cleaning my engine bay need help

**01pewterZ** · 11-11-2007, 03:58 PM

i want to clean my engine bay and need some tips.... anyone? i was thinking of going to the car wash and spraying it down with engine degreaser and then washing it off but im kinda scared of wetting it down and ruining something. let me know thanks

**greatwhiteZ28** · 11-11-2007, 05:12 PM

i never high press my bay but some do, just a hose some rags and lots of time can make it look good in no time

best tip from me is armor all wipes ( not spray) shine were you need it with no spray. some polishing of metel

**samson_420** · 11-11-2007, 05:15 PM

I sprayed down the under side with degreaser from the car wash. The under hood I touched up with foaming engine cleaner the sprayed it with a low pressure water hose.

**blk_jaws** · 11-12-2007, 08:33 AM

I bought and used the black magic can of engine bright from advance auto parts. I follwed the instructions on the can and it turned out very well. Great product for $5.

**dlbrando** · 11-12-2007, 10:17 AM

+1 on the black magic. It is the best product they make and the only one I use. pressure washing is not required, use low pressure water from the hose and it cleans right up. I usually go back with some armor all on my lid. BTW, the black magis stuff should be used on a hot engine, I used the whole can and I keep going back over the whole engine bay from one side to the other, spray above water pump and along block creases.

good luch, and wash the car afterword cause you get a lot of overspray

**JoshieDoom** · 11-12-2007, 01:08 PM

Black Magic is the only way to go

**JonB** · 11-12-2007, 01:23 PM

Any decent engine cleaner will work. Spray on let it sit and start scrubing, I've tried alot of engine cleaners but non really remove the gunk that in under there, a rag and toothbrush are your best friend, that is if your anal like me. Some are fine with a clean and rinse. I like to cover some electrical stuff with plastic grocery bags like Alt, pcm,maf, fuse boxes, rather be safe than sorry.

**2001NBMZ28** · 11-12-2007, 01:46 PM

I think it's a good idea not to get any water instrusion under the intake too - don't want any knock sensor codes....

**dlbrando** · 11-12-2007, 04:41 PM

instructions on the can say to let dry for like 15 min, and since you are supposed to do it on a hot engine, it generally drys off pretty quick. The black magic will take built up crud off too, you just have to keep going back to hit it with the spray, that why I ended up using the whole can. another good option: depending on your local spray wash they usually have an engine soak setting that works well.

As far as the toothbrush thing goes, I was my engine bay about every time I was the car, so the gunk that would require that kind of cleaning doesent accumulate

**Speedy_Gonzales** · 11-12-2007, 04:50 PM

no water here......just some stp son of a gun, rags and lots of elbow grease

**eautocad** · 11-13-2007, 10:20 AM

i agree w/ the engine cleaner,, for those hard spots where the dirt sits and you cant get it out, use a wire brush with a tooth brush style setup. YOu can get them by the 3 pack at walmart (Brass, metal, plastic brush set)

I had some grime built up on the front of my heads, where its smoosh polished. Some bug/tar remover and LIGHTLY brush the metal and walla. Just wipe the resin off with a rag and its gone. TO do the whole motor, takes weeks this way. But, if you can get into all the cracks and ridges, you'll have a super clean bay.

GL

**LETHALxLS1** · 11-13-2007, 10:41 AM

I wont take the risk of spraying water on my engine-rags do the trick.

**dlbrando** · 11-13-2007, 11:14 AM

I have never had a problem with washing the engine with water. It is no different than driving through a large puddle or in the rain for long periods of time. if you directly hose down the alt, or the inside of the air intake you MIGHT have a problem, but even then it is a maybe. your engine is watertight, and those of you with the free air mod already intake some water. dont directly hose down the computer, but besides that i dont worry about it.

side note: 4 wheeling with my jeep I try to keep the intake manifold above water level on deep crossings, but unless you injest a lot of water while running you still wont have a problem.

**Speedy_Gonzales** · 11-13-2007, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by LETHALxLS1

I wont take the risk of spraying water on my engine-rags do the trick.

+1 no chance of damage to engine

**LETHALxLS1** · 11-13-2007, 08:22 PM

^ yepp I just dont have the money to fix problems that can easily be avoided.

**Sarge** · 11-14-2007, 03:53 AM

Simple Green and Armor Wipes. Get you a little spray bottle of distilled water ( no water spots) and clean best you can with the simple green and rinse with the distilled water. Use the wipes to wipe everything down.

**JoshieDoom** · 11-14-2007, 04:27 AM

Gah. I drive my car rain rain or shine... not snow tho. Well placed water aint gonna hurt it.. too bad anyway.. dielectric grease that crap up

**samson_420** · 11-15-2007, 05:33 AM

Water under the hood is not too good of a idea. I had a 4 banger car that I took to the car wash and sparyed down the engine all the way down. My timing belt got wet and jumped time and bent a few vlaves, the car never ran again.

Not that this will happen with our cars, since we have to timing belt. But still, water can get in places you dont want. So if you spray the top of the motor, try to use the water in moderation.

**JoshieDoom** · 11-15-2007, 05:39 AM

I was degreasing the block for painting on my military blazer and happening to get the TBI wet(350) and it didnt frikin start for over 30 minutes.. NEVER USE A PRESSURE WASHER.. and dont use much water

**kool-aide** · 11-16-2007, 07:00 PM

hah, i'm reckless when cleaning the car. I pop the hood and hose the crap out of it, hot or cold. I've done this to every car I own. I have never had a problem. I don't cover anything and i let the water go any where it wants.

Where I live my cars see beach action alot, so you always rinse after a ride. Maybe I'm lucky.

You can take the time to wrap the parts under the hood like some one mentioned or think about how all that stuff got in there? It had to come from some where and my thought is if road grim can cover every thing under the hood then so can water when it rains. So spray away...

BTW my grandfather uses simple green and a bug sprayer. His engine bay is always spot less and he never breaks a sweat. Squirt it on, wait a few mintes, hose it off, use the compressor to blow dry it, done. He is very ananl when cleaning his cars. He will dry every last nook and cranny, ugh drove me nuts as a kid.