Need Help With Washing Motor

[originalyunique93]

Okay this may be a dumb Q but i dont want to ruin my motor. So i bought this car recently. LOVE it. its a 91 coupe and i looked at the motor and it looks as it is leaking. So i wanted to know if i could wash my motor to find where it is. Ive been looking for vids on how to but everytime i find one someone says that its dumb to do. So i figured id go to the guys/girls that know 240s the best. What is the best way to clean my motor and what products i can use. Also what should i cover like distributor cap, battery, alternator, starter, etc.. I'd much appreciate this so i can get this bad smell away and find my leak. Thanks

Heres the motor:

[E7-S14]

i never cover anything.
maybe the air filter.

all i usually do is disconnect my battery cables and use whatever degreaser i buy and scrub and wash it off.
usually helps to let the motor run for a while before you do this, then cut it off and clean. Dont let the engine get too hot at all by spraying cold water on the aluminum head could crack it...or with an sr motor block or head could crack!

that's how i've always done it.
guess it would be better to cover more. but eh. its whatev

[Brent.S14]

Cover up the spark plug caps and such with some sort of tape and use Pontoon cleaner all over it, let it sit for a good minute then spray it off, it will clean EVERYTHING, and you will most likely find your leak. That's how I found mine.

[originalyunique93]

Thanks guys, do you know how long it should take to wait for it to dry? like till i can drive it again?

[Brent.S14]

Usually we just waited like twenty minutes or so then started it right up. It's up to you thought, you really don't have to wait for it to dry to drive it.

[numbnuts240]

i'd be more concerned about those rusty shock towers than the oil leak right now.

[Dire91]

^ He's right I would definitely be more worried about that rust. I can't seem to find it but there was a thread on here not to long ago about how a member need to fix a strut tower that rusted all the way through and broke off.

[numbnuts240]

xdisaster's thread. strut tower rust is scurry.

[originalyunique93]

i havent been on in awhile but i got my motor looking a lot better. Thanks guys for your help