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What is THE best degreaser?

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venturesomerite

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Location
Connecticut - not sure why though...
I need to degrease the front end of my 99 250 7.3 to help find an oil leak. Some is fresh, some is caked on real good. I've used Simple Green, and Purple Power, and it took some of the fresh stuff off, but didn't touch the old stuff.

I have some engine bright that I'm going to try, but wanted to see if anyone had any better suggestions first.


Thanks,
Brian
 
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Rezarf

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Oil eater at Costco, beats simple green, engine bright, purple power... But can't touch a true solvent like white gas :)
 
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cnc-me

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MI
http://www.challengercleaner.com/
This stuff is awesome, used it on some florescent lights, that were all blackish colored
behind the bulbs, cleaned them up better than anything else I tried, including
lacquer thinner. Saved me from repainting them.
This is the first water-based degreaser that I have seen that beats the oil based ones.
Gosh, this is starting to sound like a commercial. It is good stuff though.
 
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volvo

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PNW 45th Parallel
...
ZEP PUNCH Engine Degreaser

A highly concentrated, heavy-duty, solvent-based, emulsifying engine degreaser. Quickly dissolves grease, oil, dirt and grime; flushes away with water.
Fantastic stuff
 
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csp

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Franktown, CO
Oven cleaner at the car wash.

Scrape off as much of the old **** as you can with a putty knife first.
 
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LutzTD

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Lutz, Florida
in addition, how do you keep all the goop that comes off with a power wash or solvent from just moving to your nice floor or driveway pavement?
 
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elguappo

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SACRAMENTO, CA
Oven cleaner is amazing. Buy it from the $.99 store, it works the same as $7/can stuff.
Be advised you do NOT want to breathe that stuff, it will kill you.
 
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Rezarf

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LutzTD said:
in addition, how do you keep all the goop that comes off with a power wash or solvent from just moving to your nice floor or driveway pavement?
Click to expand...

Its why I won't splurge for a nice coated floor.;)I usually spray the driveway down after a good soaking with Oil Eater... its the bees knees.

Drew
 
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Copytech

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Jan 9, 2010
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Location
Ironton Ohio
I use :
2 Parts Ammonia
2 Parts Water
1 Part Dish soap
Mix well

Works amazing good. Just spray it on let it sit a few minutes and wash off. And no it doesn't smell.
cost about 2 bucks a gallon.
 
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c_mccann

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Messages
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If no hot water pressure washer, mineral spirits in a spray bottle, blow gun, repeat if necessary. Finish up with Simple Green and a hose. Blow dry. You'll be amazed at how clean it can get- the nooks and inside corners is where the MS shines.
 
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ITSWILL

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Feb 22, 2012
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Location
Ortonville, MI
I have tried all kinds of degreasers and was disappointed with everything except for oven cleaner.

What everyone is saying is true. Dollar store oven cleaner.
 
OP
V

venturesomerite

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Location
Connecticut - not sure why though...
Looks like dollar store oven cleaner is my first go. Might try copytech's DIY cleaner too.

Problem really now is I need something I can spray on, let work and hose off. It still gets pretty cold (even with the indian summer), and I don't much feel like laying on the driveway scrubbing every nook and cranny, I just need it clean enough to be able to identify the source of the leak.

Not at all worried about what gets on the driveway greasy, as it's already nothing but grease stains.
 
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rwhite692

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Mar 4, 2008
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Location
Central Valley, CA
Oven cleaner is a powerful cleaner/degreaser, no doubt.

Just know that it WILL, at minimum, discolor any painted surfaces that it comes in contact with, and at worst, it will lift paint off completely.

It can quickly wreck the typical coated underhood factory labels and make them illegible (like your emissions decals, etc). Anything which is anodized, does not stand a chance at escaping unscathed. Anything you have which is clearcoated (such as polished aluminum parts) will become whitened/blotchy in an instant.

In addition, any oven cleaner which finds its way onto soft metal like aluminum or cast potmetal parts, will munch away at it like crazy. You really don't want to get oven cleaner inside of or near electrical connectors, sensors, wiring, etc.

Castrol Super Clean is great stuff, much safer in this regard vs. oven cleaner but it too can cause damage, if you get it on painted surfaces. If that happens, get it flushed with water right away.
 
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Highbeam

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Feb 15, 2011
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Location
Mt Rainier foothills, WA
99 7.3 diesel. The leaked oil will fill the valley and then run out the drain hole in the rear where it will look like a rear main seal leak.

Usually, it is your turbo pedestal O-rings. You have four of them that are frequent failure points.
 
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wasfuzz

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Nov 16, 2010
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755
Location
Mn
For what you are going to spend in degreaser - find the nearest truck wash (semi truck) and have them degrease the underhood area, wont cost but about 20 -30 bucks and the mess is al theres to clean up.
 
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V

venturesomerite

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Nov 3, 2011
Messages
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Location
Connecticut - not sure why though...
Highbeam said:
99 7.3 diesel. The leaked oil will fill the valley and then run out the drain hole in the rear where it will look like a rear main seal leak.

Usually, it is your turbo pedestal O-rings. You have four of them that are frequent failure points.
Click to expand...

It's actually a front leak. I'm thinking a front main, but can't safely rule out oil cooler or hpop. Oil has gotten on the crank and as a result everywhere in the front which is why I need to clean it up to find it.
 
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speeder

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Sep 20, 2011
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Location
Happy Valley
Thanks Thruxton... I thought gearheads outside the industrial/machine shop realm would like to finally have some independent testing on degreasers!
 
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rlehto

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Joined
Aug 30, 2009
Messages
1
venturesomerite said:
It's actually a front leak. I'm thinking a front main, but can't safely rule out oil cooler or hpop. Oil has gotten on the crank and as a result everywhere in the front which is why I need to clean it up to find it.
Click to expand...

I saw somewhere it might be on here where a guy used baby powder to identify the leak. A light dusting sticks to the gunk but the new fresh oil from the leak turns it noticeably brown.
 
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