How to clean engine?

[silent101]

Aright I bought a 1999 camaro z28 and it is in great condition and compleatly stock because a older lady owned it and washed it all the time but never washed the engine. It has 25000 miles on it. Anyway she had it under coated and the engine is filty. My question is how do I clean the engine will it be ok if I go to the carwash and presure wash it or will it cause shorts and make things go bad? thanks rob

[SSmoky01]

Dude, DO NOT go to the carwash and pressure wash it EVER! That is bad news!!! I cleaned mine with terry clothes, armor all wipes and lot's of time. Take your time. It is worth it.

[EVL LS1]

spray simple green in the bay... use a mild brush for common area... then spray off with low pressure keeping it moving whereas the water doesn't concentrate in one area for too long.

http://www.adamspolishes.com/videos/ -walking through cleaning from start to finish

[Mr. Luos]

Agreed.

Thought about letting the dealership steam clean it...but even that worries me if you aren't 100% stock.

[Y2KPewterSS]

I use Simple Green and low pressure water. Don't use high pressure like the guys mentioned above. I leave mine running while rinsing as well. Here are my results:

[SSee ya]

just to make sure, how would you define low pressure. would that be like a garden hose w/o a gun at the end of it?

[Y2KPewterSS]

just to make sure, how would you define low pressure. would that be like a garden hose w/o a gun at the end of it?

Correct, or if you are at the carwash I use the low pressure spot free rinse or rinse without holding the trigger down.

[silent101]

Y3KPewter That is a nicelooking engine bay. How did you rewire all the wires? Mine looks totaly different. Take a look how messy this thing is and If you can tell from the pictures, if it stock or if some one been playing around in there.

[Y2KPewterSS]

Y3KPewter That is a nicelooking engine bay. How did you rewire all the wires? Mine looks totaly different. Take a look how messy this thing is and If you can tell from the pictures, if it stock or if some one been playing around in there.

Thank you!

From the best I can tell, yours looks totally stock to me. The air induction is a stock setup, you still have the EGR and AIR pumps. The AIR pump hose is on the left side by the fender and the EGR feeds into the intake manifold. The only thing from that picture that may look a lil strange to me is what is running along side the passenger fender, I just can't tell what all that is by the picture.

I spent the majority of the summer making mine look the way it does, and I still have a few other things to do. I started by cleaning it real well first and getting rid of the EGR and AIR garbage. Then I got all the brackets, valve covers, MAF ends, tensioner and a few other misc. things powdercoated. I had the fuel rail covers colormatched and swapped most of the bolts out for chrome ones and billet bolt covers. I polished the a/c dryer and ABS unit and painted the back of the headlights, they looked awful. I also now have a PCM cover and battery cover that aren't shown in that picture.

As for hiding all the wires, the ground wires on both aprons were very simple to re-route, just moved them downward. The hood latch is a very simple one to re-route as well, I ran it down on the bottom of the driver side fenderwell. That will clean up the driver side fender.

The final one takes a lil work. Here is the link to a write up on it: http://www.lswon.com/2005/01/25/wire-mod/

If you have any further questions, please ask. I don't mind helping at all. It will take some work to get yours cleaned up, but mine looked very similar when I got it, so I know it can be done. I tried to concentrate on one area at a time and knock that out then move to another area. You can't do it all at once, I assure ya

[EVL LS1]

same with me... simple green with low pressure spray and sometimes a brush...










old pics:

[silent101]

looks like its simple green for me. Thanks for the help all and nice cars!!!

[SS#337]

I agree with you on the use of the simple green!!!

Y2KPewterSS, what did you use to dress your engine up after the simple green? And how is it to attracting dirt? (or not attracting)

[Y2KPewterSS]

I really didn't use anything after to dress it after cleaning it. I do use Zaino products for the pieces that are painted. Most everything in my engine bay is painted/powdercoated/chromed/billet and thats why it looks so shiny/good. Its also garaged and not driven often so its easy to maintain.

A lot of people do spray the hoses and other stuff down with Armor All after cleaning and let the engine run to bake it in for several minutes. I have never done this, I really have never had a reason too, but I would think it would add to the dust buildup honestly.

[SS#337]

ok, thanks...looks awsome btw.

[Y2KPewterSS]

ok, thanks...looks awsome btw.

Anytime, and thank you

[ErikElvis]

Dont use black magic 2 in 1 engine cleaner. It made my blacks look worse. Had to go back in with the armor all.

[SS#337]

noted, thanks. what would you suggest? anything that wouldn't attract a lot of dirt. if there is such a product.

[ErikElvis]

I might try the CD2 engine detailer next. Heard some good things about it.

[Y2KPewterSS]

I might try the CD2 engine detailer next. Heard some good things about it.

Good suggestion, I haven't read a single negative comment about it yet.

[00vertss]

same here low pressure and with towels.