engine cleaning tool help

I want something that I can use to clean oil and dirt off engine heads and blocks. Is a steam tool good for that. I almost bought a high pressure water sprayer, but it doesnt shoot hot water or steam. Looking for something cheap and can remove oil and dirt quickly. I was even wondering if those tile steamers would work.

Loose parts? If so, a friend of mine is looking for a free or cheap old dishwasher for the same purpose, i'm not sure how well that would work. Just an idea though.

I bought an old "mobile" dishwasher at a garage sale couple years back ; it is noisy but does a pretty good job on dirty parts, set on "high temp wash" and "potscrubber" with some extra laundry detergent added in there too; it was worth teh 15-20$ I paid for it

it will fit 16" wheels and SOHC heads, and is prolly tall enough for a 4 cyl block, but you would have to make a stronger 'rack' to hold the block above the spray arm / heater

"mobile" means it has wheels and a countertop on top, and sides too, and a garden hose type hook-up; not designed for installation *under* a countertop ; a 'non-mobile' unit would work too but will not be as simple to hook up, nor as quiet, nor will it have a workable countertop

I would think that a power washer and some OTC engine cleaner would do the trick.

if you have a power washer, hook the inlet hose up to the fitting on your hot water heater. it's not a steam cleaner, but hot water works a lot better than cold water.....make sure your wife isn't in the shower!

lol i have my (outside the house) garden hose spigot plumbed so I can run cold and/or hot

makes washing the salt slime off the car easier in the spring

PS cheap 'dollar store' oven cleaner works real well for cleaning up grungy blocks & trans cases, etc

get a stiff bristle 'parts cleaning' brush, yur oven cleaner, and a spray bottle with hot water in it... takes some time but you can get the block VERY CLEAN

Originally posted by 86 XR7 5spd:
PS cheap 'dollar store' oven cleaner works real well for cleaning up grungy blocks & trans cases, etc

get a stiff bristle 'parts cleaning' brush, yur oven cleaner, and a spray bottle with hot water in it... takes some time but you can get the block VERY CLEAN

If you have a decent paint job on the car, don't use oven cleaner in the engine compartment. But, it's a great idea if the parts are far away from the car!

I would also avoid getting any oven cleaner on the fender wells / shock towers as eating the paint off of an already rust-prone area is a bad idea.

ive never scrubbed an engine to get it clean, but to remove some of the greese and dirt that tends to build up, i just use a can of brake cleaner. scrub it with some brake cleaner, then i pressure wash it, then a little more brake cleaner to get off a little more. doesnt get a 'show finish' but it helps.