Top 10 Best Engine Degreaser For 2021

An engine is a powerhouse that does lots of work. Meaning, it gets itself into messy situations involving different forms of stains, dust, grease, and oil. Who enjoys degreasing their engine? It’s one of those tasks that not even a passionate grease monkey would enjoy. Yet, it is quite essential to cleanse it from dirty grease, gunk, and anything that can potentially cause some major performance problems. As they say, prevention is better than cure.

Think of engine degreasers as expectorants unclogging moving parts of the engine. Its job is to ensure your vehicle keeps running smoothly and helping you spot problems like oil leaks. While we relish the idea of using degreasers to maintain a proper breathing engine, finding the best one isn’t as easy. Exactly why we made a list of the best engine degreasers in the market, as well as useful buying tips to help you make the right choice.

Top 10 Best Engine Degreasers

1. Krud Kutter Original Concentrated Cleaner Degreaser – 1 Gallon (Model KK012)

By looking at the packaging alone, it really seems just like an ordinary cleaner you store at the corner of your storage closet. But, this thing gets rid of grease from just about anything. From exhaust fans to ovens, barbecue grills to engines. Yes, it can kiss the grease on your engine goodbye without leaving a single trace of residue. It’s incredibly versatile and makes no compromise on cleaning a remarkably large number of surfaces.

Apart from removing oil, gunk, or grease, this concentrated commercial strength formula also works in getting rid of marks from permanent markers, glue, adhesives or tape residue, ground oil stains, as well as dried latex paint, and so much more. Since this comes in an entirely concentrated form, you need to dilute this to adjust its strength. Nevertheless, it’s an eco-friendly and tough degreaser.

Other than its ability to “kut the krud” outside the automotive world, here’s what’s amazing about Krud Kutter Original Concentrated Cleaner Degreaser. For a heavy-duty degreaser, it has no petroleum solvents, bleach, not even ammonia in it! It’s non-toxic, biodegradable, water-based, xylene-free, and non-flammable. So, you can expect that it’s safe enough for daily use. Your engine will look new and shiny after you clean it using this degreaser.

Pros

2. Simple Green Crystal Industrial Degreaser (Model 19128)

Taking the second spot is also a household name for car enthusiasts, which is the crystal clear Simple Green. It’s a highly concentrated, all-around degreaser that seriously breaks down stubborn dirt, stains, and grease. Given that it’s a chemical cleaner, It might easily incite allergies when you inhale it. The good news is, it’s FDA-approved, non-abrasive, non-flammable, and fragrance-free. The lack of fragrance or color is great because it makes it easy
to wash.

Its main purpose is for use as an automotive/Industrial degreaser, but some users even use this product to clean up their chimneys. Many degreasers tend to cling to the surface in the form of a tint, —this biodegradable product doesn’t. It’s also far less expensive than Meguiar’s. However, some users find the non-corrosive, environmentally safe formula not potent enough. Nevertheless, Simple Green amassed satisfied users, it’s definitely worth the hype.

3. Meguiar’s D15601 Synthetic X-Press Spray Wax – 1 Gallon

Following Simple Green Crystal is another extremely popular, strong and fast-acting for the toughest jobs engine degreaser. Meguiar highlights its technology that allows moisture to drop beads and roll off the waxed paint. It’s also a versatile product trusted in cleaning even old grime off of upholstery to engines, and everything in between. It’s really admirable for Meguiar to engineer a precise degreaser to apply, protect, and produce a deep shine as a bonus.

You can apply Meguiar’s Synthetic X-Press Spray Wax in direct sunlight. Whether the surface is wet or dry, —you don’t even need to avoid the plastic trim when slathering this product! That is definitely not typical in most engine degreasers. It may not be as budget-friendly, but it’s capable of fulfilling the needs, which makes up for the price you paid. For car enthusiasts, the hydrophobic polymer technology for that natural sheen revealing a brand-new look on your engine.

4. Meguiar’s Super Degreaser – 1 Gallon (Model D10801)

First off, although many would prefer the non-fragrant degreasers, this product will probably surprise you. Engines aren’t meant to smell aromatic, but the herbal fragrance of this product gives you confidence that Meguiar thought about it well. Not everyone is a fan of the herbal scent, but somewhat worth mentioning a unique feature. No allergy complaints yet about its aroma, which is absolutely incredible. It’s a very popular engine degreaser for professional use.

Despite its somewhat costlier price, Meguiar still hit another home run. Its strength is proven to cut through the bulk of grease easily. The solution is also good for general cleaning use. Since you only need to do some spraying on and wiping off. You can simply start by diluting to the necessary strength and go to town! Also, it adds to the ease that you don’t need to carefully avoid the plastic trims because it doesn’t leave white streaks or marks behind.

5. Purple Power Industrial Strength Cleaner and Degreaser – 1 Gallon (Model 4320P)

There’s a lot more about this heavy duty engine degreaser beyond its fun purple color. You’d be glad that not only it is as effective as its pricier competitors it leaves behind a long-lasting layer of protection from everyday elements. However, the manufacturer’s label instructions do not indicate to use it for plastic and aluminum. Its potency might be too strong, so you have to be extra careful when using this product.

