Engine Bay

[Javi04]

Dirty engine bay. What you guys recommend, spray with a hose or pressure wash?

[OutToWinPAHC]

Engines get wet all the time. I would use a foamy engine degreaser with a sift brush. Avoid the plugs, coil packs, alternator, air filter or anywhere water can lie.

I put a plastic bag over the air filter, and alternator. I put my hose nossle on shower, and just mist it down foam it up with some foamy engine bright, brush in, rinse away, then use my absorbee to get all the water off... Then I have to break out the polish and go nuts on all the shiny parts then armorall the plastic.

[370Z/28]

Simple Green is a great product for greasy parts (don't let it get on paint....it is strong) Dawn diswashing detergent is good for greasy spots that are on paint.

Gentle water streams only...NO PRESSURE WASHER! I once knew a guy that did $2500 damage to a C4 Corvette by squirting the engine off in a coin car wash. Car had to be towed to the dealer.

[telcoman]

Dirty engine bay. What you guys recommend, spray with a hose or pressure wash?

Leave it alone

Clean what you can with a dry rag

Spraying an engine bay is asking for trouble. Too much electronics under there.

Telcoman

[Poyzinous]

howard, pretty much everything under the hood can handle getting wet, so its no big deal. Its all in what cleaning agent you use. If you mix some soap in water, or a mild degreaser, spray it around, then hose it off, no pressure, it'll be fine. Its been done that way for years at our shop, no issues.

[telcoman]

howard, pretty much everything under the hood can handle getting wet, so its no big deal. Its all in what cleaning agent you use. If you mix some soap in water, or a mild degreaser, spray it around, then hose it off, no pressure, it'll be fine. Its been done that way for years at our shop, no issues.

ok
I was thinking about my 1940 Pontiac and 58 Ford

[370Z/28]

howard, pretty much everything under the hood can handle getting wet, so its no big deal. Its all in what cleaning agent you use. If you mix some soap in water, or a mild degreaser, spray it around, then hose it off, no pressure, it'll be fine. Its been done that way for years at our shop, no issues.

ok
I was thinking about my 1940 Pontiac and 58 Ford

Oh Hell...those are easy. Take them to the coin wash...leave it running...spray some diluted Simple Green on it...squirt the heck out of everything but the intake on the air breather/distributor/generator-alternator. Did that for years with my pre-computerized vehicles.

[kmckis1029]

my engine bay never got that dirty or dirty at all to me...

im always curious to see what a dirty G engine bay looks like... most my 2005 got was dusty... i could work with a white tee shirt on and no one knew i was just under my hood...

[SVTCOBRA]

Dirty engine bay. What you guys recommend, spray with a hose or pressure wash?

No high pressure hose.
Here is my procedure.
1. Car is COLD, usually done first thing in the AM.
2. Wet down the front of the car in case of any overspray
3. Open hood, stuff some plastic groc. bags in intake.
4. Spray 1/2 to full bottle of CASTROL SUPER CLEAN CLEANER DEGREASER on engine.
5. Close hood, spray off hood, fenders & rest of car just in case of overspray.
6. Let CASTROL SUPER CLEAN CLEANER DEGREASER sit on engine per instructions.
7. Spray off the CASTROL SUPER CLEAN CLEANER DEGREASER using a shower setting.
8. Close hood again and spray off car.
9. Take bags out of intake, take intake apart and dry out air intake.
10. Dry off engine with old towel (optional)

I DO NOT like working on a dirty engine!!!
I also raise my car and degrease the bottom too.

[BHB 91]

I rinse mine off lightly about every 3-4 months and avoid the alternator and intake. I start it up immediately after wards and let the engine dry itself off for a few minutes. After it is dry, I spray armor all on the plastic parts and wipe it down. I have been doing this for 20 years to cars and never had a problem. Takes about 20-30 minutes each time. It is like anything else, if you keep up with it and don't let it get too dirty, it is much easier to maintain.

I learned this trick back in college when I had a job detailing cars. My boss called me the Detail Extraodinare. Ha!