works well. ..just spray it on ...wait a little and maybe brush a little in some tough spots and wash it off.

[downonmonday]

Simple Green and some elbow grease always got my, now, twelve year old CR250 engine look new.

[roostierooster855]

i would use straight simple green and a pressure washer

[argclh6670]

I thought I put a link to NAPA to show the spray on aluminum cleaner I use sometimes. I'm guessing it got taken off ? Maybe you can't put links in here ? Anyway that's what I use and it is very easy and works well. ..just spray it on ...wait a little and maybe brush a little in some tough spots and wash it off.

no, its on there, i seen the product. im gunna try it this next weekk when i rebiuld my sons 125.

thanks, tony

[argclh6670]

i thought pressure washing was a BIG no-no!!! i do it once in awhile but not to often.

[AJMAG247]

I use a pressure washer on everything just be careful and re-grease bearings often

[cmrose]

I will try the oven cleaner and if that doesn't work ill try the soda blaster. I use the pressure washer and purple power to keep mine clean. Ive tried it on this but since its an 86 model, there are years of build up & stains on it that purple stuff wont touch.

[BDubb106]

just dont leave the oven cleaner on too long... if you need to apply it twice do it that way rather than letting it soak too long, also a good idea to keep it away from any paint or plastic.

[argclh6670]

I will try the oven cleaner and if that doesn't work ill try the soda blaster. I use the pressure washer and purple power to keep mine clean. Ive tried it on this but since its an 86 model, there are years of build up & stains on it that purple stuff wont touch.

oven cleaner just seems to risky! for me anyway. i'd go with more elbow grease vs. harsh chemicals. my .02

[thumpharder]

soda blaster, I've got about 18,000 tied up in one, but you can also use a harbor freight pressure pot for cheap and use it,not as fast but if your doing it for yourself who cares.

Good thing is they don't hurt glass, rubber, brite work they are fantastic tools, just not great on heavy rust.

Don't get me wrong, I love any chemical that makes life easy, I don't care if birds fall out of the sky when I open the bottle, but soda blasting is the %#$@.

[moto367]

a soda blaster!!! ?

[BBA]

Eagle-One etching wheel cleaner and a stiff brush.

This^^. I use it all of the time on stained aluminum. Use EasyOff HD oven cleaner to get back to a clean base for starts and then the Eagle One cleaner after nasty mud rides and it will stay clean. If you're worried about protecting everything around the block, spray a heavy coat of Shout laundry stain remover on everything and it will help protect it from over spray/run-off of the cleaner. I have had no problems with this process in 5 years of using it.