This stuff is a holy grail for many users, and it never missed any top-rating product reviews as the best engine degreaser. Not only this stuff penetrates tough filth and stubborn stains, but it also protects the surfaces by creating a barrier between the stain and surface. It works on almost any surface on an automobile, as well as for general cleaning and maintenance. Don’t worry about its industrial strength, it’s phosphate-free, non- flammable, and biodegradable.

6. Simple Green Pro HD Heavy Duty Cleaner Concentrate -1 Gallon

If you’re looking for a non-corrosive, professional grade degreaser that helps boost the appearance and protection of your vehicle, this is your best bet. A highly concentrated formula, this engine greaser easily washes concrete and asphalt of tough oil stains. For its industrial degreasing strength, this stuff works EXTREMELY well even outside automotive and industrial machinery. It’s safe on metal surfaces such as aluminum and stainless steel.

Simple Green Pro HD is a heavy-duty cleaner, but you can use it for all kinds of cleaning! This stuff is phosphate-free, non-flammable, and friendly towards you and the environment. Restaurants definitely benefit from this product as it works like a charm in eliminating grease right off easily. With the proper dilution strength, you can use it in cleaning commercial kitchens. It’s not a harsh solvent to use in painted appliances, walls, floors, baths, —even for ultrasonic cleaning. It also cleans plastics, tiles, vinyl, canvas, and wooden furniture.

7. S100 12005L Total Cycle Cleaner – 1.32 Gallon

This convenient spray-on, rinse-off engine degreaser is favored for its advantage of sneaking into the hard-to-reach cracks and crevices of the engine. No wonder why the majority of its avid users are bikers, all-terrain-vehicles, and boat owners. It does a highly commendable job getting it off road grime, oil, and general dirt. The potency of this product is very efficient as it quickly melts off thick grime without needing to scrub it off. It even melts insects!

S100 12005L is also among the biodegradable, non-acidic, water-based, environmentally friendly formulas. It’s easy to use in a variety of cleaning products with care. It’s worth mentioning since this degreaser contains corrosion inhibitors, it decreases the corrosion rate. Some users even claim that after 5-10 mins from applying and rinsing, they noticed that the degreaser leaves a shining surface after rinsing it down. A quick dry and your bike is clean!

8. Chemical Guys Signature Series Orange Degreaser (Model CLD_201_16)

It is one of the popular expensive automotive detailing products that do a premium job. Professional mechanics and car enthusiasts love this heavy duty engine degreaser for their automotive cleaning needs. It works great in cleaning greasy suspension, fender wells, tires, differential parts, even rubber floor mats. It comes as in a concentrated formula that quickly  softens and emulsifies grease, grime, and any tough stains. Therefore, it is extremely versatile in any situation.

If you like the orangey smell of citrus and you’re not prone to any type of allergy, you might like the professional strength citrus-based formula of Chemical Guys. Although Signature Series Orange Degreaser is an automotive-dedicated degreaser, it is not limited to vehicles and industrial machines. It becomes a mild degreaser for home use with the proper amount of dilution. With that amount of use, even if the price is a tad steep for its size, it’s worth it!

9. Oil Eater Original Cleaner/Degreaser – 1 Gallon

This engine greaser definitely lives up to its name. It simply indicates what it does best, dissolve any grease and grime that comes across its path. It doesn’t matter if its engine, exhaust hoods, machinery, suspension, boat hulls, and drive-train components, this concentrated formula will deliver the desired results. The name may sound aggressive, but it’s actually a gentle and USDA approved product to be used for non-car related surfaces.

Depending on the strength of the dilution, the non-acidic, biodegradable, non-toxic degreaser can even remove tough carpet, upholstery, and asphalt oil stains without damaging it. However, eliminating old grease is a bit tricky, you may need to use it at its non-diluted, full strength. Otherwise, to completely remove it will take multiple applications. Other than that, the product’s ability to hard blast over the stains makes it worth the
purchase.

10. SuperClean 101724 Cleaner Degreaser – 2.5 Gallon

Here’s another fast-acting cleaner/degreaser dedicated to automotive and industrial use. SuperClean is quick and effective in getting rid of any types of tacky goo, filth, wax, grime, and old dirt buildup. The bonus part is, it’s relatively cheap, and it comes with a free spray bottle! It’s extremely concentrated but can easily dilute to deliver mild to medium cleaning power that it requires. The manual has the instruction to follow for mixing any dilution.

It may be phosphate-free and biodegradable, but its strength is tough enough for household, automotive, and industrial use. It is still a strong degreaser, but some use this for the cloth of their car seats. The only thing you need to be extra careful on the amount of concentration or the time you leave it on the fabric. It’s an impressive list of reasons to buy the 5-Gallon jug of engine degreaser!

There’s More Than One Type of Engine Degreaser

Let’s skip the part about what engine degreasers are. Rather, let’s get to know its different types. It would be easier to filter down the options, making less cleaning solution dilemmas. In this way, you can easily have an idea which one might work best with your engine. This list will help you narrow down what kind of degreaser you need.

