Cleaning the engine bay

[ryanztt]

Like the title says im looking for a safe and effective way to clean my engine bay without having to worry the car will never start again
Didn't have any luck with the search.

[ThisIsSparTTa]

Brakleen (Brake Cleaner) and a lot of scrubbing. For that job you might want to get the gallon size off Amazon and a cheap squirt bottle. Also grab a cheap/thin paint plastic sheet to go under the engine bay to catch all that nasty crap.

Avoid power washer, too many electrical connections that like to corrode.

[ryanztt]

Yea...i'll be scrubbing all weekend. Thanks.

[ThisIsSparTTa]

You'd be surprised how much brake cleaner just makes buildup wash away. If you go with cans, you'll want 4-5 of them probably. Also, some soft plastic tools can be useful for scraping away the thicker build up.

[itsa300zx]

If you are using any type of brake clean, test a small area on the paint first. I would recommend simple green, may take a little longer soak time, but it works and 100% safe on paint.

[ryanztt]

If you are using any type of brake clean, test a small area on the paint first. I would recommend simple green, may take a little longer soak time, but it works and 100% safe on paint.

Thanks. That does make sense not to use alcohol on what's left of the clear. Im hoping not to incorporate any water if possible. My cousin said he used purple power and had a guy he worked with power wash his bay. His car is in much better condition than mine is and hasn't sat as long either so he didn't have to worry about exposed electrical parts, like wires and clips.

I was wondering what the best way to change the oil...should I get the flush z1 sells or just use some good synthetic like royal purple motor oil and let it do its job. Then maybe change it after 1000 miles or so?

[Trimble Epic]

+1 for Simple Green. I don't know if I'd say it's safe on paint, as the wheel guys say it damages aluminum if left on long enough... It could certainly strip off any wax, but how much wax would be on the paint in the bay? I'm guessing not much (any).

I bought a gallon jug of simple green and mix it 50/50 for cleaning the paint, and it does a phenomenal job. If you notice, there are also no warnings on the label about skin contact, etc. Not many cleaners can go without that label, yet it dissolves oil and road grime like Dawn dissolves cooking grease... I may have been guilty of washing my hands with it too...

Oh, and Oil Change.