Engine bay cleaning, No power or water

[MoneyJohn]

Hello folks,

The engine bays of both the cars are dirty. I just can't look at them. Being a clean freak, I would like to clean them. I am an apartment dweller, hence no access to power or water to wash the engine bay. There are a ton of threads on the board discussing engine detailing but since I am going to do it without water or power, I wonder if that makes any difference on what cleaners I use.

Currently, I am considering either of
Simple Green
Super Clean
Spray Nine
to degrease the engine bay.

Then, I plan to give a wipe down with either of
Vinylex
Sonus (acrylic high gloss)

What is the recommendation of folks who have cleaned their engine bays?

The plan is just wipe down using a degreaser, then wipe down with a wet rag using distilled water and finally apply some dressing. If there is anything dressing that repels dust, that will be an added plus.

Thanks in advance.

 

[gman2304]

I use Simple Green, a pail of water and plenty of old rags every couple of years. Dressing looks nice for a while but I don't use it, it looks too 'shiny' for my taste.

 

[pandus13]

watch on the 'Tube the post from ChrisFix, about cleaning about 4 engine bays....
you can just skip the hose step and use water in a household bottle sprayer...

 

[Pike51]

Instead of your normal "dressing" I use interior leather conditioner. I do the same on my tires as well. It leaves a less shiny finish and doesn't take on as much dirt and dust.

 

[RooflessVW]

Take car to a coin-op and use the pressure washer. Avoid air intakes, ECUs, and the alternator/starter. Even if you have to drive 30 minutes one way it will take less time than what you're proposing.

Gunk foam works well on any areas that are actually grimy with oil and grease.

Avoid using simple green without a THOROUGH rinsing - it is caustic to aluminum.

 

[Dyusik]

My buddy used red devil in my jeep once, 3 minutes soak and all the mud and years of oil leaks were gone with a simple hose off. I was stunned.

 

[barkingspider]

I would also suggest driving to a coin-op and doing it there. You will get more dirt and grime off than wiping it up by hand w a bucket and rags.

 

[Donald]

You can buy a cheap 1 or 2 gallon garden sprayer at HD. Fill it with hot water. Spray on your favorite product like Simple Green, wait 5 or 10 minutes and spray with the hot water.

Car washes frown on engine bay cleaning.

 

[gofast182]

I'd do the coin op. thing others suggested.

Short of that, I'd spray a dilution of dawn dish soap on the engine bay using a household sprayer, pour a bucket of hot water over it and see what you're left with. If it needs more attention, spray again, agitate with a towel or brush as needed, then pour another bucket of hot water over it. If it looks good, turn the car on and let it idle with the hood down for 10-15 min and excess water will steam away.

IIRC prolonged/repeated exposure to Simple Green is not good for exposed aluminum which may be present in your engine bay.

 

[DBMaster]

Maybe after spraying with your chosen degreaser or cleaning solution you could do the rinse with a pump up garden sprayer filled with hot water. Not a lot of pressure, but more precise than a bucket and the sprayers are CHEAP. I personally would stay away from coin-op. The pressure is just too high. At home I just use plain water, but I connect my garden hose to the water heater drain valve so it can be hot water.

 

[FermeLaPorte]

Just use a little brake cleaner, spray a water on a little rag, and degreaser.

 

[Pike51]

When using hose or pressure washer, you can cover sensitive areas with shower caps. That's exactly what we do and it works perfectly. We cover the carb, distributor, and anything else we want to keep from getting wet.

 

[69GTX]

You can be as careful as possible at a coin op...and still inadvertently spray down some electrical components that can strand you or cost you significant money. With hand sprayers you can get it all done in a few hours. One advantage to the hand over hand method is that you get to closely inspect and touch EVERY part of that engine bay. If there's anything not right, good chance you'll run across it...while learning some new stuff about your car.

 

[doitmyself]

Some of the DIY car washes have a low pressure pre cleaning mode that might work. I agree with others to be extra careful about the electrical/computer devices that might be under the hood.

I like to use the Home Depot Pro HD Simple Green: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Simple-Green-...13421/100550784 . It is supposed to be the same product as their Commercial Aviation Cleaner and they claim it is safe on aluminum, plastics, rubber, etc..


http://simplegreen.com/products/pro-hd-cleaner-degreaser/
"Simple Green has also developed break-through water based cleaners that are safe for use on metals, plastics, rubber and high tech alloys. Extreme Simple Green® Aircraft & Precision Cleaner and Simple Green® Pro HD are available on both the industrial and retail markets, respectively. These products were initially developed for the aircraft industry and extensive testing shows that they are safe and effective on a variety of metals and other sensitive surfaces even in the most extreme circumstances."

 

[MoneyJohn]

Thank you, folks.

There is only one coin op car washer in my vicinity, abt 10 miles from my place but that does not allow you to wash Engine bay or car underbody due to some town restrictions.

 

[bmwjohn]

I agree with car wash- best choice. Usually owners aren't there, but they get hot on mudders with jeeps filled with dirt - mud. Why distilled water? Walmart.com had pump sprayers for $5 for one gallon. Menards usually heavily discount pump sprayers in Fall for next year. I tried a suggestion that sort of worked where, after cleaning, use lemon pledge to shine (of course Dollar Tree version). FWIW

 

[razel]

For decades my pops always air compressed the engines anytime we change oil. That was more than enough to keep them clean. Recently when my car began to leak oil from a valve cover, air was no help and I began cleaning with water from a hose and degreaser where the oil is. A lot of both. That I covered the alternator and battery with a plastic bag. Sounds like you want to use less water.

If your case, liberally spray with degreaser and use a paint brush to agitate, then use spray bottle with water, to rinse and wipe off with rag. Yes, the brush and rags will get dirty quick so use another bucket to dunk them in and rinse it off or keep using/rotating new rags. Most of your time will be spent doing that, but since you're somewhat water restricted then oh well.

Skip the dressing. It's for car shows. Not daily drivers.

 

[jrvn]

Simple Green diluted,brush, hose or self serve spraywash to rinse

 

[JimPghPA]

Drive it to a coin operated car wash, stop the engine and pop the hood and give it a couple of hours to cool off until the engine is cool enough to put your hand on any engine part and keep it there. Then pull it into a stall and shut it off and use the soap spray, followed by a rinse.

Never spray a hot engine with anything. You can crack the intake manifold if you do.

 

[Chris Meutsch]

I've never been stranded by cleaning my engine and I never will be.
Let it go if you're not going to hand-wipe everything, and only spraying the towel you're using.