[OP]
Contributor
I've tried Simple Green, citrus-based degreasers, "purple" degreaser, fancy engine degreaser....and they never seem to really do anything, no matter what I use them on. They smell bad and I'm always left feeling like I don't think they're working.
So, tell me your degreaser success stories - about the thing you needed to clean and the product that made you say, "Wow - nothing except [blank] could have done the job".
Contributor
I've had decent luck with this product, possibly a healthier method of cleaning items.
https://www.biokleen.com/engine-degreaser
Mac
Contributor
GoJo hand cleaner always works for me.
Member
What are you trying to degrease
Moderator
I second this - you might give a hint what you want to degrease.Originally Posted by Jerome Stanek
For many mechanical things around the shop and farm (vehicle components, hydraulic pumps, etc.) my favorite degeaser is brake cleaner in spray cans. This is easy to use, washes away the grease, and dries extremely quickly. I watch for sales and buy it by the case, usually from the auto parts stores.
JKJ
Member
Just be careful breathing brake cleaner fumes, they're nasty for your health
Member
I'll preface this by saying that I haven't found Simple Green to be too offensive as long as you don't breathe in the mist, a good rule in general!
Brake cleaner is great for a lot of stuff. I do it over the big roller trash can which pretty much contains the crud and the mist. Even the non-chlorinated stuff seems to do a decent job.
Super Clean works wonders. But full strength it will burn your skin and it will damage or even remove paint. When it first came out in the early 90's I worked at an auto parts store and we tried it on some of the typical store shelving and removed paint. I then used it on the engine compartment of an early 1980's Mustang I was repainting several years ago and it removed the paint down to the E-Coat which was fine by me in that case. Same with the bottom of the car, but I got chemical burns on my arms from the stuff that ran down my arms--not even just sunburn-like burns. They blistered and scabbed up in several areas. It was bad. I still use it today but with caution.
Meguiars Super Degreaser has a pleasant perfume added and seems to work pretty good. Part of their professional line of products, 1 gallon of concentrate makes many ready-to-use. Part number D108. I just used this on the engine compartment of the car we bought my daughter--warmed up the engine until it was warm (not hot), sprayed everything down with this and let it dwell, then carefully pressure washed where I could safely and rinsed the rest and got it pretty darn clean with little actual work. You won't find this at a big box or chain auto parts store but its readily available online.
Another cleaner that's shockingly good for the price is Awesome, sold at Dollar General and Family Dollar for, you guessed it, $1. More of an all-purpose cleaner than a degreaser but it will cut light grease.
Moderator
Good point, of course. Degreasing is done outside, my preference for disassembling and rebuilding things, usually over gravel. I built a roofed porch over concrete on the shop for working on things as needed.
JKJ
Contributor
Nearly ran out of ideas while trying to get the burned cutting oil and metal chip coating off my ancient milling machine. Finally discovered S100 Motorcycle Wheel Cleaner!
"Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're doing."
Contributor
Plus 1 on Totally Awesome, but Greased Lightening make Awesome look like water as far as degreasing. Lowes GL in FIVE GALLON containers, for a little over $25.
[OP]
Contributor
Well, now I'm trying to remember what it was that I was trying to degrease....
I'm thinking of things like: old drill press quill with caked on grease, cosmoline on new equipment, gear oil leak on a truck rear differential, etc.
Bruce, you mentioned Greased Lightening - that's one I tried based on good Amazon reviews, but just didn't find anything that it seemed to work on. I guess it just....sorta worked....but I expected something more impressive?
I imagine any of the "lighter" hydrocarbon-based cleaners (brake cleaner, etc) would be more like what I'm looking for, but I always feel bad using those too liberally.
Contributor
A well fitted, quality respirator with appropriate filters and gloves should provide some peace of mind.Well, now I'm trying to remember what it was that I was trying to degrease....
I'm thinking of things like: old drill press quill with caked on grease, cosmoline on new equipment, gear oil leak on a truck rear differential, etc.
Bruce, you mentioned Greased Lightening - that's one I tried based on good Amazon reviews, but just didn't find anything that it seemed to work on. I guess it just....sorta worked....but I expected something more impressive?
I imagine any of the "lighter" hydrocarbon-based cleaners (brake cleaner, etc) would be more like what I'm looking for, but I always feel bad using those too liberally.
Mac
Last edited by Mac McQuinn; 08-09-2017 at 11:54 AM.
Moderator
This is what I use for spraying chemicals on the farm and other things I don't want to breathe, with filters for volitiles instead of dust, bought from Amazon:
respirator_full_face.jpg
Great for keeping smoke out of the eyes too.
JKJ
[OP]
Contributor
I actually have one of those, John! It is very useful (especially with the P100 cartridges with "nuisance" organic vapor filtration)
Contributor
I trained to be an aircraft mechanic over 40 years ago so I'm old school and clean oils and greases with Varsol, Stoddard solvent, mineral spirits etc. After that if the surface needs to be chemically clean for paint or sealing I use Acetone. I never let the "drippings" fall onto the ground as it keeps moving downwards and pollutes the groundwater. Collected oils and solvent can be added to used oil for recycling.
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