Tonight I am going at my transmission (it is sitting on a furniture dolly). My only tools are garden hose, some scrapers and some wire brushes. The bottom is very clean, it is the top that is a mess. I want to just use the low pressure garden hose to avoid any internal contamination. Was curious what peoples opinions are on an over the counter degreaser, as I only have access to an Autozone or an Oreily's on the way down to the shop tonight - nothing fancy.

Thanks!
Scott S

Oil Eater or Simple Green. Then add some Ez-Off oven cleaner to get the baked on stuff. In theory you need to coat the trans with paint or something to keep it from oxidizing after it is clean.

-Aaron

Awesome at the $ store is totaly Awesome!!

Scott, I use a spray gun with mineral spirits in it. Use a parts cleaning brush and poke at it while you spray. Crap fly's everyplace but it cleans up nice and fast. Oh and it will ruin your grass. AND Your wife WILL give you the look

Simple Green is an outstanding water-based cleaner and won't mess with the surface much but mineral spirits is a good solvent to use as well. But the latter leaves the surface bare unprotected. This is a time-consuming thing to do while the transaxle is still together.

Places to avoid spraying water into. In other words, Spray with the SG bottle and wipe/brush/scrape
- Vent hole
- the input shaft
- output flange seals
- shift seals (tail or side shifter)
- speedo-drive hole

This all works better when the trans is warm. There are a bunch of threads here on cleaning and coating magnesium.

Good luck

This is the strongest stuff I found that is water based.
http://www.superclean.com/products

a word of caution...wear goggles and crappy clothes.
The spray hose will shoot water back at you no matter where you stand...

Rich

I like purple power too.

Yep purple power or pink stuff.......

If you use any of that purple cleaner, and possibly other strong products, BE SURE you have more-than-adequate ventilation. I'm thinkin' like a box fan set on medium or high blowing all over you and the work while you're doing it. I didn't, and I almost had to visit the ER. It's BAD stuff! BTW, I was working outdoors!

The Cap'n

Thanks all!

Oh, and Rick, I could crap gold bars and diamonds all day long, every day, and she would still be giving me "that look"
Ha!

I like the Oil Eater stuff they sell at costco, that with my steamer would make quick work, you wanna borrow it?

Ferg

Thanks a million Ferg. I will see how it all goes tonight. If it goes bad, I will drop you a line for sure.

Thanks again!

What kind of steamer do you have?

Strange, Been using it for years. I use it full strength and never had that problem. Maybe your just alergic to it? However, it doesn't like rubber.

I forgot the brand, will have to check tonight. Looks like this...

+1 on Costco, Oil Eater

...and, Ferg, I want to borrow your steamer.

ferg,
I don't have a costco membership.
but I want a bottle of that oil-eater some time
can I give you some cash when your shopping anyways to pick me up one.

Just remember to change that gear oil afterwords.

I'll get you one Brant. It's on my way home.

don't make a special trip though
tell me what I owe you and I'll get you the moola$

No problem.

They're easier to keep clean after they're painted too

A wheel bolt in place of the vent will help keep crap out of the guts. Just be sure to carefully clean around the vent before removal.

I don't have a parts washer at my shop. I'll scrub the really dirty parts with solvent in a big tray and then Purple Power and then steam clean them. If they're not very bad I skip the solvent.

So I picked up some simple green, some purple stuff and an assortment of small wire brushes. Sprayed and scrubbed for two hours. My case was only dirty on the top and in the areas that are unseen behind the muffler. After two hours, I was a mess, and I was not at all pleased with the results. I wiped the thing down and dried it off as best I could, then put back on the shelf. I puttered around on other cars for the next few hours. As I went to leave, I was shocked at what I saw! Other than some of the depest darkest crevices, the transmission looked damn good. When it fully dried, it was a nice clean/dull/dark silver. I'ts like the mag case was a sponge that held water and kept it looking dark and dirty (especially in the failing light as the sun went down). I figure another hour or so spot cleaning and I will be all set. Very pleased. Thanks again for the product suggestions!

I'd rinse that really well Scotty.