Have a 98 XJ with a filthy engine that I’m looking to clean.

Any suggestions what to use/how to clean an engine?

 

There are a million ways to do it. Here is what I do.

Get a jug of purple power and either a spray bottle or one of those carry sprayers with the hose(like a weed killer sprayer). Get a few cans of Gunk or similar engine degreaser. Get some elbow high kitchen gloves(optional). Get a large soft bristled scrub brush.

Spray the engine degreaser over everythevg that is heavily caked. Usually the oil pan and such. Then spray everything with purple power. The engine, fender wells, underside of the hood ect. Then close the hood and rinse off the outside of the hood and fenders so all those cleaners arent on the paint.

Let it sit for at least 10 minutes. Maybe pop the hood and douse some areas a second time.

Open the hood and blast away with either a garden hose or a pressure washer. Be careful if it's a pressure washer. Work top to bottom blasting everything really well to remove crud.

Then spray areas that you want to scrub with the brush. I usually scrub the firewall, underside of the hood, fenders, anything that is a painted surface. Scrub away and rinse as needed.

Then I'll usually go around with an air nozzle and blow the water out of most of the nooks and crannies avoiding electrical connections and such.

I've done this many many times and it always works well for me.

 

Go to the dollar store type place and get spray bottles of AWESOME cleaner for $1 each. Use full strength.

Don't get electronics wet!!!!

 

3 words. EASY. OFF. CHEAP. Yes, it's the oven cleaner. It made to clean up baked on hydrocarbons aka oil and grease. Spray a can on, wait 30 minutes, spray it off with garden hose.
Make sure you do all of this in area where you don't care happens to what's underneath your jeep, like a nice cement driveway or green grass. All the grime, grease and gunk that will easily fall off along with the Easy Off, won't be pretty.

 

I have tried a lot of different degreasers and I will have to agree with TrailerTrash. Purple Power is something else. It works so good, it will take off paint if you let it sit too long. You will get 90% of the junk off with just a normal hose. Use a brush to get the last 10% off