How can i get my engine bay REALLY clean?

[blink0r]

Anyways, i'm licensing my car tomorrow because i'm sick of waiting for summer time but my engine bay is pretty greasy and dusty. How do you guys recommend i clean it, and what do i need to cover up if i wash it with some waster? Thanks!

[adey]

Hey! I like banana bread, too... I also enjoy carrot cake. Oh wait, that was the subtitle. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/inlove.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':love:'> &nbsp;

Yes, I'd be interested to find out, too. &nbsp;A friend used WD-40 to wipe down "stuff" in the engine bay, but I can't imagine this is the best way to do it.
Some sort of water/vinegar pix perhaps? ... errr maybe a thin layer of WD-40 on anything that might rust?? ... Some direction would be good. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

[tnord]

engine degreaser+brushes+pressure washer=clean

i always use the degreaser we have at work so i can't recommend a brand for you. pretty much all you do is soak the engine in every kind of cleaner you can find, let it sit 5 min. then use a pressure washer to spray it off. don't apply constant heavy pressure to the plugs or distributor, wave the "wand" back and forth quickly over these areas and the water won't penetrate anything and f it up. after you do the initial cleaning you can spot trouble areas where gunk is built up. then use more degreaser and some fairly stiff bristle (don't use wire brushes on anything but valve cover and manifolds) brushes to scrub off remaining crap. after it's clean you can use some metal polish on the valve cover, and whatever rubber/plastic dressing you desire on the rest. done.

[gschroeder78]

I used some stuff called Castrol Super Clean. Comes in a big purple bottle. It's pretty strong and will burn if you get it on your skin for too long but it works pretty good. Don't get it on any aluminum and don't put it on a hot engine.

The only thing I bothered covering on my 89 240 was the air filter. I just put a trash bag around it and tied it off with a plastic zip tie.

Funny story: if you forget to take off the bag when your done and you turn on your car, your brand new air filter will suck itself to about the size of 2 fists. Note: This is bad. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/notify.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':notify:'>

[-E-]

<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'> I hate banana bread <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> ,anywayz Greased Lighting works soooo good
http://www.greased-lightning.com/images/highperf01.gif

[BryanH]

Ahhh, engine cleaning... my specialty! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

http://home.earthlink.net/~bryan64/pics/cleanengbig.jpg

I use CD-2 Engine Cleaner/Detailer kit. &nbsp;Two spray cans, one degreaser and one detailer which shines up the parts a bit. &nbsp;I don't have to cover my distributor since it's pretty out of the way, but you might want to clean that one by hand after everything else is done. &nbsp;Don't spray directly into the alternator, or on your belts either. &nbsp;And I don't know about the KA, but the 4AGE often gets puddles of water around the spark plugs if you run aftermarket ignition wires. &nbsp;Seems only the OEM factory wires have boots that seal out water properly. &nbsp;

Basically I just spray this stuff on, wait a bit, hose it off, and start the engine to help dry it while I wipe off the excess moisture with a paper towel. &nbsp;Pretty simple. &nbsp;And with a front-engined car like the 240, a good cleaning should last at least a year. &nbsp;The MR2, due to its airflow design in the engine bay, gets dirt all over the engine so fast it's almost not worth it to keep cleaning it every 2 months. &nbsp;Almost. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

Do put a baggie around your cone filter too, if you've got one. &nbsp;I forgot to take mine off once... and sucked the filter into a shriveled mess. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/butbut.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':but:'> &nbsp;I now have a rain shield over the filter (since it's right under an engine lid vent) so I don't hae to worry about that anymore: http://home.earthlink.net/~bryan64/pics/jan2k2/cleaneng2k2.jpg

[adey]

ahhh, the beauty of that 4AGE engine never ceases to impress me. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> &nbsp;Yours just goes a little further and puts that tingling in my loin. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> &nbsp;Very nicely done engine bay!!

[SR240DET]

when i used to live in japan... they would steam clean my dads nissan.. im not sure what nissan.. ill post picture and see if you guys can figure it out...

[mrmephistopheles]

Napalm and Thermite. Once they're done working their magic, you won't see ANY dirt.. &nbsp;won't see any motor, either, but...
Hmm &nbsp;I like to use Scrubbing Bubbles, but that stuff = BAD for aluminum, so if you get it on aluminum, clean it off WELL.
After the engine bay is clean spray some silicone on it to shine it up and moisturize your rubber. (hoses, etc). FYI, do NOT spray silicone on your tires.

[rampid360]

I have a pressure washer with a tube that feeds into a bucket... &nbsp;You can add whatever you please to the bucket...like degreaser or dishsoap or whatever else might work well for cleaning an engine and it mixes in nice proportion with the water and makes a high power cleaning badass. &nbsp;(i'm still to test my theory of putting carnuba wax in the bucket and hosing down the car)