Recommendations for cleaning the engine under the cowling?

[pekstrom]

Hi everyone,

My Mercury outboard is rather dirty under the cowling. What would y'all recommend I use to clean off the old oil, grease and fuel residues from the engine block and the lower cowling? Of course I don't want to clean off anything that's supposed to be there. I want to paint the lower cowling sections before I put the new decals on, so they will need to come off. That seems like a great time to also give them a good cleaning.

Thanks in advance for any tips and advice!

 

[w2much]

Parts cleaner brush, toothbrush , a 1" paintbrush and a bottle of dawn works for me.

 

[Mohawkmtrs]

...and after you clean and rinse with a hose, let it dry in the sun until completely dry before running it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

simple green, scrub brush and garden hose.