No one likes to degrease their car engine, but ideally, it is very important to help your engine with its performance over a long time and it’s a great thing to do by getting busy using a good quality engine degreaser.
With fewer chances of dirty grease and gunk clogging the moving parts, a clean engine runs much better. Maintaining such a vehicle is also easier as it allows you to identify issues like oil leakage in time, and get them fixed before they turn out as a huge problem for you.
Having said that, there are a number of degreaser products available in the market, all claiming to make your engine squeaky clean, choosing the right one may still be a tough one. Thus, we went out and chose the best engine degreasers for you and put them together in a list here. With that, we also bring you a very useful guide for purchasing and have answered many of your FAQs as well
The Best Engine Degreaser
1. Simple Green Crystal Industrial Cleaner/Degreaser
As implied by its name, Crystal, this product really is crystal clear, both appearance and odor wise. This makes it stand out from many other simple green products. This means, that this one has great degreasing ability and will really be your partner where you don’t want any contaminants like dyes or so, staying in your engine. In fact, the product is even non-hazardous, non-toxic, non-flammable, non-toxic, and best of all – biodegradable as well!
However, it is a very effective cleaning and degreasing product that will really work tough for your engine. It is a very concentrated product which can be diluted in a spray bottle before use. Diluting it really helps the product last a little more, which given its high price of $30 is very welcomed as a feature.
Key Features:
- Free of dyes and odour
- Very concentrated
- Biodegradable and non-toxic
Specification:
- Brand: Simple Green
- Model: 19128
- Weight: 9 lbs
2. Meguiar’s Super Degreaser
This one comes with a claim in its name only, ‘Super’ Degreaser, but we won't question it as it is ‘Meguiar’s’ Super Degreaser, and we can assure that coming from Meguiar, it really must be a thing of its own.
This product is all about some very powerful cleaning and degreasing action. The formula is unique and designed specifically to deal with the toughest grease on your engine. It works tough on it and you just have to rinse all of that away with a good flow of clean water.
It is also specifically designed to be residue-free, which means that once you rinse it there won't be white marks or streaks left behind. This is another very important feature when it comes to getting a sparkling engine. The product though does have a very strong herbal fragrance to it, which some like while others don’t or won't just notice it. It is still another unique element of the product which is worth mentioning.
Key Features:
- Free of residues
- Herbal fragrance
- Powerful degreaser
Specification:
- Brand: Meguiar’s
- Model: D10801
- Weight: 3.31 lbs
3. Oil Eater Original Cleaner/Degreaser
This is one of the most remarkable gentle products on our list, so we can just let its aggressive name pass, right? It is non corrosive, non hazardous, non toxic and even approved for non food surfaces by the USDA. There are no acids contained in the product, neither does it have any petroleum or abrasive solvents.
The above mentioned list of things is quite impressive, but lets just not get off track from its main purpose with this. The primary purpose of this one is degreasing, which is done very well by this one as it tackles and dissolves all kinds of oils and grease easily.
Moreover, one can safely use for various non-car related applications as well. It can clean any grease or oil stains safely from any kind of material, let it be asphalt or carpets. This makes it a very versatile product overall, and given its high concentration it can be diluted to whatever suits you. It is a great dollar value coming at a price of under 20 bucks for a gallon, which will last for quite a while.
Key Features:
- Non-Abrasive and Acid-Free
- High Concentration
- Wide Range of Applications
- Low Price Tag
Specification:
- Brand: Oil Eater
- Model: AOD1G35437
- Weight: 8.5 lbs
4. Krud Kutter Original Concentrated DegreaserSee
The one thing we will first say here has to be about the name – we just simply love it! The other thing to highlight here is about the product living up to its name and its ability to cut all kinds of crud, literally.
That’s not just about it as it works efficiently on a number of different surfaces. This product slightly deviates from most of the products on this list, as it is not a specialized car engine cleaning product but is in fact, designed for various purposes, of which one is degreasing engines. Besides oil and grease, it is tough on glue, markers, crayons, tape and paint residue, and much more.
The cleaner is very mild, being biodegradable and water-based, having no bleach, ammonia or petroleum solvents. Above all, getting a gallon’s bottle for under $10 is a great steal here!
Key Features:
- Wide Range of uses
- Removes many Containments
- Biodegradable & Water Based
- Excellent Value
Specification:
- Brand: Krud Kutter
- Model: KK012
- Weight: 9 lbs
5. Purple Power Industrial Strength Cleaner & Degreaser
No, we aren’t dealing with Puppy power here, rather it is purple power, and yes it really does have power as boasted by its name. This is also a product which isn’t a dedicated automobile cleaning product, rather it is very strong when it comes to cleaning and degreasing a number of different surfaces. Just spray it on to your engine, and wait for the magic. The product is phosphate-free, non-abrasive and biodegradable though it is suspected that it may not be as gentle as some of the products on the list.
