How to clean engine bay correctly?

[raxxus]

ANyone have any advise? I recently had to fix a broken pump, well you know how it gets dirty! The coolant provided a nice little place for crap to gather on the lower part of the engine. Grrrrreat. Anyways, how to go about cleaning engine? Chemicals? Hose? Toothbrush? hehe

holla

[00swartz]

Personal preference-no chemicals, but rather a car wash, old clothes, eye protection and engine degreaser setting on the car wash, and a pocket full of quarters.
Let the engine sit while you put the stuff on(try to keep it from aluminum-it kills the surface finish) then wash it off, then clean the car and peel off a layer of clothes before getting in your car.
Try to stay warm and wait til the thaw.

[Pathogen]

Gunk engine degreaser has always been good for me, but there's some cheap spray stuff from Wal-Mart that works too. For the engine that doesn't get terribly dirty (mine :D ) Orange Clean works wonders (and smells like fresh oranges!)

Pic a car wash bay and plan on being there for a while.

Dress the engine with the spray stuff, the cheaper stuff askes that the engine be warm to hot, while the more expensive stuff says "cold".

Let it set for a bit, use this time to wash the rest of your car (don't forget in the wheel wells and do those rims good!) You can use a toothbrush (I recommend an old one) to get the little places in your rims and in the engine bay.

Before you leave, make sure to take a towel or two around the engine bay to pick up all the places where water is going to sit.

(hey, maybe I did learn a thing or two degreasing that ol' 2.8 of mine ;) )

[MrCoffee]

why use a car wash bay? why not the road and a hose? or a pressure washer?

[Pathogen]

I just had a preference to a car wash - it's usually a quiet place where I could spend some quality time with my car . . . but then again - neither of my previous appartments had places where I could wash my car ;)

[Blackbird3800]

doesnt water kill alternators , i once washed my old cars (z24 W2.8) engine bay and later that day my alt. went bad...?

[Everglades W68]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Pathogen:
You can use a toothbrush (I recommend an old one) <hr></blockquote>

[img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]

[RSFireDog]

Ive heard that water can make the alternator go bad, but I think that is just a myth. If you are that concerned with it, then just cover it up with some masking tape, thats usually what I use for all the crap I dont want wet.

Also, I've found that pressure washing works really well, or if you can get ahold of a steam cleaner....

[LabRat3K]

It's generally a good idea to keep moisture away from electrical components if you can. It can become a bigger issue with older cars where the possibility of insulation cracks or loose wire connections increases. I put a plastic bag over my alternator. If you don’t want to do that, at least try not soak the alternator down with direct spray. I’ve known people who will also go as far to cover their coil packs and wrap aluminum foil around the bases of their plug wires.

[99redcamaro]

i clean the whole engine at least 3 times a year. i use a regular hose and while and washing the car i'm doing the engine too. [img]smile.gif[/img]
i've never got a problem with water and altenator

[pfdog1]

I had it done at a car wash place that used a steam cleaner type thing for the engine bay and WOW does it look brand new after.

[CamaroRob97]

wow i never realized you can just spray your enigne with water lol

[SCv6]

The one thing that I did learn about spraying down a motor with a hose is to do it with the car on (not hot but on) because if there is a problem then you can keep the motor running and evaporate off the water (where as if it's off you may not be able to start it back up).