Engine bay cleaning, No power or water

[SatinSilver]

I remember when I was at the Honda dealer and saw a guy in the detail department cleaning an engine bay. Just a hose and a nozzle going to town. I'm sure it's easier doing it when it's not your car in question. They must not see many issues doing it this way.

I like the Gunk foam idea and using a paint brush to agitate. After I rinse, I start the car up and drive it around the block. I do cover the intake and alternator with plastic grocery bags. But like the shower cap idea better.

 

[Tdog02]

Simple green is the best I've found so far. Hot water is better but works with cold also.

When the engine is clean and dry I use 303 aerospace protectorant and spray everything in the engine bay. It's not shinny and keeps the engine and all the stuff in there clean for months.

 

[gofast182]

If it's the cars in the OP's sig and there's not some exposed aftermarket air filter, I wouldn't worry about covering anything up in the engine bay, but that's just me. If you've got a post-1997 (random year in a general timeframe) car everything of consequence should be tightly sealed and/or able to take direct spray from a hose or pressure washer for a few seconds at a time with absolutely no issue whatsoever.

 

[EdwardC]

Originally Posted By: 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."


I use that Simple Green as well, for the specific aluminum safe concern. If I didn't have a hose available, I'd probably use a tank sprayer like everyone else suggests. My cleaning procedure starts with a cold engine, so it would a small pain to drive to a coin-op plate, then have to wait for it to cool down.

I would get a tank sprayer, spray it down with hot water, then spray diluted Simple Green (the Pro HD stuff above). Let it sit a while, then spray with fresh water again. I wouldn't bother with distilled water... it's an engine bay. I'd start the car and get it warm after that. I also don't dress it with anything else, but if I were going to, I'd probably use Aerospace 303 since I have it on hand.

 

[Donald]

Of course, hot water pressure washer is always the best but not everyone has one.

 

[C1KLTX]

If not using water,

Armor all ultra shine spray wash, or Meguiar's Ultimate Wash and Wax Anywhere.

If using water,
Zep Fast 505, Krud Kutter

 

[BigD1]

Originally Posted By: 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.


Shower caps! Never thought or heard about that. Bought a 15 pack of disposable shower caps from Walmart for .94 cent. They do work good.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: BigD1
Originally Posted By: 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.


Shower caps! Never thought or heard about that. Bought a 15 pack of disposable shower caps from Walmart for .94 cent. They do work good.


I like the idea too. Next trip to Walmart I'll be grabbing a few.

 

[4wd]

I use simple green or other degreaser - and then half bottle of dawn in two gallon water can - let each soak 10 minutes ...
Use the watering can to finish with $2 worth of distilled water to keep from spotting all the black stuff ...
Leaf blower to dry - then drive ...

 

[BigD1]

Originally Posted By: 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.


That sux!

Around these parts the coin op car washes have engine degrease right on the dial to choose from. I just cleaned up my pickup that had lots of old caked on oil from a timing cover/oil pan leak. Don't know what kind of degreaser they are using, but it's a greenish color. $5 later with the engine degreaser cycle, hot wash, and then the warm rinse it was pretty dang clean.

 

[Wylie6G72]

If you're using water, be careful of the engines designed with the coil-pack valley in the top of the valve cover. My Mazdaspeed 6 visited the shop twice for new coilpacks after a simple, low-pressure engine rinse, because the valley trapped the water and essentially drown the coil-packs. Unfortunately, I couldn't see this because it had a top-mount intercooler. Mazda advised me to stop washing the engine.

 

[MoneyJohn]

Thank you, folks.

A lot of ideas. Can't wait to clean it. Will, of course, submit pre and post pictures once it is done.