It seems simple enough from what people have said in the past, but would someone be willing to post a how-to for cleaning the engine bay? The main thing I'm corcerned with is what to cover and what not to cover, so pics of the vital things covered would be great. I don't really need a step by step for washing it, just the things I need to cover without damaging anything.
Engine Cleaning HOW-TO?
- Thread starter t3ase
- Start date
emptystrings
Member
bump?
ELEmental59437
Member
- :
- 2002 P5, 1978 F250
Its really easy. Let the engine cool down and then spray it lightly with water. Then spray on simple green and let it sit a few minutes and spray it all off with water again. You dont need to use a lot of pressure and if you stay clear of the intake (I have a CAI) you will be fine. I didnt cover any parts when doing mine, but I went back after the final rinse with compressed air and blew the water off of the valve cover and some other places. Let it all dry before starting the engine.
yea for me, i take it to the car wash....then i open up the hood and spray down EVERYTHING not worrying about ANYTHING getting wet. ive used the hose for 5 minutes just under the hood with no problems whatsoever. just dont turn on the high pressure. then drive home from the car wash. open up the hood. everything will be pretty much dry, although youll have water spots just about everywhere. no biggie, they come right off. use meguires detail wax spray and a yellow cloth from autozone. expect to be wiping for 1+ hour if this is your first time. if you do it three-four times per week like me (like when i show up to work early and im bored) it will only take you 10-30min. i used to think that i would screw up something too, but you wont.
Protege5Gurly
Member
First off you must do this with a cool engine ... cover the intake filter and the ENTIRE valve cover. Then just spray some Simple Green over the bay and let it work it. Problem areas hit up with brushes or sponges. Rinse off. Detail ... blah blah blah ..
Everyone knows a soaking wet filter is bad news but I say the valve cover for a few reasons:
1. Coil on plug -- you dont want the coil packs getting water logged.
and the most important...
2. The water can work its way down into the spark plug wells and will cause the plug to ground out as it fires. The car will basically not run, and if it does, will run REALLY bad. To fix the problem you need to pull the coil packs off ... dry out the wells as much as you possibly can and then change your spark plugs. You run the risk of the water getting in with a regular hose pressure much more than you do with a high pressure washer since the HP will blow most of the water away as you use it. Either way its better to be safe than sorry. You can later use instant detailer on the valve cover to clean it up if necessary.
For years we cleaned my bf's engine in his 99 Cougar without covering ANYTHING ... we got my car and cleaned the engine bay the exact same way and guess what --- water in the plug wells.
Pe@ce
Everyone knows a soaking wet filter is bad news but I say the valve cover for a few reasons:
1. Coil on plug -- you dont want the coil packs getting water logged.
and the most important...
2. The water can work its way down into the spark plug wells and will cause the plug to ground out as it fires. The car will basically not run, and if it does, will run REALLY bad. To fix the problem you need to pull the coil packs off ... dry out the wells as much as you possibly can and then change your spark plugs. You run the risk of the water getting in with a regular hose pressure much more than you do with a high pressure washer since the HP will blow most of the water away as you use it. Either way its better to be safe than sorry. You can later use instant detailer on the valve cover to clean it up if necessary.
For years we cleaned my bf's engine in his 99 Cougar without covering ANYTHING ... we got my car and cleaned the engine bay the exact same way and guess what --- water in the plug wells.
Pe@ce
Last edited:
matt,
when you do this on a hot engine its just impossible to see, its as simple as that... plus you could always run that small risk of cracking the head, as the cold water makes the alloy in the head suddenly contract in areas, rather than all together, therefore the metal will warp/crack as its supercooled
when you do this on a hot engine its just impossible to see, its as simple as that... plus you could always run that small risk of cracking the head, as the cold water makes the alloy in the head suddenly contract in areas, rather than all together, therefore the metal will warp/crack as its supercooled
jersey_emt
Member
- :
- 04 MSM #1089
gjmoreo said:Said the blind man.
To his deaf wife. Over the telephone.
i dont even spray it with water..just dose the entire compartment in greased lightning and wipe