For instance, it doesn’t state anywhere even in the hidden instructions that it shouldn’t be used on aluminium and plastics, si you have to be a little careful when spraying it on the car. Compared to many other products it is quite a cheap pick as it comes under 10 bucks! In summary, it is a quick, cheap and effective fix for you, which just need a little caution when using.
Key Features:
- Phosphate Free
- Very Low Price
- Fast Acting
Specification:
- Brand: Purple Power
- Model: 4320P
- Weight: 8.3 lbs
6. Chemical Guys Signature Series Orange Degreaser
After talking about a few all rounder cleaning products, lets get back to the basics and mention this one from The Car Guys which is a degreaser and cleaner designed for cars specifically. This one is not just orange in color, but really has all that power of citrus packed in its bottle that emulsifies dirt, oil stains, spills, grime and what not. The contaminants can be rinsed away easily once emulsified, with just a spray of clean water.
While being specifically designed for cars, it also has a multipurpose element to it as it can be used all over the car and can even remove the cakes grime and mud from the wheels and its rims. It works on many surfaces, tackling oil stains and so on the garage floor and also bring back the sparkle again in your tools.
The product is comparatively cheap being just under 10 bucks, but only 16 ounces come in it which is a very small amount compared to others on this list. However, the cleaner is quite concentrated so it can be diluted to bring a bit more value to it.
Key Features:
- Citrus Based Formula
- Emulsifies Dirt & Grease
- Hig Concentration
Specification:
- Brand: Chemical Guys
- Model: CLD_201_16
- Weight: 1.08 lbs
7. SuperClean Tough Task Degreaser
By now you must know that how fond are we of the products which live up to their names, and so the Tough Task Degreaser has made its place on our list. It really is great for the toughest tasks you can think of as it is a cleaner and degreaser which is of industrial strength. Once applied, it is formulated to dissolve a variety of materials like oil, grime, grease, and even something as tough as tar.
Simultaneously, it is also quite mild as it is a water-based solution which is both, phosphate-free and biodegradable. It may not be as mild as many others on this list, so it is always great to take some caution int hat. However, for the kind of cleaning power it pays off, it is certainly alt milder than it could be. The product is very concentrated but can be diluted easily, so the 32-ounce bottle can go on a very long way.
Key Features:
- Very Strong
- Water Based
- Low Price
Specification:
- Brand: SuperClean
- Model: 101786
- Weight: 2.2 lbs
8. Simple Green Heavy Duty Cleaner
The best part about using a multipurpose cleaner is that you’re sure about one thing – it’s going to be very mild to be used on a variety of surfaces. However, this is something that understated the abilities of this degreaser and cleaner from Simple Green, having a phenomenally long list of materials that it can be used safely on.
Among this list, a few to name are aluminum, painted surfaces, stainless steel, plastic, chrome, vinyl and a lot more. This means that while you still ought to be a bit cautious, you can spray it all over your engine block without worrying a lot about the blowback of the product and it coming in to contact with any other surface that it shouldn’t.
There is a wide range of uses of this product around the house, which makes it very cost-effective and since it is also non-toxic, no worries about it running down the lawn or so when washing the car.
Key Features:
- Wide Range of Applications
- Non-Toxic, Non-Corrosive
- Safe on a Variety of Surfaces
Specification:
- Brand: Simple Green
- Model: 13421
- Weight: 9.3 lbs
9. Chemical Guys Grime Reaper Extremely Strong Degreaser
We’re concluding the list with this Chemical Guys’ cleaner, which has bought us at least on its name. The name may seem funny, but it really does live up to it. It’s a very concentrated and strong product for degreasing, which means that it can be easily diluted, yet still get that great cleaning effect, making the gallon bottle last for a long time.
It is made to tackle even the oil, dirt, and grime which is bakes and has also been designed to rinse it all away without leaving behind any residues or marks. So, if you’re in search of a product that has a deep clean and leaves the engine shiny and squeaky clean, this one can be a great pick for you.
Moreover, it can be safely used on various surfaces across the entire car, like the wheel wells, tires, etc. through its main power is degreasing straight up. No, this one isn’t a cheap or low priced product at all as it comes with a tag of 36 bucks, but the fact that it can be diluted helps it last for a while.
Key Features:
- Heavy-Duty Cleaning Product
- High Price
- Water-Based
Specification:
- Brand: Chemical Guys
- Model: CLD_104
- Weight: 9.7 lbs
Best Engine Degreaser Buying Guide & FAQ
These were some of our top picks of best engine degreasing products available on the market right now. Many of these will perform well, without a doubt. But which one is the best for you? As mentioned earlier as well, engine degreasing is no fun or child’s play, so you really want to get your hands on a product that makes the job fairly simple.
