<![CDATA[Cosmoline Removal From Painted Surfaces?!?]]>Has anyone found - or heard of - a good way to remove the OEM applied cosmoline from the engine bay (inner fenders, strut towers, etc...).  I've done a bunch of searching and it seems no one has a "good" solution.  I tried non-chlorinated Brake Kleen after reading a bunch of people suggesting it, but wasn't pleased with the results.  It seemed to still leave a layer after multiple applications, and in the areas it appears to be fully removed it seems to soften the paint.

I'm not concerned with time or elbow grease - I just want the crap off the bay!  Anyone had good results with certain products or processes?!?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/topic/4287/cosmoline-removal-from-painted-surfacesRSS for NodeWed, 16 Sep 2026 06:34:14 GMTSat, 02 Apr 2016 16:37:00 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Cosmoline Removal From Painted Surfaces?!? on Wed, 06 Apr 2016 15:29:31 GMT]]>I have also heard of people using oven cleaner to remove cosmoline but I cant tell you if it works or not.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/67743https://wibimmers.com/post/67743Wed, 06 Apr 2016 15:29:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cosmoline Removal From Painted Surfaces?!? on Wed, 06 Apr 2016 13:32:15 GMT]]>I may try a 75/25 or 50/50 mix of lacquer thinner and a mineral thinner (mineral thinner to thin the thinner..... Thinner).

Less harsh = more scrubbing.... But more control and less chance of getting too much paint removal.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/67735https://wibimmers.com/post/67735Wed, 06 Apr 2016 13:32:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cosmoline Removal From Painted Surfaces?!? on Wed, 06 Apr 2016 13:08:45 GMT]]>So I gave lacquer thinner a try on one of the small brackets I plan to remove from the bay.  The lacquer thinner cuts through the cosmoline wonderfully!

.... Unfortunately it also cuts through the paint under it equally well!

Lacquer thinner on a rag removes the cosmoline in about 2-3 seconds of light scrubbing, however I found that any more then 2-3 seconds and you'll start to get into the paint under it.  It's especially bad if there is any paint flake or scratches - those areas will pull up paint even faster (especially because there is no cosmoline on that scratch/flake so the lacquer thinner starts on the paint immediately).  If you scrub on a spot for 10 seconds or more.... Bye-bye paint.

I think a person *could* use lacquer thinner - but you'd need to be very careful not to overdo it in quantity or scrubbing.  I'd also be concerned about making the painted surfaces "splotchy" by the varying  scrub times.

A quick pass with the lacquer thinner really does eat the cosmoline quickly tho - I'm just not sure it's worth the risk of going too far into the paint.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/67734https://wibimmers.com/post/67734Wed, 06 Apr 2016 13:08:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cosmoline Removal From Painted Surfaces?!? on Sun, 03 Apr 2016 17:09:27 GMT]]>Every day. Works extremely well to remove scuffs, paint transfer, overspray, etc. Now, if your car had lacquer based paint, I would worry haha.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/67635https://wibimmers.com/post/67635Sun, 03 Apr 2016 17:09:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cosmoline Removal From Painted Surfaces?!? on Sun, 03 Apr 2016 16:27:01 GMT]]>

wasnt m3 said:

I'd try lacquer thinner. No, it won't hurt your paint. 

Not that I don't believe you - but do you have any experience using lacquer thinner on automotive paint?  My dad uses lacquer thinner a bit around their sign shop (usually for removing paint I believe...) and I know it's some pretty harsh stuff.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/67632https://wibimmers.com/post/67632Sun, 03 Apr 2016 16:27:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cosmoline Removal From Painted Surfaces?!? on Sun, 03 Apr 2016 02:11:40 GMT]]>never could get it off of my e30s. (short of using abrasive methods for engine parts) i gave up though once i thought i might start doing more harm than good.  cosmoline > damaged paint.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/67620https://wibimmers.com/post/67620Sun, 03 Apr 2016 02:11:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cosmoline Removal From Painted Surfaces?!? on Sat, 02 Apr 2016 16:54:00 GMT]]>I'd try lacquer thinner. No, it won't hurt your paint.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/67612https://wibimmers.com/post/67612Sat, 02 Apr 2016 16:54:00 GMT