Hi folks...im going to clean my oily mess of an engine to try and figure out wear the small leaks coming from...whats the best product to degrease and remove the oil...i don't have a pressure washer so its going to have to be done by hand...

You can buy specific engine degreaser products to do this. WD40 on a rag will remove a lot of the gunk though and clean it up! Might be worth starting with that and see how bad it is before shelling out on fancy products!

Not having a pressure washer is a good thing, what engine is it?

Good shout! Have plenty lying about..area under cam covers has years of Old oily gunk from an old leak..wanting it spotless before I renew gaskets...thanks

4.4 v8 petrol

ok, me too.
Finally cured all my leaks
cam covers, everybody knows that one
pcv hoses breaking down
vanos solenoid seals easy job
front timing cover gaskets (finally solved) not very easy
timing chain tensioner washer not common
i have a little hand held steam cleaner that is quite good for small jobs.
If you spray water into the engine bay it will cause loads of problems i reckon so a plastic friendly spray degreaser would probably work well

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-JIZER-ENGINE...XqdJD4e2Tw

I'm going to write down your list and work through them to find my leaks...cleaning it today then pcv system tonight and tomorrow..cam cover gaskets after that...my leaks small and doesn't foul my driveway but lower engines a mess and once car heats up the smells noticable..did you do all the work yourself?

I had a tin of Gunk lying around so poured some of that into a bowl and pinched one of the wife's pot scrubbing brushes, the ones with a long handle.

Then brushed it onto the affected areas, left it for about an hour or so, went back scrubbed it again with a bit more Gunk. I then used the same brush but with a bowl of fresh water and it's nice and clean

Not much mess either and all you have to do later is to hose down the driveway, oh and I did get a thick ear from the wife for pinching her brush  ______________________________
Simon
______________________________

Range Rover Classic 3.5 efi - Gone
Range Rover Classic 3.9 efi - Gone
Range Rover Classic 4.2 LSE - Sadly gone
Land Rover 110 3.5 - Gone
Range Rover P38a 4.0 SE - Pleased it's gone
Range Rover P38a 2.5 DHSE - Just sold
Range Rover L322 4.4 v8 Petrol - Current

Last edited by UK Marine on 10th Dec 2016 4:16pm. Edited 1 time in total

the oil doesnt make its way to the drive because of the undertray and either burns off on the exhaust or gets spread around by the power steering pump depending on where it is.
I did my cam covers a while back which ideally you want to give them a really good clean up as the paint where the seals sit blisters into an oil crusty mess so allow plenty of time. i had mine blasted and powder coated.
check your spark plug bores as well as the inner cam cover gasket leaks and eventually causes a misfire or two.

I then redid everything when i changed my timing chains and guides and valley pan and pcv valve......

UK Marine wrote:

oh and I did get a thick ear from the wife for punching her brush

I'd probably get a thick ear for punching my girlfriend's brush

Just to qualify earlier remarks: NOT a good idea to fire a pressure washer at the engine bay!!  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Gentlemen thankyou ..great tips on the leaks and cleaning engine bay...power washer ideas out my head too

You might find that some Brake and clutch cleaner is a good alternative.. you should be able to pick up 5 lts for around a tenner from a car spares place that isn't Halfrauds.. An independent motor factors is the best source, someone like this http://www.pentlandcomponents.com/ Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

Gunk, a brush, and a hose where you can control the flow right down to a trickle.

Remove the under tray covers before starting as this allows the mess to run clear of the car. Don't do the job anywhere near a mains drain either, you don't want this going into the sewers. I tend to spread an old sheet under the engine area to absord as much of the mess as possible and then throw it away afterwards.

Apply gunk with an old spray bottle. Leave for an hour. Apply a bit more and work it with a brush. I use an old washing up brush but anything similar will do.

Rinse with a trickle of water from a hose and keep going with the brush whilst you do. Don't be tempted to use full blast on the hose though, just a trickle is fine and it saves keep changing bowls of water.

Punch, pinch it's all the same to my missus  ______________________________
Simon
______________________________

Range Rover Classic 3.5 efi - Gone
Range Rover Classic 3.9 efi - Gone
Range Rover Classic 4.2 LSE - Sadly gone
Land Rover 110 3.5 - Gone
Range Rover P38a 4.0 SE - Pleased it's gone
Range Rover P38a 2.5 DHSE - Just sold
Range Rover L322 4.4 v8 Petrol - Current