Cleaning up engine oil and power steering fluid with 99% rubbing alcohol

[jwyfk]

I have a brand new built engine that has had a couple of leaks near the belts and alternator. Although I have some Meguiar`s Super Degreaser, I don`t want to get too much water in that area, especially in the brand new alternator. So, I bought about 1 gallon of 99% pure isopropyl alcohol and a pump sprayer to hopefully dissolve the oil from that area. I like the fact that it leaves no residue and won`t damage aluminum. I know it`s highly flammable, but the car will sit for long enough to dry out, and I plan to do this when the car is cold and the battery is disconnected. I thoroughly searched on Google, but I can`t find anyone else who has done this. Is there anything wrong with my plan? The only other option would be to remove the alternator and use electrical cleaner on it, which I can`t afford right now.

[Stokdgs]

Is there a way to cover the alternator so it doesnt get the cleaner on it ??
A piece of plastic, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, etc .. ?

So it`s a new engine and it already leaks oil ???
Why not take it back to the people who messed this up and have them fix the leak and clean up the mess that they made in the first place ?

Good luck,
Dan F

[jwyfk]

Is there a way to cover the alternator so it doesnt get the cleaner on it ??
A piece of plastic, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, etc .. ?

So it`s a new engine and it already leaks oil ???
Why not take it back to the people who messed this up and have them fix the leak and clean up the mess that they made in the first place ?

Good luck,
Dan F

Hi Dan,

The car sat in his garage for 4 years, and there was already a lawsuit involved. The power steering pump hose may be dry rotted and needs to be replaced. There was an oil pressure gauge fitting that he neglected to tighten down, which caused the oil leak. What`s done is done and now I need to clean up his mess. I could cover up the alternator, but I want to clean the oil off of it. Alcohol seems like a good solution and before I did this, I wanted to check with everyone to see if this was OK.

[Billy Jack]

Most parts cleaner solvents are based on mineral spirits, so you can get a gallon of that and just melt all the grease and fluid away. As mentioned, you can use plastic wrap or aluminum foil to cover any sensitive electronics. All the underhood components are designed to resist moisture, but using a direct pressurized spray is too risky.

Bill

[RaysWay]

All the underhood components are designed to resist moisture, but using a direct pressurized spray is too risky.

Bill

+1! Most people shudder at the thought of getting their engine compartment wet, but it`s not a problem as long as you`re not directly blasting sensitive areas with high pressure water (ask the dealership detailer with the super heavy duty pressure washer). Just put your water hose sprayer on a "shower" type setting to be safe.

[Swanicyouth]

Alcohol is a polar molecule. It`s not a great cleaner of grease. If you want something that will do the job, get yourself several cans of Brake Kleen. Brake Kleen is composed of various aliphatic (lipid / fat) dissolving solvents. It`s the best thing to clean engine oil.

If your concerned about the alternator - just disconnect the battery. However, in my many years of using Brake Kleen to clean up oil and grease - I`ve never had an issue.

It`s also highly volatile - which means it dissipates into a gas quickly - so it dries fast. You don`t really have to worry about pools of it sitting in recessed areas for long.

That being said, BK can stain some sensitive plastics and non powder coated painted metals - but on bare metals and aluminums - it`s OK.

In fact, it`s made to clean just that - iron and aluminum used in braking systems.

[JustJesus]

Is the alternator chromed or polished? That may be affected by some products.

[jwyfk]

Thank you all for the suggestions, but I`m concerned about using products like brake cleaner or mineral spirits that can eat paint. I realize that rubbing alcohol isn`t ideal, but it doesn`t stain and won`t harm paint. I`d be using one of those Round-up type garden sprayers to try and blast away the fresh oil. It`s not caked on there. I only have 800 miles on the engine. I`ve used rubbing alcohol to spot clean silicon hoses for years. I just wanted to check to make sure nothing would be harmed by soaking the alternator and belts with it. If that doesn`t work, I`ll move onto something like Super Degreaser.

Is the alternator chromed or polished? That may be affected by some products.

Nothing like that. It`s just brand new, that`s all.

[Stokdgs]

Jwyfk -

Sorry that the story behind the scenes was not a happy one..

But you are on the road to get this cleaned up, replace the power steering hose possibly, tighten up the sending unit, and lite her off again ! How fun !

I have never used alcohol for cleaning anything under the engine compartment, and we all know that too strong a solution can cause some automotive paint to swell and not be so happy..

Instead I have always used Meguiars Super Degreaser on all engines, (except exotics, Ferrari, etc..) compartments, underhood area, firewalls, the areas in front behind headlights, etc, dirty greasy places, and have NEVER had an issue with anything damaged parts broke, or the vehicle failed to start the first time...
Never had any come back months, years, later with problems from the cleaning...

My process is to wash it all down after it`s cooled, with the pressure washer and a wide fan tip, remove as much loose junk, leaves, etc., with this initial wash, then spray it all down with the Super Degreaser, getting it especially good on all the most oily, greasy, etc., places, let it dwell a few minutes, but not let it dry, and then starting with the front underside of the hood, work myself down, rinsing it all off and I always get a super clean engine and compartment..

Never - ever - had a vehicle not start up or have issues with this process...
You just have to use common sense and know how much you can spray and not get into trouble..
Dan F

[jwyfk]

Instead I have always used Meguiars Super Degreaser on all engines, (except exotics, Ferrari, etc..) compartments, underhood area, firewalls, the areas in front behind headlights, etc, dirty greasy places, and have NEVER had an issue with anything damaged parts broke, or the vehicle failed to start the first time...
Never had any come back months, years, later with problems from the cleaning...

