I use Castrol Super Clean a lot.  And it's true that you have to be very
careful how you use it.

First rule: NEVER use it on a hot engine.  It will definitely discolour any
aluminium or magnesium it comes in contact with.

That being said, it's fantastic at removing stains from most fabrics and it
cuts through grease like a knife.

Cheers,

Jeff
www.vanagonparts.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Doug in Calif
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 11:48 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: engine cleaning do's and don'ts?

Sorry to disagree Karl,

DO NOT USE CASTROL SUPER CLEAN (PURPLE BOTTLE) ON ANYTHING YOU WOULD NOT
SPRAY EASY-OFF OVEN CLEANER ON.

This product has ruined more motorcycle parts, engine metal, cad plating,
clear coats, than you can imagine!

For those of us (like me) who cannot afford to buy a NEW Porsche, please as
somebody's previous owner to your car, please use Castrol Super Clean very
carefully.  It's not at all like the citrus cleaners today.

Doug

----- Original Message -----
From: "Karl Wolz" <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 11:17 AM
Subject: Re: engine cleaning do's and don'ts?

> My procedure, FWIW: turn off engine; spray with degreaser (Castrol
> purple stuff for me); wait 5 - 10 minutes; respray nasty parts; wait a
> minute; high pressure wash.  I don't disconnect the battery and I kinda
> avoid completely dousing the distributor.
>
> Karl Wolz
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of
> > Matt Sutton
> > Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 8:16 AM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: engine cleaning do's and don'ts?
> >
> > Hi folks,
> >     With a bunch of jobs coming up (water pump, engine hoses, coolant
> swap,
> > tranny fluid swap, CV re grease...) I was thinking now would be a good
> time
> > to clean/ degrease the engine bay and tranny. Been to the archives,
> comments
> > are mixed- "no water!" "don't do it!" "Hi-pressure water" " compressed
> air"
> > etc.
> >     I have some constraints: city dweller, no driveway, no access to
> > curbside running water. If I go to a coin-op wash, I figure I'll be
> > disconnecting the battery, and bagging the alternator, distributor,
> and
> > ignition coil. I'll bring some WD-40 to dry out connectors afterwards.
> >     Any angles on smart procedures and products would be much
> welcomed,
> > along with warnings, admonitions, etc.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Matt Sutton
> > 88 GL 170k
> > Brooklyn NY