Topic: Best method for cleaning your engine?

[DHuffman]

Hey guys. My old girl isnt a show bike, but I'd like to get some of the crud off the engine. Mainly, the fins on the engine have a brown/gray haze on them that id like to clean up. How do you guys clean your engine, especially between the fins?

[jlh3rd]

i use a product called bike bright and a soft bristle paint brush. I don't use harsher cleaners or scrub the fins.

[Tracksnblades1]

#1 pick.... <=1000# hot water pressure washer. Stay 12" away from engine paint, its old, it'll come off...😩

#2 pick.....Simple Green on warm (not hot) engine, followed by hot soapy brush and elbow grease..rinse.....
😜

[DHuffman]

Thanks guys. My throttle cable broke back in the fall, so shes been setting for a bit. Getting a set from Motion Pro, and hope to have her back up and running shortly. The paint on the motor is pretty weathered, so being super gentle isnt much of a concern. Thanks for the tips!

[Pielz]

If the metal just looks tarnished and dingey I'll use 0000 steel wool or a super fine 3m scrubbing pad and some marvel mystery oil. It shines everything up so well. I think the marvel helps remove a lot of the oxidation and makes the metal shiny. Doesn't hurt that it smells good either.

[Ichiban 4]

#1 pick.... <=1000# hot water pressure washer. Stay 12" away from engine paint, its old, it'll come off...😩

#2 pick.....Simple Green on warm (not hot) engine, followed by hot soapy brush and elbow grease..rinse.....
😜

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
I'm in agreement with above post: Use a good hot pressure washer (warm water works too..but doesn't clean as fast) first to loosen the dirt. Most convenient for me has been going to good local car wash (that has good pressure and @ least warm water).
 
Engine should be warm..not hot (also not crucial..but cleans off better in final result).

I'm kind of old school with a lot of stuff..so rather than using Simple Green..I just use Gunk spray engine cleaner after first wash.  Let that sit on surface for a few minutes..then rinse off with spray..usually water only..but can use a little soap..then rinse.

This works for even pretty grimy engines..I've found over the years.  Have rarely had to use brushes or steel wool..but guess that may be necessary sometimes [I actually don't think that the cylinders..fins..parts of engine that get really hot were painted. Know that the cases were].  Never had a problem with engine paint coming off. But suggest spending no more time cleaning a particular area that what's needed to get the dirt off.

Oh..and be careful not to spray directly on any of the electronics..coils..plug wires..et al..as your cleaning the metal engine parts.

My 2-cents here..

Ichi

[750K5]

Purple power!  Hands down. Don't let it get hot it'll etch aluminium. Pressure wash immediately it will do the job

[PeWe]

Warm water. Spray naphta on engine if it has oil mist or brake dust. Warm water 5 minutes later. I used a garden hose and tap water pressure only last time. Warm water

Other road dirt, hand dish clean detergent in hot washer, use a  brush. Toothbrush can be useful.

Pressure washer from a distance to save the paint. I feed it with warm tap water. It can handle 60C. Go too hard with the pressure washer will remove paint. Pods must be covered with  plastic.

[seanbarney41]

s100 motorcycle cleaner is awesome stuff....that, and wd40

[Deltarider]

Many years ago I once went to a car wash and used pressured water. It resulted in: a soaked ignition (bike wouldn't start anymore and I had to walk it home. Next day I discovered the drive chain had been degreased completely. Not much later I had to renew the rear wheel bearings and I don't rule out that even the worn drive flange (its inside grease gone), also had to do with it. Lesson learned. Never again. Hand dish detergent and a soft brush also does it. I also have an industrial cleaner that in a 1:10 dilution (water) does a good job and is biodegradable. As you are dealing with aluminium alloys, do not use aggressive 'miracle' stuff and leave, whatever you use, on not longer than say a minute. To remove grease by hand, a homemade 2:1 mix of kerosene (or lampoil for that matter) and naphtha also works fine.
After cleaning I protect the frame tubes with a simple 50-50% mix of kerosene and motoroil. Owners of CB500/550s can expect a dirty engine soon after, as these models tend to sweat some oil near the head gasket. I have made it a habit, whenever I fill up at a gas station, to use a paper towel for that. It doesn't take more than 10 seconds. For the rest: just live with it. In over a 100.000 kms it didn't got worse. It never dirtied my pants. When you use WD-40, avoid to spray near the front disk. Don't ask me.

[PeWe]

Yes, stay away from bearings and electrical stuff with a pressure washer.
OK on drive chain if lubricate it direct after when dried before using the bike.

[rotortiller]

WD40 works well for cleaning crud with a brass or even a tooth brush however the fins can discolor slightly to the point that stronger measures are required. Warm soap and water will remove the dirty WD40.  Varsol, naptha or jet fuel works fine too. I do not like pressure washers and prefer elbow grease. Stubborn crap can be removed with solvent soaked scotch brite.

[kerryb]

If honda-brite and the garden hose won't do it, it gets to wait untill riding season is over.  Then pull the engine and clean everything, bamboo skewers, bits of rag, and kerosene!  (I'd rather ride it or fix it, than clean it!)

[evinrude7]

i'd also be careful not to wash it with cold water when the motor is hot. 

[Deltarider]

In general: don't overdo it. If you clean too well, fasteners like bolts will be exposed to oxidation whereas greasy parts won't rust. After all, your bike is just a means of transportation.

[PeWe]

No water to enter the small holes in the frame.