need engine bay cleaning techniques

[wisDOMination]

for all your engine-bay-cleaning-ninja's who's been training for years and has perfected this art of cleaning, i need to be schooled on this shit. :bowdown:

just pulled out my motor the other day and my engine bay looks like ass. i was wondering what you guys use and do to get all the gunk and shit all over the engine bay off and cleaned...
also, what parts should i NOT get wet...
thanks in advance... tsk tsk

[ThatGuy]

Soak the engine bay with a strong cleaner (Simple Green works well) Spray it out with a pressure washer. Whatever doesn't come loose, hit it with a scraper, screwdriver, rags + Elbow Grease, whatever. Repeat as many times as necessary to get it clean.

[wisDOMination]

Soak the engine bay with a strong cleaner (Simple Green works well) Spray it out with a pressure washer. Whatever doesn't come loose, hit it with a scraper, screwdriver, rags + Elbow Grease, whatever. Repeat as many times as necessary to get it clean.
wow, that was a fast reply
alright, imma try to get a pressure washer.
any idea on what i SHOULD NOT get wet?

[ThatGuy]

If the engine is out, then just wrap up any wiring/electronics in plastic bags. Make sure all your reservoir covers are on tight so you don't get water in your fluids.

[wisDOMination]

alright, thanx man!

[arkive43]

after cleaning, this is the best time to paint it. i did take advantage... other than that theres nothing else i can think of.

[exitspeed]

Best place to do what ThatGuy said is a car wash where you spray it yourself. That was you have a nice pressure washer and then no clean-up afterward.

[95Blue240sx]

After it dries spray on some Meguiars Hot Wheels spray all over and wipe clean. It will smell gooood and look fucking sweet.

[A Spec Products]

I used degreaser (purple stuff + orange stuff) to get the main stuff off

Then after I washed it with dishwashing soap

Then sanded

Then washed again with dishwashing soap

Then painted

Worked pretty well, although time consuming

No pressure washer, just elbow grease and a hose

[TOMKAIRA93]

Car quest sells a degreaser that rips through grease pretty good. Spray, wait some time and hose it, should come out clean as hell. The brand of the product is Car Quest, by far the best I've used so far. I just went through and engine bay cleaning myself and this is what I used and worked great. good luck!

[A Spec Products]

Car quest sells a degreaser that rips through grease pretty good. Spray, wait some time and hose it, should come out clean as hell. The brand of the product is Car Quest, by far the best I've used so far. I just went through and engine bay cleaning myself and this is what I used and worked great. good luck!

Yeah, the degreaser foam one is supposed to be good

Spray it on, let the foam sit and penetrate and wham

Rinse

[wisDOMination]

niceeee
ill try to see if i can find that car quest stuff...

im sure i can get a pressure washer, so that car quest stuff and the pressure washer should work wonders...
i was gonna paint on some of that POR15 stuff, anyone ever used that? then maybe ill spray over that, or just keep it black...

[Vision Garage]

Pressure washer will get off most caked on dirt. Dont forget to clean the bottom of the engine and tranny.

[ThatGuy]

You only need POR-15 if you have really bad rust. If it is just surface rust, you'll be fine sanding and repainting.

[opponheimer]

1) borrow a steam cleaner


like that would ever happen :)

[ManoNegra]

Simple Green + Tootbrush = builds character.

[timlush]

Best place to do what ThatGuy said is a car wash where you spray it yourself. That was you have a nice pressure washer and then no clean-up afterward.

Kinda hard to get to the car wash without an engine, lol.

[projectRDM]

Kinda hard to get to the car wash without an engine, lol.

I saw this thing one time called a trailer.

[j20accord00]

do it right man..this is what i did..( ill post up some pics if you like) i'm currently still doing it but this is like my 3rd time doing it. *clean the bay out super good remove all loose rust, dirt, greese,ect. fix rust spots and then have at it...alright..i use 1000grit sandpaper and then i just WET sand the whole thing down..i use water and simple green. put it into a spray bottle and have at it...soak the whole thing and let the sand paper get really wet into like a bucket or something, next start to sand everything down, dont go too hard in the same spot because you will burn through the paint and get to the bare metal..then after that use Dupli-color self eteching primer its like a green color do a few coats maybe like 2-3. then wetsand that super smooth and let it all dry then just use dupli-color paint any color u want...make sure to put a good amount on there i used about 4-5 cans. if you have any over spray u can wet sand it out and make sure to build up to make it match even. then use to your clear top coat. if using laquer then use laquer clear coat..if using enamel then use enamel clear coat. thats about it..turns out super fresh and clean..looks like someone did it perfessionally. its gonna coat you about 60-75 bucks in materials but its gonna be worth it. my car had no harness in it, no fenders, bumper or hood because i did EVERYTHING. again ill post up some pics of the process almost done..should be done tomorrow if the weather is nice. hope that helps. sorry for the long post.

-Evan

[timlush]

I saw this thing one time called a trailer.