This is why we have compiled this buying guide with the FAQs, that talk about all the features you should look for and answers many questions about the product you ultimately select for yourself.
Essential Factors to Consider When Selecting the Best Engine Degreaser
Multi-Surface
Go over the product description and check how many products can it be used on. If it claims to work on, or at least not cause harm to the painted surface, plastics, etc, then you can use the product just as you want to.
Multi-Purpose
Some degreasing products are particularly for cars only, while others can be used around the garage and even house as well. A multipurpose product is usually milder, making it suitable for a wide range of surfaces. Moreover, it is also better valued as you get the ability to clean many surfaces with a single product only.
Smell
A petroleum-based cleaning product will typically smell bad, and you also need a dust mask or so to block that smell. While many products also smell nice and have added perfumes as well. So, this is a feature that depends solely on the user’s preference, as to what product they are comfortable working with.
Size
This is also dictated by the product’s price. Frankly speaking, some of the products on our list are great bargains as they are almost gallon-sized bottles with a very minimal price tag. The question however is, how is such a low price achieved, and will it match the cleaning ability as that of premium products?
Types of Engine Degreaser
Largely, there are two types of engine degreasers in the market and we have included both these types in our list. The two types are water and petroleum-based degreasers, and both the formulas have their own pros and cons so you can quickly go over the product breakdown below which will help you decide the better one for yourself.
Petroleum Based
Generally, petroleum-based degreasers are cheaper than the water-based ones due to their strong cleaning ability that doesn’t need any sophisticated formulations which are usually found in the water-based variants.
These cleaners are very powerful, but can also be quite abrasive compared to the water-based products, so you need to be very cautious when applying and wiping them, such that no runoff or splashbacks go on any plastics, aluminum, painted surfaces, and chrome. (unless it is explicitly mentioned in the product description that it is safe for use on these surfaces)
Water Based
Water-based degreasers are much milder and gentler than their petroleum-based counterparts. Nevertheless, they can also be as effective and tough as those, raving about their high tech formulation that tackles oil and grease just as powerfully as petroleum-based versions do. Water-based versions are typically more gentle and can be used on a variety of surfaces, so there is no need to panic if the product comes into contact with other surfaces.
In fact, many products are designed to clean and degrease those as well. They are environmentally friendly as well, so no worries about the runoff in your lawn as well. The only downside we can think of these products is the high price tag they carry.
Foam Engine Degreaser
A third type is also available in the market which is the foaming engine degreaser. The two types mentioned above have minor differences, with use and application more or less very similar. A foam-based cleaner is however very different from these, and there’s quite a lot of information about them which will need a separate guide of its own only!
Frequently Asked Questions About Engine Degreaser
Q: What is In Degreaser?
A: There’s a variety of ingredients in a degreasing product, with each one having a slightly different formula. Even when the ingredients are same, their quantities vary across different brands. Speaking broadly, some kind of agitator is added to these products that help break down the oil, dirt and grease, along with a solution which is typically petroleum or water-based, in which the agitating ingredients are added.
There’s a difference between various cleaning products which is usually a closely guarded secret of every manufacturer. There are some products in our list above that have an emulsifying agent as well that helps break down oil and grease to make them easily washable. One of the products also uses citrus as its primary cleaning agent. While every manufacturer doesn’t specify the cleaning agent, broadly speaking, all of them perform almost the same function.
Q: What is Engine Detailing?
A: When you take your car for an automatic wash, it looks clean on the outside but in reality, that’s just the touching surface. The level of deep-rooted and long-lasting cleaning equivalent to engine cleaning is just like when you sit down to clean your closet a pleasant Sunday afternoon and are filling garbage bags with all the crap inside for the next few hours. Engine detailing needs time and tools, as it is a very deep clean of the engine block, but the results are worth everything.
Q: Is Degreaser Harmful?
A: When you use it as per the instructions mentioned, it won’t really be harmful. Depending on the product type you have picked, some are safe to come into contact with while others aren’t. thoroughly read the instructions before you purchase, and you are good to go.
Q: What Parts to Cover when Cleaning an Engine?
A: Make sure that the engine’s sensitive parts are covered at all time when using the engine degreaser. These include:
- The Carburetor
- The inlet holes of any air intake systems
- The Distributor
- All Electronic Components
There’s no need of anything fancy either, some plastic bags and a tape will keep you covered!
Q: How to Remove Engine Sludge?
A: Engine sludge is slightly different from the oil and grease build up on the engine surface. If you haven’t changed your vehicle’s oil in a while, this builds up. The most simple way to tackle this is adding a sludge remover in your oil and leave the engine idle for at least 10 minutes. Followed by this, perform a full flush to remove the old oil and sludge to replace it with fresh synthetic oil.