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Looking for product to clean my engine.

tspappe

New member
I have a 2009 RS SM5, I am going to attempt my first oil change by myself. However, my engine is covered in build up of oil of some kind. I had a coolant leak and fixed that last weekend, needed to tighten the clamp on hose. I am looking for a product to clean my engine with. After I clean it, than I can discover if I do have a leak of some kind? So what is a good product I can use on the engine to get the oil and dirt off?

Thanks in advance,
Sheila
2009 RS SM5
 
OK I know this may sound crazy but it works great,
AFTER! you remove ALL your plastic body side panels
both sides, go into your kitchen and look under the sink for
your spray can of EASY OFF OVEN ClEANER, lemon is best
because it smells better.
Squirt water on the dirty areas with a hose, by the way
do this outside, spray Easy Off on the engine and let stand
for a few min. then hose it off, now you have a very clean engine.
DO NOT leave it on to long as it will renove paint if you got any on the
frame. This works great if you don’t have a steam cleaner.
Give it a try.
Dave

I have a 2009 RS SM5, I am going to attempt my first oil change by myself. However, my engine is covered in build up of oil of some kind. I had a coolant leak and fixed that last weekend, needed to tighten the clamp on hose. I am looking for a product to clean my engine with. After I clean it, than I can discover if I do have a leak of some kind? So what is a good product I can use on the engine to get the oil and dirt off?

Thanks in advance,
Sheila
2009 RS SM5
 
Last edited:
My engine was caked in oil and road grime. Best to use a paint friendly degreaser since the frame is just lightly painted to protect from corrosion. The oven cleaner idea will work, but you have to make sure you get it all off since it can corrode aluminum. THere are a lot of nooks and cranny's that you'll miss if you're not careful. Always good to use a pressure washer to clean everything off. My engine is clean minus the aluminum oxidation. The pressure washer is what makes the biggest difference. A steam cleaner would be good to loosen all the baked in stuff before pressure washing it.

Wish I took some before and after pictures of the engine.
 
Auto parts stores have spray cans of product specifically designed to "de-grease" engines.
Follow the instructions.

I would NOT use oven cleaner as it might damage all kinds of finishes, paints and rubber and plastic parts.
LYE is the main ingredient in the original formulation.
 
The cheapest and easiest way to get your engine clean is to warm it up and use Dave's suggestion of the Easy Off oven cleaner spray then go to a car wash and spray it all away.If you don't like the oven cleaner idea,then go to your favorite auto parts store and get a spray can or 2 of Gunk. Ride your Spyder to the car wash, spray Gunk on, let sit for awhile then spray it off. You may have to do a couple of applications if there is a real heavy coating. Motorcycle shops,auto shops, and any heavy duty mechanical repair shops have been using both products for degreasing for many years.
 
Opinions.....

The best one I have found through too many years....Griot's Engine Cleaner. Does a great job and do it once a year. Tough spots I use a shot of brake cleaner...:thumbup:
 
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