Caked Grease Remover

Oka · Post by **Oka** » 19 Aug 2025, 23:37

What would you suggest, to at lease remove most of the caked grease?
Simple Green and Zep Tools Cleaner did not do anything.

Cheers.

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crasbe · Post by **crasbe** » 20 Aug 2025, 06:48

Diesel or petroleum can work well for crusty stuff and grease that is not really attacked by brake clean.
Just be advised that diesel is not odorless, so use it sparingly on a rag for example. Otherwise your engine compartment will smell like diesel for a long time.
Perhaps you can get light mineral oil or something like that with less smell. Lamp oil on the other hand might be composed of biodiesel, which might attack rubber parts in the engine compartment, so I wouldn't use that.

My theory is that this type of residue is made up of longer chained hydrocarbons, while brake clean is made from more volatile, shorter chained hydrocarbons and therefore has a hard time attacking the residue.
Diesel has longer hydrocarbons and is therefore "more compatible".

Post by **scot850** » 20 Aug 2025, 08:37

I use old tooth brushes and for the hard to move crusty stuff, careful use of a small brass brush and a paint scraper.

Good Luck!

Neil.

Post by **cn90** » 20 Aug 2025, 10:02

I use the hard plastic trim tool (same tool used to remove door panel etc).

Vova585 · Post by **Vova585** » 20 Aug 2025, 11:30

Great suggestions above.
Another possible cheap alternative is to use plastic brush kits that attach to drill. One can pick them up from amazon for about 30-40.
Depending on the location one can also possibly try to use compressed air through low port.
More involved methouds- steam cleaner(HF will sell one for around $140). Or can use mini power washer.
More innovative methods and cost prohibitive at the same time-cryogenic cleaning with liquid nitrogen. Laser removal(depending on power setting can help remove just grease and maybe slightly paint.)

Post by **vtl** » 20 Aug 2025, 12:22

DMSO. Brush it into the cooked grease, it will soften it.

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Post by **BlackBart** » 20 Aug 2025, 16:49

^^^ NOT good for you, use caution.

I use a mix of 3 vinegar to 1 Dawn dishsoap (my wife's discovery). Shake it up to mix in a spray bottle, spray it on, scrub with brass toothbrushes. You can use plastic scrapers, or a putty knife or dull screwdriver, but you may scratch the aluminum.

I've found that brake cleaner turns raw aluminum black.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 20 Aug 2025, 20:41

,
This is an excellent brush. Use with some Mothers or Citrol do not mix. Cover your windshield and fenders from splash or product being flicked on by brushing. Many products may damage the paint and etch the windshield.

Use to be able to buy a gallon at a reasonable price.

Schaeffer's Manufacturing 266 Citrol Cleaner and Industrial Degreaser
https://www.amazon.com/Schaeffer-Manufa ... C83&sr=1-5

Mothers 05101 Mag & Aluminum Polish - 10 oz
https://www.amazon.com/Mothers-05101-Ma ... =8-7&th=1s

SXhyf Crevice Cleaning Brush - Grout Scrub Brush, House Cleaning Supplies, Gap Cleaning Tools
https://www.amazon.com/SXhyf-Cleaning-B ... 42891&th=1
.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 20 Aug 2025, 20:53

vtl wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 12:22 DMSO. Brush it into the cooked grease, it will soften it.

.
Wow, DSMO. Though I've never used it, it was popular back in the day for pain relief and probably still today. It's a solvent per 7:30 of the video and very permeable to the skin.
.

.

Post by **matthew1** » 20 Aug 2025, 20:54

I bought one of these in June for killing weeds 1:1 with water, and I'm finding all sorts of cleaning uses for it now, which typically I mix 1:4. It's kindof a wonder liquid IMHO, and completely low tech/natural/benign.

https://amzn.to/3JoazfM

Note I have not used it on engine grease. But I would guess it would work for that. It's very strong.