Anybody know how to clean this?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Avery brown

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2021
Posts
31
Reaction score
17
Location
Oakley Idaho
First Name
Avery
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
So today i cleaned the crap out of my truck with everything out but still even with a pressure washer nothing. It was a farm truck so it had a hydraulics in it for a hay-bale lifter thing. but anyways it made a mess. in the engine bay and inside the cab its like nasty oil and grease. any tips appreciated. Thanks, Avery
 

Avery brown

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2021
Posts
31
Reaction score
17
Location
Oakley Idaho
First Name
Avery
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Pictures
 

Attachments

  • 20210919_164329.jpg
    20210919_164329.jpg
    151.8 KB · Views: 91
  • 20210919_164335.jpg
    20210919_164335.jpg
    160.3 KB · Views: 79
  • 20210919_170449.jpg
    20210919_170449.jpg
    152.2 KB · Views: 90
  • 20210607_131533.jpg
    20210607_131533.jpg
    146.6 KB · Views: 74

PrairieDrifter

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
3,453
Reaction score
4,558
Location
North Dakota
First Name
Mason
Truck Year
84,79,77,70,48
Truck Model
Suburban k10, bonanza k10, c30 C&C, c10, gmc 1/2ton
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350, 350
Any good degreaser, let that soak for a little bit then if possible, hit it with a hot pressure washer. The hot water and degreaser will do a good job. You should try and get the thick and heavy stuff by hand.

Maybe that hydraulic fluid kept the rust away lol
 

Avery brown

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2021
Posts
31
Reaction score
17
Location
Oakley Idaho
First Name
Avery
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Any good degreaser, let that soak for a little bit then if possible, hit it with a hot pressure washer. The hot water and degreaser will do a good job. You should try and get the thick and heavy stuff by hand.

Maybe that hydraulic fluid kept the rust away lol
I'll try that thanks!
 

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
5,945
Reaction score
9,833
Location
Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
454
Yeah, the stuff that’s half dirt half oil caked on is easier removed with a putty knife or scraper if you can get to it.
Soaking with degreaser helps. Like spray it every day for a few days.
Hot water, if you can run a hose from your house hot water heater that is a big help too.
And don’t forget about solvents. Gasoline cuts grease quicker than degreaser if necessary
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,086
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
Easy Off oven nuke.
Wear eye protection and a mask... this ain't no covid.
 

Avery brown

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2021
Posts
31
Reaction score
17
Location
Oakley Idaho
First Name
Avery
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Yeah, the stuff that’s half dirt half oil caked on is easier removed with a putty knife or scraper if you can get to it.
Soaking with degreaser helps. Like spray it every day for a few days.
Hot water, if you can run a hose from your house hot water heater that is a big help too.
And don’t forget about solvents. Gasoline cuts grease quicker than degreaser if necessary
Ok I'll try some gas and I know I can find putty knife or some blade of some sort.
Thanks.
 

RoryH19

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2015
Posts
1,668
Reaction score
1,081
Location
Texas
First Name
Rory
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10 Silverado SWB
Engine Size
350 TBI
I like to use the purple power degreaser and a plastic scraper. A metal one can gouge the paint.
Never tried oven cleaner. Let me know how that works if you try.
 

Avery brown

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2021
Posts
31
Reaction score
17
Location
Oakley Idaho
First Name
Avery
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
I like to use the purple power degreaser and a plastic scraper. A metal one can gouge the paint.
Never tried oven cleaner. Let me know how that works if you try.
Ok I will. and at this point I don't care if I screw up the paint cause I'm going to go back in and re do all of it anyways but thanks for the tips.
 

75gmck25

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2016
Posts
2,036
Reaction score
1,831
Location
Northern Virginia
First Name
Bruce
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
K25 Camper Special TH350 NP203
Engine Size
5.7
I usually start out with a putty knife or plastic scraper to get any large deposits off and then follow up with foaming engine degreaser in a spray can. This will usually remove the majority of caked on dirt and grease, but may leave it dirty looking where there were heavy deposits. Next step is to use Dawn dishwashing detergent, by misting it on full strength and then letting it sit there and work for a while. Use a long brush with plastic bristles to "agitate" the dirt in areas where there seems to be more buildup. Then spray it off with a strong water spray and see what you have left.

Use heavy plastic to cover up the HEI and carburetor when you spray water, and try to avoid spraying directly into any electrical junctions or devices.
 

Bextreme04

Full Access Member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Posts
4,183
Reaction score
5,079
Location
Oregon
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K25
Engine Size
350-4bbl
The yellow can of easy off oven cleaner is what you want. Its the heavy duty version and can be gotten at most home improvement stores and sometimes at big box grocery stores. I'd spray it, let it soak, wash it off, then scrape the thicker areas, then braided wire wheel on a grinder, then one more wash with a degreaser.

That's what I had to do on mine because it had about 40 years of gunk, oil, grease, and dirt all caked onto everything. The axles were the worst and took almost a whole day to clean up and be ready for fresh paint.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
42,075
Posts
908,503
Members
33,550
Latest member
kurt54
Top