Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

Just wondering what is best to use to clean up grease/grim build up on engine?

for a general cleaner, I prefer Blue Coral All Purpose Cleaner & Degreaser. It cleans most anything in the engine area but is not as harsh as gas or carb spray. So it only cleans, it does not eat or discolor anything. As a bonus, it is 100% USA.
http://www.bluecoral.com/EXTERproducts.asp?page=1_5

I like simple green for my cleaning. Does a good job of cutting dirt and grease without being lye based. Safe to get on hands and plastics.

any auto grade degreaser like simple green for auto application works well for light grease.

for heavier and deeper grease brake cleaner does WONDERS


this was mostly done with several passes of brake cleaner, one or two auto degreaser, toothbrush and green scrubbing pad (note walmart brake cleaner in background)

I use Westley's Bleche Wite.

It works pretty good, and the heavier you spray it on and the longer it sits, the better it works. Works even better with the use of a powerwasher.

I'm with toast on this one, brake cleaner works wonders. although i have a parts cleaning tank o' mineral spirits w/steel brushes for extreme cases, and have also had great luck with acetone as a somewhat cheaper bulk alternative to brake cleaner acetone also gets everything off your dirty@$$ hands, though i'm sure it's not "good for you"...
Random question for californians, how do you do ANYTHING??? every product i listed kills californians, the fragile creatures they are (or so the label tells me.) good thing i'm of hardy michigan stock. even my steel brush came with a warning that said it could kill a californian...

Spreetard wrote: acetone also gets everything off your dirty@$$ hands, though i'm sure it's not "good for you"...

and brake cleaner is?
Has anyone had a problem with the brake cleaner getting on none metal items and causing problems?

Brake cleaner eats plastic and paint. I got it on my old Razz rear cover accidentally, came out the next morning to a huge white spot on it

Spreetard wrote:Random question for californians, how do you do ANYTHING??? every product i listed kills californians, the fragile creatures they are (or so the label tells me.) good thing i'm of hardy michigan stock. even my steel brush came with a warning that said it could kill a californian...

I dont know what you are talking about.
I would imagine people from michigan would be more brittle due to the intense cold and poor food supply.
We're stong in cali, the weather is always nice and warm and we eat everything organic.
Dont b hating

You have to forgive Spreetard . Here, spring just arrived two weeks ago(at least here in "warm" southeast Michigan).Up north in Manistee(well over there) they get allot of snow from the lake effect.Spreetard probably just got dug out from under 4-5' of snow.Most likely suffering from a terrible case of cabin fever(you know, when you can't ride for months on end).So be a little understanding,at least till his eyes get accustomed to sun light.Your two wheel brother.Carp

use carb cleaner after getting most of the junk off first with a rag.. Spray carb cleaner on the object and then use a rag with a shot of carb cleaner on it

bradthreee wrote:

Spreetard wrote:Random question for californians, how do you do ANYTHING??? every product i listed kills californians, the fragile creatures they are (or so the label tells me.) good thing i'm of hardy michigan stock. even my steel brush came with a warning that said it could kill a californian...

I dont know what you are talking about.
I would imagine people from michigan would be more brittle due to the intense cold and poor food supply.
We're stong in cali, the weather is always nice and warm and we eat everything organic.
Dont b hating

my wire brush seriously has a " THIS PRODUCT IS KNOWN TO CAUSE CANCER IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA" warning sticker. as does my brake cleaner, etc. once y'all get your cancer under controll, i'll gladly come there and eat your organic food

BTW, bradthreee, how much for a used spree engine shroud?? (shipped to the frozen wasteland, of course )

eliteguy50 wrote:

Spreetard wrote: acetone also gets everything off your dirty@$$ hands, though i'm sure it's not "good for you"...

and brake cleaner is?
Has anyone had a problem with the brake cleaner getting on none metal items and causing problems?

brake cleaner is fine to use on plasts AS LONG as you wipe them down VERY SOON after

I literally use it for almost EVERYTHING haha

Pake808 wrote:Just wondering what is best to use to clean up grease/grim build up on engine?

Pull the panels and take it to the car wash. That way you don't have to worry about all those chemicals eating up your paint job, your hands or causing cancer, liver problems, kidney failure, etc, etc, etc.