Soaking Degreaser Recommendation?

[Keith M.]

Will soon be pulling apart my steering assembly for cleaning and rebuild. It is extremely coated with many many years of caked on grease with likely some steering fluid thrown in for good measure. I can throw up some pics if desired. Been spraying with some Gunk just to get the outer layers off a bit. Thinking best bet is get it apart and off and some sort of soaking degrease bath might be best??? Did some google searching and not coming up with anything that stands out. Been loving Evaporust but that won't do much if anything at all for grease. Thoughts? I guess the only other idea would be that I might have better luck with Gunk spraying once i get the parts in a plastic bin instead of hanging on the car. Almost through first can of Gunk already though.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Soaking Degreaser Recommendation?

I use one of the $0.69 plastic pan scrapers from Wal-Mart to get rid of the vast majority of the grease. It's much easier than soaking or spraying; as you've shown that doesn't work.
Kerosene then does a great job for any leftover, and can be washed off with water.

[Matthew T.]

Re: Soaking Degreaser Recommendation?

If everything is going to be on the bench then a couple of cans of brake clean and a few shop rags. I would not submerge ball joints or tie rod ends.

[Duke W.]

Re: Soaking Degreaser Recommendation?

The best solvent for petroleum-based products is petroleum-based paint thinner or mineral spirits. They don't leave an oily film like kerosene or diesel, and I hope you understand that using gasoline is very unsafe due to its flammability.

Of course, if you live in California you can't buy real petroleum-based paint thinner or mineral spirits. What is passed off as either is mostly acetone based, and not only is acetone, like lacquer thinner, not good at dissolving petroleum based products, it actually chemically ATTACKS organic matter like paint and plastic.

Duke

[Michael M.]

Re: Soaking Degreaser Recommendation?

I don't know if they call it this anymore, but I use Prep-Sol. It is a great wax and grease remover.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Soaking Degreaser Recommendation?

I agree with Patrick- soak parts in kerosene then brush with stiff brush. Kerosene dissolves even the hardest old grease. I restored a 1922 Victrola whose springs were caked in almost solid grease. Kerosene did a great job in dissolving it.
Jeff

[Keith M.]

Re: Soaking Degreaser Recommendation?

Thanks all. Some great ideas. I got kerosene from heaters I used when building my house. I got mineral spirits as one of my other hobbies is military surplus stuff. I guess my plan of attack is get it cleaned up enough around fixtures to get good purchase with wrenches and sockets to get disassembled then deal with rest in tubs on the bench with brake spray, kerosene or what not. So while we are here...plan was have control valve rebuilt by Amer Finest Corvettes...but if I understood him correctly he said pitch the cylinder and he would send replace...but isn't that the only part here with a part number on it? outside of pitman and idler arms?

[Keith M.]

Re: Soaking Degreaser Recommendation?

The best solvent for petroleum-based products is petroleum-based paint thinner or mineral spirits. They don't leave an oily film like kerosene or diesel, and I hope you understand that using gasoline is very unsafe due to its flammability.

Of course, if you live in California you can't buy real petroleum-based paint thinner or mineral spirits. What is passed off as either is mostly acetone based, and not only is acetone, like lacquer thinner, not good at dissolving petroleum based products, it actually chemically ATTACKS organic matter like paint and plastic.

Duke

Ha...I am a product of New England and moved to L.A. in 2001..so know from whence you speak... but escaped in 2007 to the "free" state of PA!

[Mark E.]

Re: Soaking Degreaser Recommendation?

Remove the grime before disassembling the box to prevent that stuff from getting inside.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Soaking Degreaser Recommendation?

Thanks all. Some great ideas. I got kerosene from heaters I used when building my house. I got mineral spirits as one of my other hobbies is military surplus stuff. I guess my plan of attack is get it cleaned up enough around fixtures to get good purchase with wrenches and sockets to get disassembled then deal with rest in tubs on the bench with brake spray, kerosene or what not. So while we are here...plan was have control valve rebuilt by Amer Finest Corvettes...but if I understood him correctly he said pitch the cylinder and he would send replace...but isn't that the only part here with a part number on it? outside of pitman and idler arms?

Brake cleaner can work OK as a final rinse, but as I noted before you have to mechanically remove most of the hardened stuff before you can start with the solvents. It may sound crazy, but the plastic scraper works great.

[Jimmy P.]

Re: Soaking Degreaser Recommendation?

Keith,
I agree with the guys above about using kerosene/stiff brush to clean parts with heavy grease and grime. But I also recommend another product to have in your arsenal of resto cleaning products. It's LA's Totally Awesome". This stuff is really awesome, as a degreaser for many parts, especially those plastic parts with engine grime that has built up over the years. I use it full strength out of the spray bottle, let it soak awhile, loosen up grease and grime with a soft brush, reapply then rinse off with with spray bottle of water! Get for a buck a spray bottle at Dollar General (you know those stores on every corner ).$3.00 for 1/2 gal. refill.

[John D.]

Re: Soaking Degreaser Recommendation?

Jimmy Greg's idea is excellent. Now you will know one of my secrets. My helper and I learned many years ago that the dollar store Awesome is outstanding. Dirt cheap. It helps clean off the caked up grease on abused and neglected old fuel injections. I use it around the house also.
Kersone is $7.00 a gallon in PA now. But my helper still uses it also.
John D.

[Jimmy P.]

Re: Soaking Degreaser Recommendation?

Hi John.,

Jimmy Greg??? Not sure who that is!
I think I mentioned it at one of our Technical Sessions a couple years ago! (The one on restoring the EVAP canisters!) Definately good around the house as you mention, it really is awesome for cleaning the gutters on the house. Spray it on, and wipe with a soft towel and gutters are like new!
Merry Christmas John!

[Wes S.]

Re: Soaking Degreaser Recommendation?

What's wrong with Dawn Platinum?
Wes

[John F.]

Re: Soaking Degreaser Recommendation?

Pressure wash at a car wash!