Trailering a car to the carwash?

LOL You guys are hardcore.

[ALEXTHESUS*PECT]

they already told you what you need to do the job, now just put on your head band, and go to work danielsan!
http://www.its.caltech.edu/~jklamo/karate_kid.jpg

[opticfilms]

use A Power Washer And Grease Lightning.

[JDS Performance]

I have always heard that if you spray your engine bay - say at the car wash you should leave the car running - as it could crack the head/block etc?
Never actually done it or heard of anyone doing it - just wondering since we are on the subject.

[ThatGuy]

Get any metal really hot (i.e. Exhaust manifold, block, etc.) and then drench it with cold water, and you run the risk of cracking. Just don't drive 90mph for 30 mins straight to get to the car wash, and immediately spray the engine, and you should be fine. Like I said, you can turn the engine off, just cover all the vital stuff (intake, electronics, reservoirs) with plastic bags, and go to it. Elbow grease will still be your best friend.

[projectRDM]

Trailering a car to the carwash?

LOL You guys are hardcore.

I've done it many a time, why use my water and soap when they have it there, fully pressurized? Plus they have a drain, nothing worse than oily shit in your own driveway.

[wisDOMination]

j20accord00: it'll be cool if you posted some of them pics. ;)

thanx everyone. i think imma just get some simple green or some of that car quest stuff, then use a pressure washer.

[Anto]

I've done it many a time, why use my water and soap when they have it there, fully pressurized? Plus they have a drain, nothing worse than oily shit in your own driveway.

this man speaks the truth

I have countless doo doo stains on MY driveway

[exitspeed]

Kinda hard to get to the car wash without an engine, lol.

Ha, my bad. I thought it was in the car.

Well for future reference.

[turbo2nr]

http://www.superhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=193483

have fun like the honda boys!

[TOMKAIRA93]

use A Power Washer And Grease Lightning.

That stuff is like acid man...I use to used on my bath tub, but quite cause the fumes are too damn strong. Stay away from it, I'd say.

[tacotacotaco]

hell yeah the deadlier the better!

[Gnnr]

Things your probably don't want to get wet are Distributor and Cap, Alternator, Spark Plugs and Wires, MAF and MAF Harness.

[Frosty_spl]

If your degreaser is too strong, it will eat the aluminum head, accessories and make your engine bay look like dogshit.

[j20accord00]

hey whats going on man, hope your making out well with this engine bay project, sorry it took me so long to get back to putting up some pics..but anyways here they are and a pic of the motor thats going in. if you need any advice let me know..and BTW the pics really do it no justice..its sick in the sun.

-Evan

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/J20accord00/evanspics278.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/J20accord00/evanspics277.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/J20accord00/evanspics276.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/J20accord00/evanspics241.jpg

[silverarrow27]

hey whats going on man, hope your making out well with this engine bay project, sorry it took me so long to get back to putting up some pics..but anyways here they are and a pic of the motor thats going in. if you need any advice let me know..and BTW the pics really do it no justice..its sick in the sun.

-Evan

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/J20accord00/evanspics278.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/J20accord00/evanspics277.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/J20accord00/evanspics276.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/J20accord00/evanspics241.jpg

You have just convinced me to clean my engine bay in my s12. Thanks for the motivation!

[kandyflip445]

I didn't even worry about getting anything wet except the filter. I just would stay away from spraying the normal things with the pressure washer. If it got a little wet it didn't hurt.

[j20accord00]

hey man how did you make out with cleaning, painting. or whatever with your bay? hope all is well..and if you did anything post some pics im intersted in seeing what it looks like. take it easy,

-Evan

[twofortyrida1388]

There is just something unnerving about spraying shit under the hood(engine in) with chemicals then spraying it off with not only water but a pressure washer. Hmmmmm.....I think I'll wait til the engine is out. I'm quite glad I read this thread though. Good one bro.

[yaba94070]

ya i painted mine... if you going to do it then just use soap and water and a scuff pad... fucken works great..
but if your not painting it then wrap you harness and cover it and just get spray with a cemical cleaner... theres 2 that work simple green but you gotta let it sit and your gonna need a good amount.. there a spray can kind of thing it white and its a foam sprat... it removes gresse and everything i got it at auto zone i unsed it to clean all my parts and break cleaner.. lots and lots of break cleaner...
lol
i will tell you a name of the can after i get back from the shop.. i'll upload a pic so you can see what it looks like

[twofortyrida1388]

Anyone used Purple Power on engine bay? I love that shit.

[j20accord00]

my car is at my friends job, and its a big building with 2 lifts in it and aside from that part of the building is a full detail shop. I just went over there made up a little bottle of all purpose and then i used a product to remove tar from your bumpers n stuff..that worked really good...power washed it with no engine of course and then used an air gun thing and just dried it all out..started sanding, wet sanded, primed, painted, clear. looks good IMO and with the sun hitting it u can really see the matalic.