How do you guys keep the engine clean?

[fridexter]

................

[gh6o6]

i got mine steamed cleande for $30 at a local carwash.  see:
http://community.webshots.com/storage/1/v4/2/57/55/29125755JaWSUxdYBK_th.jpg
http://community.webshots.com/storage/1/v4/2/58/35/29125835RypElpSqbq_th.jpg

[tnord]

engine degreaser, some brushes, metal polish, and a pressure washer

[S14KAT]

Go out to your local auto store, Pepe Boys, Aid, whatever, and pick up some Simple Green all purpose cleaner. What I do is, tape up any sensitive electrical items, distributor, any loose wires, and wet the car down with your hose. I was told to never use heavy pressure when cleaning your engine.....i.e pressure wash or putting your thumb at the end of the hose for more pressure. Just use regular water pressure for everything. Once you get the engine bay good and wet, with the Simple Green in a spray bottle spray the whole engine bay.......let it sit for about 5min or so, then wash again using regular water pressure, making sure to get the whole engine. Then just let her dry. Heres what my engine bay looks like, and it hasn't even been cleaned in awhile in this pic.

<a href="http://community.webshots.com/storage/1/v0/7/2/29/28770229tDYzvyHpgi_th.jpg" target='_blank'>http://community.webshots.com/storage...._th.jpg</a>


Actually, just scroll down a bit on my response, and look at my car's page. &nbsp;It gives you a better close-up of the engine, and that is what it looks like when it has been cleaned.



(Edited by S14KAT at 5:36 pm on Jan. 13, 2002)

[BlankFlip]

u know at like car washes how u can set it to like engine cleaner or whatever it's called, is it safe to do that? i've never done it just cuz i'd feel wierd 'bout like hitting my air filter or something.

[S14KAT]

Blank, I personally don't like those things. &nbsp;I like to do that stuff on my own, I trust myself a whole lot more than some automated set-up or someone else for that matter, depending on what kind of car wash you go to. &nbsp;As with electrical systems, you want to keep your filter free from any water too. &nbsp;

[BlankFlip]

yeah, i just don't want to get water all over everything under the hood w/ that stuff so i've never done it. if i don't feel like washing my car myself though i'll take it to the ones where u control the hose n soap n stuff. i see ppl like pop their hood open n just start spraying away over everything to try n clean it out, just wrong.

[sykikchimp]

not necessarily.. &nbsp;My roomie worked at a chrysler dealership for 2 years.. &nbsp;an engine wash was routine, and all they did was soak the entire engine with degreaser, let it sit for 5 min, the spray it off with a pressure washer. &nbsp;They they would spray Silicon protectant and everything.. (except belts) and the start the engine and let it run for 10-15 min. &nbsp;We did it to my 90 corsica I used to have and it came out looking amazing. &nbsp;

[Kid Zelda]

After you clean the engine, make sure to also clean it every other month, so you don't let grase, grime and other shit build-up !

[chickenmanq]

Gunk degreaser for built up shit. &nbsp;Other than that, dirt is good. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[tnord]

as a detailer for the past 5 years i can truthfully say i've probably cleaned more engines than most everyone here, and i've never done any permanant damage to a single one, and i ALWAYS use a pressure washer, just don't put a constant hard stream on the plug wires or distributor, wave the wand back and forth quickly over these parts, trust me, proper use of a pressure washer is by far the best way to go.........and don't be fooled by people offering a &quot;steam clean&quot; all it is is hot water coming out of the pressure washer

[vancouvers14]

pressure washer? &nbsp;oh #### no....
use simple green, a few small brushes, a wet rag, and a dry rag. &nbsp;just do small sections at a time. &nbsp;my whole engine took a few hours

[tnord]

or you can do the whole thing in under 10 minutes WITH a pressure washer..........you choose

[BadMoJo]

yeah a pressure washer is the way to go. I detailed at a dealership for a year and thats what we did. Spray it down with degreaser and then hit everything with a pressure washer with hot water. &nbsp;comes out spotless, and I have never had any probs with the engine either. just dont keep it pointed at the distributor.

[thewholefnshow]

That oragne clean stuff you see on informercials. IT rocks, I couldn't scrape the dirt off with my fingers, but that stuff, right off, no damage to the paint. But the fumes of orages will get you high after a while... Just a rag, warm water and my orange glow cleaner spray bottle. Even cleans the plastic to look like you armour-alled it... Simple green works well, but it is caustic shit. I used it on blinds one time, and had them layed out on my deck, well, when I lifted the blinds, there was no paint left under them. Since then simple green is rims and rubber, I worry about anything painted.

(Edited by thewholefnshow at 1:13 pm on Jan. 14, 2002)