So who cleans their engines?

[stranger706]

I'd like to know how some of you clean underneath the hood.

The Mazda's underhood area is getting to be pretty dirty and I'd like to get it clean. I have some GUNK engine degreaser, but it sprays a strong stream that would seem to make a big mess.

Does anyone just use soap and water?

 

[brianl703]

I just use water on a regular basis. Seems to keep the dirt from building up to the point that I need to use soap.

 

[05ChevyI5]

A little Simple Green also works well, not too aggressive.

 

[suspiciousmind]

I clean mine fairly often....last time I used Dawn dishwashing detergent diluted with water....sprayed it on, let it sit five minutes, then hit it gently with a pressure washer....did pretty good.

Most of those caustic soaps (purple stuff, etc) don't do aluminum any good at all.

 

[mikered30]

Simple green is great, but finish with CD2 Engine Detailer. That stuff is amazing. Make sure to cover the inake, fuse box, and alternator before you wash and detail.

 

[jimvegas]

Careful with simple green, it corrodes aluminium.
Use some S100 motorcycle cleaner, safe on all the surfaces.

 

[mitsuman47]

I just use a concentrated mix of car wash soap, all sudsed up (I like suds. They make me feel like they're cleaning more than no suds, even if they're not), and applied with a long handled brush that has long and medium-soft bristles. Cover up any electrical junk, and get after it.

 

[bluestream]

I don't clean mine any more. Water gets into places like electical connection and also causes things to rust. Pressure washing is a big no-no

 

[Nick R]

I like to use simple green, does a god job.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

my engine was "salty" after winter. We had a big rainstorm one day after just getting home from work, so I opened the hood and let mother nature do her best.

 

[ET16]

Originally Posted By: Bluestream
I don't clean mine any more. Water gets into places like electical connection and also causes things to rust. Pressure washing is a big no-no


I used to pressure wash, but I think I'll stop. I heard that Click and Clack on NPR were against it, too.

 

[Rob_Roy]

I do a light wash down on the inner fenders/radiator support area each spring with plain water, just enough to get the salt off.

 

[barlowc]

I hose it down every spring. I only do it when the engine is cold. And I put a plastic bag over the alternator. Never had a problem doing it this way.

 

[Kiwi_ME]

Originally Posted By: ET16
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
I don't clean mine any more. Water gets into places like electical connection and also causes things to rust. Pressure washing is a big no-no

I used to pressure wash, but I think I'll stop. I heard that Click and Clack on NPR were against it, too.
I've seen the long term effects and it's not pretty, however I don't think C&C quite posses the anality of typical BITOGers.

 

[hounddog]

I use GUNK engine cleaner once a year or so.Its made to clean engines.Seems to work better then anything else I tried.Simple green too rough on stuff.

 

[wirelessF]

I hose down my engine once in a while but twice a year I use an engine degreaser on the engine and radiator.

 

[calvinnnnnnnnn]

water + cloth...........

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: Kiwi_ME
Originally Posted By: ET16
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
I don't clean mine any more. Water gets into places like electical connection and also causes things to rust. Pressure washing is a big no-no

I used to pressure wash, but I think I'll stop. I heard that Click and Clack on NPR were against it, too.
I've seen the long term effects and it's not pretty, however I don't think C&C quite posses the anality of typical BITOGers.


I have, for YEARS, used a pressure washer in what I'd call "stand off" mode. Mine is a gas-powered 2700 psi model. I open the hood, spray some cleaner (usually Simple Green), get the engine running, and then (with foil covering ultrasensitive parts) "fog" the engine with the pressure washer from a distance of six to ten feet.

This gets crud off, without getting the pressure spray so close that you drive water into places it should not be. I also IMMEDIATELY drive the car for several miles, including some high-air-flow highway driving to get all the excess water driven off.

I've done this for a long time, dozens of times, wit no problems at all.

 

[Win]

Originally Posted By: jimvegas
Careful with simple green, it corrodes aluminium.


I thought it was 409 that caused corrosion on bare aluminum?

Anyway, I always wash under the hood every time I wash a car, with car wash soap and water, and I wash out the fender wells, the interior of the door jambs, the trunk, and clean all the seals. I also try to at least spray all the under car bits I can get to. I hate wrenching on a dirty car.

I don't use commercial car washes often, but if I do, I spray down the engine compartment with soap while I'm there. An engine that won't work after a high pressure car wash spray is of no use to me.

 

[L_Sludger]

I rub metal polish on my mirror-finish charge pipes and supercharger. And power steering reservoir. And valve cover. And intake manifold. And...