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Old 12-06-2020, 12:03 PM
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rnordstrom
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Default 964 Engine Cleaning Technique

Looking for information on best technique for cleaning 964 engine without engine removal.
Old 12-06-2020, 12:51 PM
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Marine Blue
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Top or bottom? Can you share any pics of what you’re dealing with?
Old 12-07-2020, 09:08 PM
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put it on a lift
commercial type steam or if you can find it, dry ice blast.
otherwise, prepare for a very very long process with a brush and mild degreaser

Old 12-08-2020, 02:21 AM
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"very long process with a brush and mild degreaser"

This!

While lying on your back on the floor and it all dripping in your face.....
Old 12-08-2020, 12:29 PM
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nathan1
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Everyone is hoping that there is some magic chemical, tool or technique which produces world class results with minimal effort. There is a reason you rarely see absolutely pristine engine bays on these cars, simply that while there are certainly some tricks of the trade, the bulk of it comes down to straight time and manual, tedious labor. Generally you can make it 80% better without doing too much, but if you want it surgically clean nothing but work does it. Mine I pulled the motor and did all the cleaning and detailing of the engine with it on a stand. Nearly impossible to do it well otherwise (not to mention getting the actual engine bay clean before reinstalling everything.



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Old 12-08-2020, 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by nathan1
Everyone is hoping that there is some magic chemical, tool or technique which produces world class results with minimal effort. There is a reason you rarely see absolutely pristine engine bays on these cars, simply that while there are certainly some tricks of the trade, the bulk of it comes down to straight time and manual, tedious labor. Generally you can make it 80% better without doing too much, but if you want it surgically clean nothing but work does it. Mine I pulled the motor and did all the cleaning and detailing of the engine with it on a stand. Nearly impossible to do it well otherwise (not to mention getting the actual engine bay clean before reinstalling everything.


WOW.......I thought my engine bay was clean. Even the metal clamps all seems to be newly anodized and perfect.
Old 12-08-2020, 01:51 PM
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Bloose993TT
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Originally Posted by nathan1
Everyone is hoping that there is some magic chemical, tool or technique which produces world class results with minimal effort. There is a reason you rarely see absolutely pristine engine bays on these cars, simply that while there are certainly some tricks of the trade, the bulk of it comes down to straight time and manual, tedious labor. Generally you can make it 80% better without doing too much, but if you want it surgically clean nothing but work does it. Mine I pulled the motor and did all the cleaning and detailing of the engine with it on a stand. Nearly impossible to do it well otherwise (not to mention getting the actual engine bay clean before reinstalling everything.


You can eat off that engine. Nice.
Old 12-08-2020, 02:12 PM
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wow what did you use on that fan that didn't also take off the original finish?
Old 12-08-2020, 03:00 PM
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Brig993
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Originally Posted by Spyerx
put it on a lift
commercial type steam or if you can find it, dry ice blast.
otherwise, prepare for a very very long process with a brush and mild degreaser
The dry ice stuff is amazing - check out the videos on YT there are a few ppl on here who have done it as well.
Old 12-08-2020, 10:56 PM
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nathan1
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Originally Posted by Paolo1
wow what did you use on that fan that didn't also take off the original finish?
I use various things, start with gentle as possible and move up if I'm not getting the results I want: Xenit, Mineral Spirits, Gasoline, Wurth Brake Clean. Always try a small section you can't see before you try it on anything super important.

Originally Posted by Brig993
The dry ice stuff is amazing - check out the videos on YT there are a few ppl on here who have done it as well.
I have had 6 or 7 of my cars done with dry ice and it probably gets them 80% clean with 5% the work vs the old do it all by hand method, BUT if you really want it perfect there is still a bunch of hand work required. Trust me, there is no shortcut if you want perfect.... This is all done by hand!




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Old 12-08-2020, 11:25 PM
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Marine Blue
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Nathan that is insane levels of detailing! I debate getting mine dry iced too, would love to see the cosmoline gone.

Here’s mine, not nearly as clean as the Nathan’s red one above but pretty good for a 30 yo 75k mile car.


Old 12-09-2020, 03:30 PM
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Looks great guys. Anyone have a ball park price on what the dry ice costs? I've had the whole under carriage and motor steamed cleaned for $450 and it was very nice.
Old 12-09-2020, 11:12 PM
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I’ve heard it ranges from $800 to $1,300 depending on how extensive you want to clean and if you do the wheel wells.
Old 12-10-2020, 12:16 AM
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nathan1
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Originally Posted by Marine Blue
I’ve heard it ranges from $800 to $1,300 depending on how extensive you want to clean and if you do the wheel wells.
Originally Posted by CBA
Looks great guys. Anyone have a ball park price on what the dry ice costs? I've had the whole under carriage and motor steamed cleaned for $450 and it was very nice.
I think it is highly variable, not many vendors do dry-ice, so it depends on your market. I know my cars have used $7-800 of just dry ice alone, then labor costs. So I have been $1200-3000 depending on how far I have gone. Newer cars are MUCH easier than older cars, but 964's and 993's are a little more involved as you need to remove all the liners, covers, etc. Just remember you can get them pretty good but not like my car above without doing the finish work by hand.
Old 12-10-2020, 10:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Marine Blue
Nathan that is insane levels of detailing! I debate getting mine dry iced too, would love to see the cosmoline gone.

Here’s mine, not nearly as clean as the Nathan’s red one above but pretty good for a 30 yo 75k mile car.

Wow...Your engine bay is very nicely taken care of as well. Its nice to see these cars being so well cared after. Our cars must be happy we own them.....LoL......
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