How to clean engine bay?

AWDx4G63 · Jul 15, 2004

Hi,

How do you guys clean engine bay? Any feedback?

High pressure spray ok?

Thanks,

Andrew

TS1AWD · Jul 15, 2004

What I found to be a good pre-wash is to go to thoise coin do it urself car washes. They have a selection for engine degreaser. I have used it many times, mostly for the "shootout detailing" wich is more special than the normal detailing. Everything in your engine bay can take a pretty hard hit of water. Just if you have an open air filter or hacked can or what not, be sure to put a plastic bag over your filter.

Let your engine idle to dry it, and when its dry you can go back over it with a rag on any spots missed.

AWDx4G63 · Jul 16, 2004

Thanks,

So all sensors on engine should be ok with water? I am just worried about water that soaked the sensor and caused them dead.

I will use plastic bag to wrap around air filter. Thanks.

My engine bay is dead dirty....

Thanks,

Andrew

TS1AWD · Jul 16, 2004

All sensors will be fine, just be smart about it, you can hit em with some water but dont just sit there with the power wash soaking them. You probally shouldnt hit the fuse box too much either. But other than that you can go crazy. Engine bays for the most part are pretty water proof. Its just getting water into your intake that can cause hydro-lock.

talontsiawd · Jul 16, 2004

I've always used the tire foam technique. It is soo easy and works great. Won't do it any other way.

IcemanTSi91 · Jul 16, 2004

yeah I got a whole bunch of grit and grime and lose junk down in the hard to reach spots of the engine bay..so I just may do that

I also have an open BOV..shouuld I cover that as well

homewrecker · Jul 16, 2004

I usually use Gunk Citrus Engine Cleaner followed by a coat of Engine Brite for a nice finish.

I normally cover the Air filter, Alternator and Coil Packs with a bag.
The Alternator has all sorts of nice cooling vents on it to allow water in and I don't really want to take a chance and soak the thing with high pressure water.

redleader · Jul 16, 2004

Yes, cover your open BOV.

ZoSoSwiM · Jul 16, 2004

wow, glad you started this thread andrew, i've wondered what i can wash... because i have so much junk under my hood that it smells bad when it gets hot. heck, now i'm going to cover my intake and alternator and give it hell!

AWDx4G63 · Jul 16, 2004

You're welcome.

I am so embarrassed to open up the hood to let others to see my dirty engine bay. It's just dead. I guess it has be 9 years (95' GSX) that no one has ever washed it. I bought this 3 years ago.

I'll go crazy with the high pressure foam wash nozzle. No mercy. muwahahhhhahahahahaha.

Thanks guys,

Andrew

ZoSoSwiM · Jul 17, 2004

Does your car smell like cooked oil and grime when it gets hot. My engine bay is so fuckin dirty that it smells stinks... i hate it... i want it to smell better

talontsiawd · Jul 17, 2004

Once you clean it up really well once, it is a pretty low matenence task for the future. The first time get every little oil spot and every piece of grime off. Break out an old tooth brush if you have to. After that you can just whipe it down every so often. I try to clean my motor anytime i work on it. It is so much easier when you not covered in grime every time you touch anything under the hood. Mine used to be a nightmare but once i fixed the oil leaks and cleaned it up it stays spotless forever. Here is a pic of mine. I wish i had a before pic. (excuse the temporary wireing, it's gone now)

IcemanTSi91 · Jul 17, 2004

stupid question but I take it you hose the engine bay down when the engine is cold correct??

AWDx4G63 · Jul 17, 2004

Does your car smell like cooked oil and grime when it gets hot. My engine bay is so fuckin dirty that it smells stinks... i hate it... i want it to smell better

Yes, it does. Especially when hot, I can smell a slight oilly steam smell. No doubt about it. It's probably caused the long term slight oil leak from valve cover gasket. Dried oil is all over the engine block. I'm ready to replace valve cover along with new gasket.

Once you clean it up really well once, it is a pretty low matenence task for the future

Amen, I take your word. I want one bad wash to the engine bay, then I'll keep maintenance the bay. I just have to get this thing started and keep cleaning forever.

Now another question is, Should I wash my engine bay before or after new valve cover and gasket?

Thanks,

Andrew

talontsiawd · Jul 17, 2004

I'd only use water when the motor is cold. Second, you may as well wait to replace the gasket if you are leaking oil but if you aren't going to get around to it for awhile, it wouldn't clean it now.

AWDx4G63 · Jul 19, 2004

Guys,

I succeeded to wash my car's engine bay with high pressure sprayer nozzle at those coined car wash place. No problem at all. I'd like to wash my car when it's cold, but who can wait until engine cold to wash... So I took a shot. I plastic bagged the air filter, 2 balasts for HID and lay one on top of alternator where I can't really bag it. <=== this can at least prevent direct high pressure water damage (if it exists)...

It went smooth, I pretty much sprayed every corner and hidden spots. No mercy with the grease. I was excited with the process, too. hahahaha. You can see grease are coming off as you sprayed on them. A lot of steam came out from exhaust manifold area if you spray on that, but it's absolutely fine imagining the high temp at the exhaust mani. Anyways, car started up with no problem. Afterwards. Drove to a side to let dry a little (not by a lot).

What's dissappointed was that I did miss some spot that I should clean well that I need to go back again. No problem, it's only $1.75 and fun to do anytime again and again.

I think when engine is warmed, those burnt and dried grease could be melted a little, So it could be a better time to clean up.

I believe alternative should be ok with water. Shouldn't too worried about these.

Hope it helps.

Andrew

69BluDevil · Jul 21, 2004

I always heard that if you spray water on your engine when it's hot, the rapid cooling of the metal could cause the block to crack...maybe this is just an old myth? I dunno, I believed it...lol...Do we not have to worry about this? Cause if there's any chance of this happening, then I'm DEFINITELY not taking the chance...ha. I really wanna get mine clean though, mine smells just how you guys described.

shadow_FIX · Sep 29, 2006

Sorry to bring back a dead thread, but rather than create a new one, I figure I'll just add to this one.

My car's 12 years old, and the engine bay has NOT been cleaned....ever, it's pretty obvious. I went to the "coin-o-matic" thing and used the degreaser and hi-pressure rinse twice to no avail...this grime isn't coming off without a fight. Would steel wool be a good or bad idea? Also, what solvent should I use on all the painted parts/anything but the block?

iowaboostin · Sep 29, 2006

You're never gonna get that block sparkling unless you dunk tank it. I'd let the engine cool down and just let some Gunk engine degreaser soak in there real well, see if that helps at all.

Staticbrainwash · Sep 29, 2006

I had a bay on my 92 when i got it last year that had NEVER been washed.

I took dry rags to all the painted surfaces around the engine. And for the engine and bellhousing (and a lot of "stuck on grime") i used straight simple green and water.

Simple green was the shit on my motor.

How to clean engine bay?

AWDx4G63

TS1AWD

AWDx4G63

TS1AWD

talontsiawd

IcemanTSi91

homewrecker

redleader

ZoSoSwiM

AWDx4G63

ZoSoSwiM

talontsiawd

IcemanTSi91

AWDx4G63

talontsiawd

AWDx4G63

69BluDevil

shadow_FIX

iowaboostin

Staticbrainwash

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