No doubt there are new products and I haven't tried very many of them
because what I've been using has been OK and anything with kerosene.
gasoline, diesel will strip wax and could fade paint.

Stan Wilder
www.engineceramics.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Doug in Calif" <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 1:31 PM
Subject: Re: engine cleaning do's and don'ts?

> Stan,
> I have to say that I have seen some Gunk products ruin and streak clear
> coats in the engine compartments.
> I owned a 85 944 Porsche where the gal used it in the engine compartment
and
> it streaked the clear on the porsche black paint.
> My 93 968 has all of its alloy discolored by previous owner using some
type
> of "engine cleaner" , fortunately the clear coat has not been attacked as
> bad as the 944 was.
>
> I do like using mineral spirits, paint thinner, and kerosene. they all
seem
> pretty harmless to paints and finishes.
>
> The new motorcycle citrus stuff is EXCELLENT.
> I blow it off with hot water straight from my hot water heater and then
> blow it dry with the leaf blower.
>
>
> Doug
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Stan Wilder" <wilden1-1@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 10:05 AM
> Subject: Re: engine cleaning do's and don'ts?
>
>
> > I've been spraying Vanagon, Bus, Porsche, Ford, Olds, Cadillac and every
> > other type of engine down with Gunk engine cleaner since about 1956.
> > If you dry out the distributor afterwards and spray a little WD 40 on
your
> > wires you won't be hurting anything when you wash the Gunk off at the
> $1.00
> > car wash.
> > You can't imagine how many really crusted up engines I've cleaned over
the
> > years just this way.
> > Don't be afraid to get a round parts cleaner brush or a big tire
scrubber
> > brush and give everything a good brushing once you get the Gunk sprayed
on
> > and soaked in. It'll probably save you a few bucks on Gunk you won't
need
> if
> > you clean with the brush too.
> > Don't worry about the AFM or Control Head connectors, they're both water
> > tight if the gaskets are still there.
> > I often take recent purchased Vanagons or other cars by the Car Wash and
> > spray the underside, backing plates, tranny case and CV boots several
> times
> > a week until I get them very clean. This isn't a cheap process even as I
> buy
> > Gunk by the quart and make up 5 gallons at a time with bulk kerosene or
> > solvasol. I spray it with a Hudson sprayer that really saturates good.
> >
> > Stan Wilder
> > www.engineceramics.com
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Matt Sutton" <msutts@EARTHLINK.NET>
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 10:16 AM
> > 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