How to deep clean greasy bike or car parts

Kerosene is one of those multipurpose wonders: it’s used from heating lamps all the way up to jets! Did you know that you can also use it to deep clean bike and car parts? Sure, it gives off a whiff, but with Diggers Kerosene by your side, you’ll never dread hearing the words “grease” and “grime” again.

Read our guide on how to deep clean your bike and car parts with Diggers Kerosene.

Note: Before you clean with kerosene, always ensure that you’re wearing nitrile / heavy-duty gloves, and that you place a drip catch tray underneath your work area.

If you plan to work in an unventilated area, we highly recommend using Diggers Low Odour Kerosene, as well as a P2 face mask. Breathing in large quantities of kerosene vapour can cause dizziness, headache, and vomiting. For additional information please refer to the SDS available on the website.

 

Revive your chassis and underbody

No one wants to spend time stripping grease and grime off of your car’s chassis – especially considering how tough it can be to get it back to a factory finish. But did you know that putting in the extra effort can actually extend the life of your chassis by preventing rust and keeping your vehicle running more efficiently? 

To clean your chassis, start by cleaning the underbody with soapy water, removing any dirt that’s stuck to the frame. Then, dampen a cloth with some Diggers Low Odour Kerosene and work it on to the grease, tar, or grime, leaving it to sit for about 10 minutes. Once it’s settled, wipe away the grease and grime with a microfibre cloth!

The degreasing agent in Diggers Low Odour Kerosene will break down the grime – reviving the state of your car’s underbody. Once you’re happy with your chassis, wash away the remaining kerosene with warm, soapy water. 

 

Degrease your engine parts

If there’s one thing that’s more important than a fresh underbody, it’s a grease-free engine. With Diggers Low Odour Kerosene, you can achieve just that. Be advised – this one’s for car maintenance pros! You’ll be taking out the engine and any transmission parts that you want to clean. Don’t forget to remove any plastic components.

Once you’ve removed the engine and transmission parts, place them onto a large spread of old newspaper or disposable material. Then, combine one part Diggers Low Odour Kerosene with four parts water, and transfer it to a plastic spray bottle.

Spray the Low Odour kerosene onto the engine and leave the solution for a few minutes. Ensure that it’s covered the engine’s entire surface. Then, using an old brush, scrub away any grease or grime. Once you’ve given your engine parts a thorough clean, wash off the kerosene with hot water. 

This is particularly important, because anything that’s not washed away may end up inside the engine. Lastly, use a microfibre cloth to dry the parts. Let it air dry for about an hour before returning to the engine. Repeat this process for any other parts that you want to clean.

Before returning to your car, be sure to oil the parts that you have cleaned. This will help to protect the engine over the long term.

Remove rubber coating from your rims

While rubber-coated car rims help to protect against moisture, acids, abrasion, and corrosion, there’ll be a point where you’ll need to remove or retouch them. In this case, just give it some Diggers!

 

Start by pouring some Diggers Low Odour Kerosene into a small container. We recommend using a 200ml metal tin. Dip a paintbrush into the Low Odour kerosene and cover the rubber coating entirely – letting it sit for about ten minutes. Make sure that you get into all the little nooks and crannies, particularly in and around the wheel nuts!

Once the kerosene has soaked into the rubber coating, go around the rim with a scourer and lightly scrape it away. Too much pressure will damage the rim, so be sure to apply as little as possible. Once you’ve removed the rubber coating, give it a rinse with some soapy water and dry it with a cloth! 

 

Brighten your bike chain

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of rolling out of the driveway on a freshly touched-up bike. What’s the first step to a smooth ride? The answer is your bike chain!

Begin by flipping your bicycle upside down on a large tarp. This will help to contain the spills. Then, place half a cup of Diggers Low Odour Kerosene into a small container and dip the sponge part of a green and yellow scourer into the kerosene. Once it’s damp, cup the chain with the sponge, and pedal backwards until the chain has reached a full rotation. Do this until your bike chain is free from grease and grime.

Once you’re happy with the cleanliness of your bike chain, wash away the remaining Kerosene with warm, soapy water. Finally, use a small rag to wipe the chain down by holding it and turning the crank until the chain is clean and dry. Now is the time to lubricate.

Looking for other ways to deep clean your bike parts? Check out these 5 simple bike maintenance tips.