Auto degreaser products are specifically designed to remove grease and other contaminants from different areas of a vehicle. Simply put, they are the products to use when soap and water just won’t do the job. They are typically used on engines to break down caked-on grease and mud; paint stain removal; and other areas of a vehicle that would benefit from degreasing.
Because of their increasing popularity with professional and DIY detailers, auto degreaser products now come in a variety of brands and formulas. So, which brands should you use for your prized possession? Below is a list of some of the best, in no particular order.
Auto Degreaser Products You Can Try
On this list, you will find two products – degreaser and cleaner. Degreasers are generally stronger than cleaners. Why did we include these two auto degreaser products on this list? Cleaners are made to do just that – clean. Degreasers, on the other hand, are specifically designed to cut through grease.
1. Simple Green Pro HD Heavy Duty Cleaner Concentrate
This is one of the auto degreaser products you can use wherever – engine, tires, carpets, car paint – practically everywhere. Use it full-strength to degrease the engine, diluted as per product instruction on other areas of your vehicle. Price-wise, it is relatively cheap at less than $10 a gallon.
Although it bears a PROP 65 warning, this professional grade product is non-caustic. It effectively removes stains, grease, gum and sticker residues, varnish, and similar contaminants from metal surfaces. However, for very dirty surfaces or caked-on grease, you’ll have to use it several times.
2. Purple Power Industrial Strength Cleaner and Degreaser
Priced at $9.22, this bio-degradable auto degreaser can be your go-to product whenever you need to remove grease and grime from your engine. It’s non-abrasive and non-corrosive and free of phosphate too. Great to use on engines, but is not recommended for cleaning car paint, wheel rims, or glass.
3. Meguiar’s Super Degreaser
At more than $28 per gallon, Meguiar’s Super Degreaser is on the pricey side of the spectrum. But its effectiveness and versatility more than make up for the additional cost. It removes grease and grime quickly and can be diluted to clean just about anything on your vehicle – leather seats, dashboard, exterior, glass, among others. It’s a no-rinse formula, so you can simply wipe it off – without leaving any residue behind.
4. Oil Eater
As its name implies, Oil Eater Cleaner & Degreaser Original Formula literally eats oil away. It’s biodegradable, non-corrosive, and non-caustic. A gallon costs a little over $10. It cleans almost anything, but you’ll have to check the dilution chart that comes with every bottle.
Use it full strength and you’ll see caked-on grease melting away in a few minutes.
5. Chemical Guys Orange Degreaser
By itself, orange oil can be used as a homemade car degreaser. Now, when a renowned auto detailing product maker like Chemical Guys creates a degreaser with orange oil as base, it’s an equally interesting one.
Chemical Guys Orange Degreaser is best for engines, tires, rims, and undercarriages. Additionally, you can use it to clean other areas of your vehicle, with a certain degree of caution because it’s super concentrated. As with other auto degreaser products, rinse off immediately when it comes into contact with your skin or clothes.
6. Super Clean Cleaner Degreaser
Want a product that removes dirt, oil, wax, tar, and more? Super Clean does all that and more – fast and effectively.
Plus, this green product doesn’t contain harmful chemicals that can compromise health and safety. It is phosphate-free. No acids, so you can use it anywhere. Just make sure to dilute the product according to the product label. How much is it? A gallon of the Original Formula costs less than $9 at Walmart.
7. Adam’s Heavy Duty All Purpose Cleaner
Undiluted, Adam’s Polishes All Purpose Cleaner is strong enough to dissolve hard-to-remove grease and grime. Diluted 90%, it is gentle enough for other areas of your vehicle, from the engine bay, to car seats, carpets, to the exterior. It boasts of the latest nanotechnology that can remove the toughest contaminants – tar, bugs, oxidation, and more – at the molecular level.
It costs a bit less than $40/gallon and you save even more if you order the five-gallon packing. And in case you need assistance, their customer service representatives will be willing to help you out.
8. Aero Cosmetics Wash All Degreaser
Aero may be friendly to the environment, but not on grease, grime, and other contaminants. You can use it for cleaning tires, engines, diesel exhaust and even aircraft turbine soot!
This ammonia and alcohol-free product is $27.95 a gallon. Unlike other auto degreaser products that you have to dilute prior to using, Aero is an apply-and-wipe degreaser. So, if you need one that’s ready to use, this might be the product for you.
9. Sacato Xtreme Engine & Machinery Cleaner
Got a very dirty, muddy, and greasy vehicle? Need something strong to remove them? Sacato might just be the degreaser you are searching for. It has a fast-acting formula so you can see results immediately. It’s easy to use, too. All you have to do is spray, wipe and rinse. Sacato is ideal for cleaning engines, undercarriages, and wheel rims.
10. SONAX Engine Cleaner
SONAX is recommended when you degrease a car engine, engine bays, and other metal parts of your vehicle – but not on polished aluminum. It prides itself on its infiltration ability. This means it can reach even the most inaccessible areas.
SONAX cleans fast and effectively. This German product is also bio-degradable – phosphate, acid, and solvent-free. Finally, it costs $13.38 per bottle of 16.09 fl. oz.
Points to Consider When Choosing and Using Auto Degreaser Products
If you are dealing with stubborn grease or need a degreaser for your auto detailing shop, restaurant, food truck, or any other business that generates a lot of dirt and grease, your best bet would be concentrates. Full strength, they are effective at cutting through grease. Diluted, you’ll have cheap cleaners that can do the job well.
Choosing the right auto degreaser products will also depend on your location and the frequency of your vehicle use. If you use your car a few times a month, then maybe an all-purpose cleaner will be better for you. Now, if you live in a high-traffic, very polluted area and use your car every single day, then, a professional degreaser is a better option.
When using auto degreaser products, always make sure you wear protective clothing. Some of them contain harsh chemicals that can irritate your eyes, skin, and respiratory organs.
You also have the option to create a DIY engine degreaser or a homemade engine degreaser.
Now, if you’d rather not do a hit-or-miss process when choosing a degreaser, schedule an appointment with DetailXPerts to have your car professionally detailed – car engine cleaning is one of our eco steam detailing specialties.
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