[Foster6565]

Hey All! Looking for some advice on cleaning my cummins! My truck has been to the dealership 3 times for an oil leak and all 3 times it has had something different wrong/replaced. My engine is COVERED in oil and basically im sure it will have a slow drip for the next 5 years even if there isn't a leak just from the truck warming up and the oil slowly making its way down the engine and eventually dripping on the ground. This is why im looking for guidance on how to clean the 6.7 cummins and degrease/oil it. Alot of conflicting stuff online and i have never really cleaned an engine before. Appreciate the advice and thank you!

 

[gsbrockman]

Gunk Engine Cleaner on a lightly warmed up engine and water from a garden hose.

 

[jbawden]

This feels close to a 'which oil is best' thread, but I use the purple Simple Green HD (diluted per the project at hand). Some cleaners are harsh on the sensitive plastic and painted bits under the hood. I like things to look factory clean, meaning not stripped of gloss nor greasy used car lot 'detailed'. Fresh oil should be easy to remove and personally I only clean cold engines. Leaf blower is good to get things drying, being careful not to force water into places it shouldn't go.

 

[Ratdog1]

I use dawn or tide both work on everyday dirt .. Power wash .

Now on my wives Ford I use gas and a match ....fixes my issue with her ride...



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[redvettx2]

Explain why the dealer is not doing this? I am not parking a truck under warranty in my garage that is dripping oil everywhere. If I see a drop there getting it back. They will get away with what ever you let them.

 

[Foster6565]

This feels close to a 'which oil is best' thread, but I use the purple Simple Green HD (diluted per the project at hand). Some cleaners are harsh on the sensitive plastic and painted bits under the hood. I like things to look factory clean, meaning not stripped of gloss nor greasy used car lot 'detailed'. Fresh oil should be easy to remove and personally I only clean cold engines. Leaf blower is good to get things drying, being careful not to force water into places it shouldn't go.

More of a what do i need to cover, should i use a pressure washer, do i heat the engine up, leave it cold, every article ive read on the internet is different and id rather take advice from everyone on here who has the same engine as i do and will take the same precautions.

 

[Foster6565]

Explain why the dealer is not doing this? I am not parking a truck under warranty in my garage that is dripping oil everywhere. If I see a drop there getting it back. They will get away with what ever you let them.

I'm not sure if its the dealers responsibility to clean my truck off. If it is let me know haha i'd love to make them spit shine her up!

 

[redvettx2]

When it pukes oil all over itself I don't see how it's your fault. There parts failed and coated the truck. There job is to repair the parts and put the truck back to how it was before the parts failed. If it was already coated with all oil that is a different program. I had a radiator fail on a vehicle and it was coated with antifreeze. I told them before I picked up it they better detail it and get it clean because it not going in my garage dripping antifreeze all over. Your engine being covered with oil sounds like a fire hazard to me. It just going to collect dirt. The dealers are so lazy. It's free money. If it's warranty Ram is going to kick them back a certain about.

 

[Lins]

Explain why the dealer is not doing this? I am not parking a truck under warranty in my garage that is dripping oil everywhere. If I see a drop there getting it back. They will get away with what ever you let them.

I have to agree with this. The local dodge dealer has never washed my trucks after a service which I’m fine with, but the VW we go to cleans the outside and engine just about every time, even without engine work...

 

[daMonk]

I like simple green sprayed on a cool engine, then a low pressure rinse with all the obvious electrical covered in aluminum foil. There are some connections that are avoidable at all costs. Light dust never hurt nothing. After a terrible experience with wiring harnesses, shorts, grounds ....never again.

 

[saxdogg]

...I'd skip using foil over your battery...

 

[RJR]

Explain why the dealer is not doing this? I am not parking a truck under warranty in my garage that is dripping oil everywhere. If I see a drop there getting it back. They will get away with what ever you let them.

My dealer wouldn't work on mine when it had a leak, said it was so bad they couldn't do anything. I said well just charge me the time and clean it, I don't have a rack to get it up on and clean it. They told me no, they didn't have any way to clean it. I said well just use a pressure washer, at least it will take the heavy stuff off, they refused to touch it. I was pretty PO'ed, and asked what's the average Joe supposed to do when you have a leak and its covered with crud? "Take it to the car wash!" Ridiculous!

 

[7492]

Simple Green , Purple Power, open the hood at the local car wash and spray away. The only vehicle I ever had a problem with was the 5.9 in the 99 Durango. I had to pop the cap and dry it.

 

[chknkatsu]

i use the Gunk like that Gsbrockman posted. i personally like the foaming one, they have several different types

when the engine is cool enough to the touch i spray it every and hose it off

 

[MoparProud]

Explain why the dealer is not doing this? I am not parking a truck under warranty in my garage that is dripping oil everywhere. If I see a drop there getting it back. They will get away with what ever you let them.

Expect them to kindly tell you to pound sand...and you won't have a single leg to stand on. Easy to flap on the internet though....

 

[honestcharlie56]

I'd say find another dealer. I know it took me a few tries before I finally found someone competent. Best part is it turned out to be a chick, I wrote a HUGE positive review to FCA for her. Hopefully someone ended up getting it.

 

[Mud yapster]

Warm the engine just a tad, buy 2 cans of Gunk and spray some foaming engine Gunk in a can all over it good, use the whole can. Let it sit for the describe time or longer, power wash it off with warm water. Now drive the truck till its dry. Inspect the motor for any left over oils you missed. Repeat with another can of Gunk after engine cools and let it soak again then power wash it off and drive till dry again.
That should make it look new again. You might even remove the plastic engine cover before hand to get any oily junk from under there clean also if it is that bad. Soak that puppy down with Gunk it works then power wash it. Have fun!
Don't forget to spray the under carriage also there may be oil all over your carriage, tranny and drive tran so you may want 3 cans. Hard to say without pics of your situation.

 

[RammerJam]

I haven't used Gunk in a long time. But the last time I did, it took three years for the smell to dissipate. Or maybe it was just two.

My buddy, who lives to restore old raggedy-arsed Chevys, uses Purple Stuff or whatever its successor is these days. Simple Green is a good (or better, YMMV) alternative.

I would say, just stay away from the firewall as much as possible, watch for any and all fuse boxes and obvious electrical connections. If you're not sure, leave it alone.

When you're done, pop the hood and let it dry in the Sun. If you live up North and won't see the Sun until June, I'd wait. I don't like compressed air blowing through my engine compartment when it's wet. Water might get somewhere I don't it to get.

And, if you're like most guys (me), try not to get too awfully AR about cleaning it. Good enough is good enough.

My buddy's shop is always replacing computers damaged by improper cleaning. Not in CTD's but in everything else. What else kills computers is jump-starting off another vehicle.

Other than that, these things can almost certainly take more than you think. Just use your head

 

[DarylB]

Castrol Super Clean.

Better than purple power IMO. Water based. Spray and let it soak while engine is cold, wash the crap out of it - rinse and repeat till engine is clean, then find your leak.