best product for degreasing..., caked-on poo. Options

[stateofidleness]

anything that works well with "room temp" or cold water? most likely will start with a 5 gallon bucket of hot water but itll get cool fast... or i may just have to do the whole "hook a hose up and go" type deal

now this is gonna sound SUPER noob but i dont know much about engines...
is there any part on the engine you dont want to get any of this cleaner/water into or on?

[John]

Be careful around electrical parts or plastic parts.

[Chuck]

I've also had good luck with a product called STEAM. It comes in aerosol cans. I usually pick it up at the local auto parts stores. Spray it on the parts, let it sit for a while and rinse. Real stuck-on stuff may need a few treatments and a rag.

[Rusty]

+1 for Easy Off. If stuff is especially baked-on, you can cover with a cheap tarp so it doesn't dry out while it soaks.

Also, I suspect that Easy Off is more environmentally friendly than brake cleaner... and that lemony smell is great for your car! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[MrKona]

+1 for Easy Off. If stuff is especially baked-on, you can cover with a cheap tarp so it doesn't dry out while it soaks.

Also, I suspect that Easy Off is more environmentally friendly than brake cleaner... and that lemony smell is great for your car! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Brake cleaner make work well, but the smell and fumes are really potent. In addition, you have to think about environmental impact when you're cleaning an engine case and transmission. There are years of oil and dirt on that thing, and convenient as it may be, you really shouldn't hose it off right into your local sewer. That contaminated oil/water/solvent stew will eventually make it to a stream where cute little bugs and animals are busy living. Find someone with a pickup truck and bring the engine and transmission to your local self-serve car wash and go at it. Self serve car wash facilities are set up to capture and treat all that crud that's going to come off. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[SGB]

Another place that will have a hot tank of caustic liquid (what easy-off does) is a Radiator repair business.

[Gint]

Brake cleaner is great. I use it quite a bit for most everything, but I believe that there are some better products out there (cheaper).

I use Super Agitine in my 30 gal parts washer.

I use Castrol Super Clean in a 5 gal bucket as well. This stuff is real bad for skin and if left in, it will badly damage aluminum, but it takes burnt on oil and grease off better than brake cleaner.

I also use Dawn liquid dish soap in HOT water. That works well on a budget. At $3.00+ a can, brake cleaner can get expensive, so I have found a few alternatives.

I have used the Super Clean and Purple Power in a power washer and they do work well with HOT water (I have both hot and cold water faucets on the outside of my garage.)

I went to Napa and negotiated for 3 cases of 12 cans of brake cleaner at $1.00 a can. At that price it's a deal. And I have real solvent in my parts tank. And a bottle of Super Clean on the bench. And Dawn dishwashing detergent under the sink.

It's been years since I tried Simple Green. I should pick up a bottle of that stuff too.

[StratPlayer]

I used brake cleaner on my SS exchangers and the look like new, I use brake clearner on everything.

[tracks914]

Castrol Super Clean, hot water and a pressure washer. Be careful though, it is so strong it will eat your finger prints off if you use it bare hands for a prolonged period of time. (hour or more)
Brake cleaner is my second choice but it kills brain cells way too fast and way to fun. Either way, if you find something that works well it probably isn't going to be good for you.