...Use lots of soap and water!
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If you have a dirty DIPSTICK where the oil has literally baked on and you can not read it easily as was the case on my '86GT, here is a helpful quick hint that takes less then 5 minutes to do.

1. Remove the dipstick.
2. Clean off the engine oil with a rag.
3. Spray "EASY OFF Oven Cleaner" down the entire length of the dipstick.
4. Allow to eat at the residue for about 1 minute to eat the burnt on oil
5. Wipe off with a clean rag.
6. Repeat if necessary in severly stained areas.
7. Replace your dipstick

That baby will shine there after!

Now about the other DIPSTICK you may have to contend with...Sorry, that is another thread.

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Good idea... one caution tho... keep the oven cleaner far away from the body panels and painted surfaces. It can do a major job on them.

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11-Sept-01, The day the world as we knew it ended.

quote Originally posted by JSocha: ...Use lots of soap and water! ================================== Now about the other DIPSTICK you may have to contend with...Sorry, that is another thread.

Depending on where it's been, you may want to use Eazy-off on it too!

A dremel tool with wire brush works wonders also.

If you have a dipstick geting that dirty, maybe you need to change your oil more often? lol

I've never seen a dirty dipstick. Even in my old 84se. The oil was so bad when i changed it, it came out in big blobs! Dipstick was clean though .

quote Originally posted by flyntus: A dremel tool with wire brush works wonders also.

Try it my way and you will be done with very little effort, except wipe, spray and wipe again.

This is what happens when you buy a used car where the previous owner didn't take care of these little babies and change their oil regularily. Lots of coking under the valve covers and else where. Black crud!

Too bad we can't turn them in to some sort of authorities for neglect.

Thanks. Now can you tell me how to clean my exhaust tips? I don't think they have ever been cleaned. Previous owner neglect should not go unpunished.

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Easy Off works better on the engine block than most of the industrial de-greasers I've seen as well

Jeff you might want to run a can of "seafoam"
in the oil for each oil change and change every 1,000 miles x 3. Seafoam is a mild cleaner like Marvel Mystery Oil. Stay away from the harsh cleaners like gunk products that claim to be block cleaners. The harsh cleaners will loosen bigs chunks and might clog the oil pump/screen. Good luck!!