Eco-Friendly Engine Degreaser

It would be absolutely marvelous to get your engine squeaky clean using degreasers made from natural ingredients. Many of the most effective degreasers are also the safest for our environment. Baking soda, borax, vinegar, castile soap, lemon juice, and cornstarch are the main constituents used for the eco-friendly degreasers recognized very effective in cleaning engines.

You can find several dishwashing liquids formulated with natural grease-cutter components. They are great because they don’t harm tile surfaces, brass, copper, glass, and stainless steel. Products that reduces air pollution and prevent breathing problems are those low volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Petroleum-Based Engine Degreaser

They make the best grease removal for vehicle and engine parts because it cuts through heavy buildups of grease quickly than most degreasers. Distillates and ethanol are high concentrations that work best in removing residues left behind by gasoline and oils. Check also: How is synthetic oil made?

Metal Solvent Engine Degreaser

Metal solvents are one of the strongest solvent degreasers, primarily used for any type of machinery that produces a high quantity of grease. It is efficient in disintegrating thick grease on bearings, joints, motors, and other engine parts with gunk buildup.

Vapor Solvent Engine Degreaser

Exactly as it sounds, it uses vapor instead of liquid in removing grease. It can be hard to picture it at first, like how on earth do you use it? Exactly as it sounds, it uses vapor instead of liquid in removing grease. No submerging required.

What is used to break down the grease are actually two types of special chemicals inside separate tanks. Whatever part needs degreasing has to be attached to a device and then placed on top of the vapor.

Foam-Type Engine Degreaser

It’s pretty much a straightforward solvent that does what it does best. It softens and dissolves grease and dirt from engine parts with a foam that can easily be washed away cleanly with water. It works by simply applying the spray foam to a warm engine, and then let the engine soak to clean it up.

Ultrasonic Degreaser

Another type of solvent used to remove unwanted grime and grease off uses ultrasonic waves. Cylinder heads are the common parts degreased using this system by submerging it in a heated solution. The ultrasonic waves begin to break down gunk and grease while the object is submerged. The object is then transferred to a rinse tank followed by a blow-dry with compressed air.

Considerations Before Buying An Engine Degreaser / Cleaner

Before we even think about finding a solution to our engine cleaning dilemmas, there are far more considerations to take in order to make a sound decision. Although reputable brands make a cut, you can’t really rely on the brand alone. There are many new names with features that are more outstanding than the others.

What’s In It?

Of course, we’d rather pay for a degreaser that does more than just cleaning your engine. It should also maintain its durability and performance. Just how we purchase any other products, we take a peek at the label to make sure it meets what we’re looking for. More importantly, checking the contents of a degreaser’s formula saves your engine from harmful and toxic chemicals. In case, the label isn’t clear, it helps to call the manufacturer. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Safe For Any Type Of Surface

When you find yourself looking at a range of metal cleaners and degreasers, it can get pretty scary for a novice to use a concentrated one that can clean all types of surfaces without actually damaging it. Choose a multi-surface degreaser that is also safe on the skin. Also, follow the dilution instructions carefully. It should be safe on steel, plastic, rubber, aluminum, glass, and paint.

Does Not Leave Any Residue

The goal is a squeaky clean engine inside/out with a nice level of protection. You should look for an engine degreaser that leaves no spot nor attacks painted & unpainted metal. What’s the sense of it if it leaves film or scum?

All-around Cleaner

It’s certainly much better to buy a degreaser that you can also slather on other things besides automotive parts. There are many brands out there offering degreasers and cleaners that you can use for other cleaning jobs, aside from cars. Some water-based degreasers are designed for tough areas and heavy grease build-ups in the kitchen, cleaning ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

The Difference Of Cleaner From Degreaser

What’s the difference between all-purpose cleaner and an engine degreaser? All-purpose cleaners have a neutral pH level, —meant for cleaning areas that are slightly dirty. Although there are all-purpose cleaners capable of removing grease and grime, the strength of most cleaners doesn’t always make the cut against tough grease. Whereas engine degreasers are designed to remove grease, oil, and gunk. So, technically, all degreasers can be cleaners, but not all cleaners can be degreasers.

Check also: Best diesel engine oil of 2021 and best interior car cleaners.

Final Word

Ultimately, buying a degreaser has to be reduced down to basic requirements. To be able to provide the results required. Something you could call your “go-to” for maintenance washes. Cost-effective, and if not budget-friendly it should be formulated to do everything as much as possible. After all, we simply want to save the repair charges by keeping our engine clean. Two of the products are best to use even as a drying aid after a “rinseless” wash.

We would have to agree with the users who rated these 10 engine degreasers. Krud Kutter Original Concentrated Cleaner Degreaser and Simple Green Crystal Industrial Degreaser are the best engine degreasers we recommend. These two are both versatile and are pretty much easy on, easy off on all types of surfaces. One can’t argue about its potency and eco-friendliness. I hope this list helps you make your choices.