How to clean engine and transmission for leak diagnosis?

[FireFox31]

What is a good way to clean an oil soaked P80 engine and transmission before looking for leaks? I believe the Internet recommends power washing, but which sensitive or old components might that damage and how can they be protected? Which cleaning chemicals do you use? How do you catch the oil-laced rinse water from this job?

I've tried applying degreaser, scrubbing with sponges, then rinsing with minimal water from a spray bottle. After a painstaking effort, this removed maybe 40% of the oil, leaving the engine barely good enough for leak diagnosis. There must be a safer, easier way which approaches results like used car dealers or even show cars.

[454cid]

Take it to a self service car wash, along with a lot of quarters. I'd look for one with heated water and a degreaser. I've also taken my own degreaser, but some carwashes get funny about that.

Normally, I don't get to fussy with covering, protecting, or avoiding anything, but in our engine's stay away from the very top of the engine's as it's easy to get water in the plugs and it'll short your ignition until you get the water out. At home I'd spray it and suck the rinse water out with a shop vac.

[wahiddd]

Purple Power is a life savers when it comes to degreasing any old auto part. Alternatively you can use what autoshops use, which is brake cleanear I think it's called

[scot850]

If you have a distributor, then zip-tie a bag around it to keep water out. I would avoid the ABS module and fuse boxes, but other than that go for it.

Neil.

[BlackBart]

I'd avoid high pressure. It gets into places you don't want it. Degreaser, car wash degreaser, some scraping, rinse.

[volvolugnut]

Remember dirt will collect on the underside also and spray underside as much as you can reach. What you wash off will stay out of your clothes, eyes and hair.
volvolugnut

[454cid]

If you have a distributor, then zip-tie a bag around it to keep water out. I would avoid the ABS module and fuse boxes, but other than that go for it.

Neil.

Our distributors are so simple, I disassembled mine and pressure washed the area.

[FireFox31]

Thanks, I'll try to cover these vulnerable areas and use low but firm pressure. I have some serious oil build up on many engines, especially in tough spots like under the intake and behind the crankshaft pulley. I want to build a water catch pan so I can do this cleaning on a lift. I wish there was a small power washer nozzle instead of the big metal wand.

I've heard steam cleaning can work without all the splashing and rinse water. I have a steamer so I'd like to try it. But I must keep it clean for interior work, thus must avoid oil splashing.

[MoVolvos]

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Some use foil for easy shaping to cover the Cap & Rotor, Alternator or anything you deem sensitive electronics. I have washed many a cars with only two that I remembered stumbling.

The first was the 98 S70 T5 but I did manage to drive it home 7 miles from the car wash. I think moisture got into the distributor.

The second was the 00 S70 SE Base. I had left the cover off the coils and while washing water got into the hairline cracks in the coils. 3 of the necks were crumbling also and 1 or 2 were bad so went ahead and change them all.

5 Pcs Ignition Coils for 2000 Volvo S70
https://a-premium.com/product/5x-Igniti ... DZ5wchcJ0B

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[454cid]

I haven't watched all this video yet, but Mike is cleaning a very dirty Volvo engine compartment.