how do you guys clean your engine.. is there anything i need to cover up.. before i spray it down?... thanks in advance..

 

Keep the engine running while washing it.
Use simply green and a garden hose then dry with a microfiber cloth.

 

I usually go over to my friend's house which has a huge air compressor. I buy several cans of engine degreaser and use the hose after the degreaser does its work. Then I use compressed air to clear out the remaining water from electrical components, etc.

 

I just don't let it get dirty. every week I pop the hood and use any cleaning spray and microfiber cloth to wipe off dirt/dust. That's what I do. Good luck!

 

Are you serious? You just turn the engine on, pop the hood, and spray with a hose? There are not any potential electric problems?

I've never cleaned my engine, so I'm curious.

 

im probably gonna go out tomorrow and do it, buy some engine degreaser and just wipe down the visible areas of the engine, but the MF towels are gonna get destroyed afterwards..so im probably gonna use some paper towels.

 

hmm.. so which method should i go for?.. haha.. im afraid to keep my engine running.. so whats the purpose to that... ?

 

lol..DONT keep ur engine running cuz its gonna get too hot to touch.

 

I don't clean with a hose very often. I clean the bay each week shen I wash the exterior. I use a degreaser like Simple Green and get most areas by hand. The problem with the hose is if the pressure is too high it can cause problems with electronics, etc. You won't know it until you go to start it and it won't. If you do use the hose turn it down low and get er done quick bro.

 

Cover all electronics and spray degreaser, Then I bust out my Craftsman 2500 PSI pressure washer.

 

I wouldn't advise washing the engine hot or running. Dousing it with generous amounts of water is a good recipe for warpage or in the case of an iron block...cring-crack.

Mine only gets dusty and that is easily removed with a mildly damp rag or in grimy instances with some Simple Green. If there is oil grime...that usually indicates leaks so fixing those areas will help keep the engine from getting dust/gunk stuck to it.

Water in the alternator can be bad as well. With all the electronics, it isn't my thought to use a pressure sprayer to test the electronic component seals.

 

Here's what I do... my car's got 180k but the engine is so clean you could eat off it.

• Come home from normal driving
• Let car sit for about an hour, so the engine is warm but not really hot
• Spray down with Penzoil/Gumout Steam engine cleaner
• Use brush to get into small spots and tough dirt/grime
• Spray off with engine cleaner
• Dry off plastics with towel
• Let car sit for another 4-6 hours just for extra precaution
• Start her up and enjoy your minty-fresh engine.

 

I've heard from professional detailers NOT to use Simple Green because it damages rubber and certain plastics in the engine bay and can lead to premature cracking.

 

Never had a problem with any simple green product as it just breaks down grime not petroleum based products such as gaskets unlike many other products. So the people telling you simple green is bad are basing it on some clueless person. It is like saying using water to wash a paint brush is bad on a water based paint.

You keep the engine running so if water gets somewhere 2 things happen it either evaporated so it does not pool and cause problems as well as if water gets somewhere the engine will start to stutter and you know not to spray there anymore. Always keep the engine hot and running , having it warm is not bad but enough water can cool the areas and it will allow it to pool easier. As for cracking your block by washing it , that is based on more fiction than star wars. You would need to super heat a block to maybe 800 degrees and then blast it with liquid nitrogen to super cool the metal to cause it to be damage . An engine by design is made to get wet so that is not an issue. Putting too much water in the wrong spots can cause damage but only by causing shorts in the electrical .

Like i said keep it hot and you have no issues. You don't shove the hose into every crevice , just give it a misting and move across the top back and forth in a quick motion to remove dirt.

 

Simple Green automotive cleaner ROCKS!!!!! I use it when I clean my motor also. It has a decent smell also.

I hate the "Foam Engine" cleaner they sell at the auto stores. I used it once and my interior and motor smelled of the chemical for days.. Terrible, It's too harsh of chemicals.