Engine Compartment Cleaning

[mrmister]

I was just in my engine compartment today and noticed how gross it had gotten inside thanks to all the road salt. I was wondering what would be the best way to clean it all out. Would it be alright to use a hose and just spray the inside? I don't mean a full out spray, maybe just a strong mist to break the dirt apart. Is there any area of the compartment I should be careful of when using water?

Thanks for your help.

 

[jdub260]

I was just in my engine compartment today and noticed how gross it had gotten inside thanks to all the road salt. I was wondering what would be the best way to clean it all out. Would it be alright to use a hose and just spray the inside? I don't mean a full out spray, maybe just a strong mist to break the dirt apart. Is there any area of the compartment I should be careful of when using water?

Thanks for your help.

Don't spray much water on the fuse boxes and don't put any kind of pressure on the intercooler, the fins are VERY easy to fold over.

 

[4DRHTRD]

Worked for me for YEARS:
Engine Cleaning/Detailing

by Gary Grant - HOTSS

1) On a hot/warm engine, spray the entire engine compartment down with Windex.
Close the cowl(hood) and wait @ 3-5 minutes.


2) Lift the cowl(hood) and mist the engine compartment with water. Now spray
the entire area with Armor All. Close the cowl and again wait 3-5 minutes.


3) Repeat the Windex and Armor All application again. Now, after the second
coat of Armor All, close up the engine compartment and wash and detail
the exterior of your car.


4)When you are finished, open the cowl(hood) and wipe down any excess Armor All.

 

[Rican219]

Worked for me for YEARS:
Engine Cleaning/Detailing

by Gary Grant - HOTSS

1) On a hot/warm engine, spray the entire engine compartment down with Windex.
Close the cowl(hood) and wait @ 3-5 minutes.


2) Lift the cowl(hood) and mist the engine compartment with water. Now spray
the entire area with Armor All. Close the cowl and again wait 3-5 minutes.


3) Repeat the Windex and Armor All application again. Now, after the second
coat of Armor All, close up the engine compartment and wash and detail
the exterior of your car.


4)When you are finished, open the cowl(hood) and wipe down any excess Armor All.

Agreed I use a very Similar way and it makes it look NEW!

 

[mhrebin]

go to advance auto and pick up a can of the 1.99 engine degreaser. it works wonders on everything.

i would suggest covering electrical stuff and possible the intercooler with some sort of plastic sheet.

it works real well.

 

[Maxx Mazda]

I've been detailing cars for years, and all that above method does it cover up the dirt with shine. Makes it look clean, even though it isnt. Not trying to be rude, but this has been discussed umpteen times before. Search and ye shall find. Grab a good engine shampoo, let the engine cool, spray the shampoo on, let it soak, then pressure wash. Don't worry about the alternator or fuse box. They're weatherproof, and wont get wet inside.

 

[mrmister]

Thanks again for the help. I checked around for the other threads. Just one more question, which Simple Green cleaner do you guys use? I checked the website and saw a couple listed for cars. Do you use the Max Spray or another one?

 

[Killer]

Either Simple Green works great.

 

[jdub260]

I've been detailing cars for years, and all that above method does it cover up the dirt with shine. Makes it look clean, even though it isnt. Not trying to be rude, but this has been discussed umpteen times before. Search and ye shall find. Grab a good engine shampoo, let the engine cool, spray the shampoo on, let it soak, then pressure wash. Don't worry about the alternator or fuse box. They're weatherproof, and wont get wet inside.

I would be very carefull if you decide to use a pressure washer under the hood. It would be VERY VERY easy to sweep it across the intercooler and ruin it. That much pressure would fold over all the fins with just one swipe.

 

[jmv]

oh and be careful with simple green b/c it will discolor aluminum..... like CAI's and stuff, i don't know if you guys have other engine bits that are aluminum.


Personally what i've done with my engine bay is take it to the car wash place, cover the filter with a double layer of plastic bags ziptied down, and spray it out with semi-high pressure. I don't do that often though. Then i'll take an old windex bottle filled with 7:1 water/shampoo and use than and a rag to wipe down some of the dirtier parts, then rinse with a trickle of water from the hose. Then i use my zaino tire/rubber dressing on all the plastic and hoses, gives it a very natural dark black look. Honestly for me the tire dressing makes the biggest difference. I love that stuff. If you're interested you can get a bottle from:

www.zainostore.com

 

[BOOSTR]

You can do it with or without water. Pressure washing will not hurt it. Simple Green and other degreasers will stain/discolor your soft metals when used at full strength or improperly diluted. WD-40 sprayed on to a rag and wiped on rubber hoses will enhance their appearance also.

Keep your engine clean and free of buildup and you won't need chemicals for cleaning it from time to time. I use car wash soap on mine. Mother's aluminum polish works great on restore the bling to your soft metal parts.

Use a wide stream nozzle on your pressure washer vs the narrow for damage free washing.

 

[Afroman]

If its just road salt why not just use regular car soap and water? That should get rid of it and any grease / dirt.

That sounds like the safest and easiet. I would cover the InterCooler and Battery with a plastic bag.

 

[Speed6 Guy]

1. First you should remember that you never detail a hot engine. The best time to detail your engine is in the morning when it has been sitting all night. If you throw cold water on a hot engine then you run a much higher risk of causing damage. I recommend warming the engine to loosen build-up but it should only be slightly warm. If its too warm, the degreaser or cleaner whatever will dry and spot engine surfaces.

2. Before you begin detailing cover any exposed filters, and the engine's air intake. Those are the areas that you really dont want water or degreaser pooling in. Cover your exposed air filter with a bag (be sure to remove the bag before you start your car). If you have done any custom work then you may have electrical connections cover those. This is engine cleaning and not fire fighting. Use only as much water and cleaners as needed to get the job done.

3. Start by degreasing the perimeter of the engine bay. The painted surfaces are fine to use degreaser on. Make sure you get the fluid containers and hoses degreased as well. Spray down the firewall at the back of the engine bay. Degreaser wont do all the work for you. But it helps a lot.

4. After you have rinsed. I have a wash mitt that is specially designated for engine detailing. You dont want to use the same one for the engine that you would use for the rest of the car.

5. You may need to mix some soapy water in a spray bottle. That helps get the areas that need to be hand detailed. You may also want to designate a few micro fiber towels for engine cleaning.

6. The engine needs to be dried before proceeding with wax or protectants.

7. After you have cleaned all the dirt off, it is time to shine it up. You can actually wax the paint if you want to, but you may want to use a high quality sealant instead. The engine bay gets way too hot for a wax to last very long.

8. To shine up the plastics and hoses you can use a quality rubber/vinyl protectant.

This is just what I do and if you see something you dont like then dont do that part. 15 years of spraying the engine down and no issues yet (knock on wood).

 

[vert]

All I do is take an old wash mitt and wash the inside of the bay just like the outside. Give it a light rinse and you are finished. No hassles and no special cleaners.

 

[ksource]

yea I just get a cloth with a tad of water and whip it down...then again it never gets that dirty...since im in cali with nice roads =\

 

[wannabe]

oh and be careful with simple green b/c it will discolor aluminum..... like CAI's and stuff, i don't know if you guys have other engine bits that are aluminum.

i can vouch for this...i couldn't figure out what the hell had cause my intake to tarnish...so i just kept trying to clean it and it just kept getting worse..then i realized I was doing it...(doh)