It is my own fault. There are a few 'detail' shops close by that steam clean engine bays and clean the car, along with buffing/waxing. The last time I went to one of those places with a 1995 854T, they only cleaned the top of what you can see with the hood open.

While there is a fair amount of oil residue on the top and sides of the engine, most of it is on the bottom and the entire tranny/OD. Much too much to clean off at home, it would mess up the local drainage ponds to say nothing of the driveway and open gutters leading to the ponds.

There is a local DIY car wash with a high pressure washer, but the owner said 'no way' when I asked him about it. His system isn't geared to accept that much gunk :)

So, right now, I am using a flat stick as a scraper whenever I get to a part that needs it. Perhaps by next spring I will have it thin enough to clean it properly. In the meantime, lots of hand soap and brushing. Plastic gloves don't fit my size 15 fingers.

Klaus
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Proud owner of a 220S. If I had more room, I would have more Volvos.