Cleaning the engine bay very regularly is the best approach

[Motor oil rookie]

Because if you don't do it very regularly, then it gets to a point that it will be hard work to clean it then. I use a small portable blower to first blow all the dust off, then use a towel and detailing spray.
Please share your experience of keeping your engine bay clean.
Thank you

 

[Motor oil rookie]

The engine bay of this 392 Wrangler has reached a point that I don't know how one could clean this without washing it. And washing has its risks.

 

[Bladecutter]

So, when are you going to show up and clean the engine bays in my garage for me?
Seems like some sort of weird AI post.

 

[Thermo1223]

Wash mine all the time at the car wash. Basic common sense means don't hold a nozzle tip 1mm away from anything. I also try and get the condenser & radiator clean.

 

[Motor oil rookie]

So, when are you going to show up and clean the engine bays in my garage for me?
Seems like some sort of weird AI post.

$200, and you got the deal only if it is not too bad

 

[Motor oil rookie]

Wash mine all the time at the car wash. Basic common sense means don't hold a nozzle tip 1mm away from anything. I also try and get the condenser & radiator clean.

What do you use with water, soap?

 

[Thermo1223]

What do you use with water, soap?

Well the degreaser the car was has then a rinse.

 

[Wylie6G72]

I use Target bags to cover my alternator and the under hood fuse box, and I wash it. I like to use the foam cannon with the pressure washer, then a couple of buckets of scalding hot soapy water poured over everything, Wash the underneath and non-sensitive parts with the pressure washer, then rinse with a garden hose, dry with the leaf blower and the air compressor. No problems in 40 years, except with my '93 Dodge Shadow. There's a couple of relays that control the transmission that were supposed to be mounted vertically to the inner fender, but they were laying horizontally on the frame rail and got water in them. Had they been mounted correctly, my engine washing record would have gone untarnished.

 

[Strumpan_]

I just use the high pressure washer on everything. Never broken anything. Use some degreaser too sometimes.

 

[ripcord]

"Ain't Nobody Got Time for That!"
Kimberly "Sweet Brown" Wilkins

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

Why? I dont want water getting in my electrical connections and building up in nooks and crannies.

 

[Bailey28]

After every oil change I hit the engine bay with patio furniture cleaner from a spray bottle. Cool engine, let it soak a minute or two then rinse it. I hit everything but try not to directly spray the fuse box too much or with high pressure. I spray the condenser and radiator as well then low pressure water rinse.

After this go for a short drive to dry everything out. I don't use any spray dressing or silicones under the hood, don't want an O2 error code.

 

[XB_Fan]

Google "Koch Chemie Motorplast". Check out the videos on it. Game changer for engine bays.

 

[Sumboodie]

I usually just use the hot water pressure washer ever year or two.

 

[ryanschillinger]

I clean the engine bays once in a while. They stay pretty clean.

 

[raaizin]

I used to wash mine regularly but with all the electronics under the hood I stopped years ago

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

I cleaned my f150 5.4 motor 1 time and killed 2 coils. Haven't cleaned it again in 10-15 years

 

[Nessism1]

This seems like a sensible approach...

 

[Snagglefoot]

I get why folks want a new looking engine bay but I just focus on cleaning the top of the battery, the air cleaner housing, the top of the fuse box, and the brake fluid reservoir.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I think either Eric the Car Guy or South Main auto showed the parasitic drain on a battery from the dirt/moisture on top of it.

I spray Simple Green a couple times per year all over it and then rinse with regular hose. Doing that lets you see when you are starting to have any VCG issues or others leaks. Common sense applies not to spray hard directly at connectors or alternator. Big water might get wiped down afterward with an older beat up microfiber.

about 100k on my Accord.

220k on my old Sonata.