I have a 92 Cherokee Laredo and it appears to be leaking oil/fluid from multiple spots. When I jack up the vehicle and look under it, a lot of things have oil on them (cross-members, underbody of oil pans, axles, etc.). If I want to spray the car with brake cleaner to discover where the leak(s) are coming from, what can I not spray. What parts on the car will get damaged if I spray them with brake cleaner? Also, can I just cover those things with plastic bags?

Thanks,
Timeshare

 

Have you read the cautions on the brake cleaner can?

It is going to cost a lot for a bunch of cans of a product not designed for general cleaning to start with.

Just get a good degreaser and swash it down according to the directions. Been there, done that.

Having oil all over the drive train and undercarriage as you have described does not necessarily mean that you have multiple leaks.

 

Yes brake cleaner is a very expensive and hazardous proposition for that scale of work.



Wash carefully as you go. Don't go crazy with a pressure washer, a little manual labour and a garden hose are fine.

 

I use simple green in a spray bottle, diluted. $10 gets you like a life time supply diluted 1:16. haha

 

^^ Heck yeah! Some of the best stuff you can get right there.

 

If I use just the engine degreaser should I just spray the gunky parts in the engine bay and rinse/wipe them down? What should I not spray?

 

You may want to do this at a buddies house. You'll find out why.

 

^^^ I can vouch for that. It least I had the presence of mind to do it on the street and not on my nice concrete driveway. My oil filter adapter was leaking badly (valve cover gasket as well), so the only thing I really tried to avoid was the distributor.

 

ahhh the joys of renting from an ******* landlord...