My process is to wash it all down after it`s cooled, with the pressure washer and a wide fan tip, remove as much loose junk, leaves, etc., with this initial wash, then spray it all down with the Super Degreaser, getting it especially good on all the most oily, greasy, etc., places, let it dwell a few minutes, but not let it dry, and then starting with the front underside of the hood, work myself down, rinsing it all off and I always get a super clean engine and compartment..

Thank you Dan. Maybe I`ll give the MSD a shot first. My experience with some of these engine degreasers is that they leave a white residue. I was reading on a forum that this is because they are alkaline based, and the solution is to rinse, then spray with a vinegar or lemon juice solution. Have you heard of this before? By the way, what`s the strongest ratio of MSD that you recommend? Thanks again!

[Accumulator]

When I do work like this (on vehicles where I don`t want to get things too wet, or rely on the steamer) I usually reach for a solvent that`s made for such things. ValuGard`s New Car Prep is the obvious answer, but Wurth`s CleanSolve, 3M Adhesive Remover, and other such solvents work very well too. No issues with what you get it on, no need to rinse, and *very* effective. I`ve used this approach on engine compartments that were so filthy they looked like they were spraypainted black, and other than taking a lot of time and going through a lot of rags/swabs/etc. I can`t think of any negatives other than the need to be a *little* careful about instilling marring as solvents don`t offer the lubricity of many "soap-type" products (even APCs usually offer a little lubricity).

I`d be kinda surprised if the IPA is really effective, hope it works out satisfactorily. I just don`t consider IPA to be the "does everything" solvent the way many people do.

[Stokdgs]

Jwyfk -

Meguiars Super Degreaser in all the years I have used it has never left a white residue on anything..
It rinses off very quickly and completely.. maybe its the water being used with it that combined, leaves a residue ? I dont know...

I use this bottle - 32 oz. Meguiars Super Degreaser Bottle and a good sprayer and mix Super Degreaser at either 10:1 or 4:1 and never have any problems...

Based on a 32 oz of product in a 35 oz bottle, that would work out to - 3.25oz Product to 32oz water = 10:1, 7oz Product to 28oz water = 4:1

Good Luck !
DanF

[Lonnie]

Another good, but NOT cheap, engine cleaner is Kano Laboratory`s Floway.It`s very effective without some of the harsh solvents that can harm under-hood plastics found on today`s vehicles. (Sorry, no Internet link due to moderator`s rules within this forum; you`ll have to find it yourself. But it`s worth the time to research it.)

Isopropyl alcohol is not "kind"(AKA, compatible) to certain rubber hoses if it`s not rinsed in due time or if it sits in engine cavities where hoses may be connected.

[Rsurfer]

[QUOTE=jwyfk;2041352]Thank you all for the suggestions, but I`m concerned about using products like brake cleaner or mineral spirits that can eat paint.



Been using mineral spirits to clean oem paint for years, never had a problem.

[jwyfk]

Jwyfk -

Meguiars Super Degreaser in all the years I have used it has never left a white residue on anything..
It rinses off very quickly and completely.. maybe its the water being used with it that combined, leaves a residue ? I dont know...

I use this bottle - 32 oz. Meguiars Super Degreaser Bottle and a good sprayer and mix Super Degreaser at either 10:1 or 4:1 and never have any problems...

Based on a 32 oz of product in a 35 oz bottle, that would work out to - 3.25oz Product to 32oz water = 10:1, 7oz Product to 28oz water = 4:1

Good Luck !
DanF

Thanks Dan, since I already have the MSD, I`ll give that a try at 4:1 ratio!

Another good, but NOT cheap, engine cleaner is Kano Laboratory`s Floway.It`s very effective without some of the harsh solvents that can harm under-hood plastics found on today`s vehicles. (Sorry, no Internet link due to moderator`s rules within this forum; you`ll have to find it yourself. But it`s worth the time to research it.)

Isopropyl alcohol is not "kind"(AKA, compatible) to certain rubber hoses if it`s not rinsed in due time or if it sits in engine cavities where hoses may be connected.

I wish there was more information about Floway online. They don`t say much on their website. Thank you so much for the information about isopropyl alcohol. This is EXACTLY the information I needed. I wanted to make sure it wouldn`t damage seals or hoses, and I guess it does.

Been using mineral spirits to clean oem paint for years, never had a problem.

When I do work like this (on vehicles where I don`t want to get things too wet, or rely on the steamer) I usually reach for a solvent that`s made for such things. ValuGard`s New Car Prep is the obvious answer, but Wurth`s CleanSolve, 3M Adhesive Remover, and other such solvents work very well too. No issues with what you get it on, no need to rinse, and *very* effective. I`ve used this approach on engine compartments that were so filthy they looked like they were spraypainted black, and other than taking a lot of time and going through a lot of rags/swabs/etc. I can`t think of any negatives other than the need to be a *little* careful about instilling marring as solvents don`t offer the lubricity of many "soap-type" products (even APCs usually offer a little lubricity).

I`d be kinda surprised if the IPA is really effective, hope it works out satisfactorily. I just don`t consider IPA to be the "does everything" solvent the way many people do.

I`ll keep these other options in mind, thanks guys. I had no idea that some of this stuff was safe.