Trying to clean Engine Bay.. PLS HELP!

[Phatz]

I got some serious grime and want to pressure wash my engine bay... I know i should wrap up my air filter and electronics so they wont get wet, but what else should I be mindful?

Any words and wisdom is great, thank you my Zilvi-friends:bow:

[slider2828]

Alternator and starter

[ngibson]

I use either scrubbing bubbles or the orange citrus degreaser from advance. Depending on how much crap is built up. Using an old toothbrush on heavy deposits works awesome too. Put a plastic bag over the air filter too.

[Phatz]

Alternator and starter

I use either scrubbing bubbles or the orange citrus degreaser from advance. Depending on how much crap is built up. Using an old toothbrush on heavy deposits works awesome too. Put a plastic bag over the air filter too.

thank you and thank you...

so far...

cover:

air fliter
starter
alternator
electronics

what else? anybody?:wavey:

[projectRDM]

Alternator and starter

Why? They're fine to get wet. The starter is sealed, the alternator is just a winding, the bearings are sealed.

I pressure wash every engine I work on as a habit to find leaks down the road, the air filter (if exposed) shouldn't get too much water in it, if it's in a box then go at it. It's not like you're running the engine when you wash it. The coilpacks/plugs/distributor cap shouldn't be heavily washed either, but a little won't hurt them.

[TheRealNighthog]

Use Purple Power and brake cleaner on really caked on deposits but I try and use the brake cleaner sparingly since is pretty corrosive.

[Om1kron]

take it somewhere to get steam cleaned.

[Mister.E]

Why? They're fine to get wet. The starter is sealed, the alternator is just a winding, the bearings are sealed.

I pressure wash every engine I work on as a habit to find leaks down the road, the air filter (if exposed) shouldn't get too much water in it, if it's in a box then go at it. It's not like you're running the engine when you wash it. The coilpacks/plugs/distributor cap shouldn't be heavily washed either, but a little won't hurt them.

thanks for confirming that. i didnt think that the alternator needed to be covered. i mean hell, as close as it is to the ground mine gets wet all the time when driving in the rain

[projectRDM]

Use Purple Power and brake cleaner on really caked on deposits but I try and use the brake cleaner sparingly since is pretty corrosive.

Carb cleaner is more powerful and safer than brake cleaner, and it leaves a residue that's washable instead of evaporating and taking the paint with it.

[gyula hlavati]

I wash my engine bay a lot but I never covered anything.Of course I don't flood the air filter with water but that's common sense.Otherwise I just let it run.

[ryguy]

I use this stuff called Oil Eater, its that organic shit that you can drink. It works really well though. Last time I cleaned my engine I used a whole box of Q-Tips, but the result was worth it.

[TheRealNighthog]

I use this stuff called Oil Eater, its that organic shit that you can drink. It works really well though. Last time I cleaned my engine I used a whole box of Q-Tips, but the result was worth it.
Did you atleast finish off the bottle when you were done?

[slider2828]

I believe if it dries its fine, but the diodes inside can rust and not conduct any more. I know because I was fixing a coolant leak and everything was fine. Some coolant got on the alternator, next thing I know its dead and needed to be replaced.

[ryguy]

Did you atleast finish off the bottle when you were done?

No, but we bought it from a door-to-door salesman that was out here with an inner city jobs program, and he said "it tastes bomb on chicken wings."

Dude was a good salesman.

[Ragnarok043]

also make sure the engine is dead cold before you spray any water on it, dont wanna risk warping the any part of the car.

[ngibson]

also make sure the engine is dead cold before you spray any water on it, dont wanna risk warping the any part of the car.

Very true. Easy way to crack an exhaust manifold. Been there, done that. When I'm about to clean my engine bay I usually put this big circular fan in front of the radiator with the hood opened. Cools down in about 20 minutes.

From everything I've used to clean the bay, like I said in my first post here, Scrubbing Bubbles is the least harsh on your painted parts. Like TheRealNightHog said, some cleaners can fade your paint easily.

[UNISA JECS]

I never seal anything and I wash mines often, I just pay particular attention not to get much water on top of teh valve cover thats all.

[smelly240]

for a KA its easier to not ruin stuff - wet CAS on sr is easy to screw shit up...

[The Chad]

Carb cleaner is more powerful and safer than brake cleaner, and it leaves a residue that's washable instead of evaporating and taking the paint with it.

+1 for Carb Cleaner!! Thats what I use to spot clean anything. As far as covering up stuff...motors are pretty well waterproofed from the factory. Just don't soak the air filter( a little damp is fine), and I usually put a towel over the plug wires (valve cover side) so as to not get water down the spark plugs.

Go check out a 4x4 or off road forum sometime, they've got great tips on waterproofing motors so you can go "bogging" in your 240...snorkel that thing :2f2f:.!!!

[projectRDM]

I believe if it dries its fine, but the diodes inside can rust and not conduct any more. I know because I was fixing a coolant leak and everything was fine. Some coolant got on the alternator, next thing I know its dead and needed to be replaced.

The minute you drive the car it dries thoroughly. I can see if you wash it and let it sit for a month, but that's highly doubtful. Even when I pressure wash a dirty alternator and let it sit for a later sale the buyer never complains it doesn't work. 90% of KAs I've pulled have front crank seal leaks and the alternator is saturated with oil, that will kill one quickly since it's a heavier fluid and prevents proper cooling, but water really isn't a worry.

[Rapier46]

I use this stuff called Oil Eater, its that organic shit that you can drink. It works really well though. Last time I cleaned my engine I used a whole box of Q-Tips, but the result was worth it.

oil eater is fucking amazing. I thought it was very harmfull, i guess not.
http://www.oileater.com/
non-toxic, non-corrosive and non-flammable. i dont see a downside.

[The Chad]

The minute you drive the car it dries thoroughly. I can see if you wash it and let it sit for a month, but that's highly doubtful. Even when I pressure wash a dirty alternator and let it sit for a later sale the buyer never complains it doesn't work. 90% of KAs I've pulled have front crank seal leaks and the alternator is saturated with oil, that will kill one quickly since it's a heavier fluid and prevents proper cooling, but water really isn't a worry.

DAMNED FRONT MAIN SEALS!!!! Mine spat oil for a month before i broke down and replaced it...I was too late though, ruined my Alternator :duh: and took forever to get all that oil off. I really want to get a stock dampened drive pulley...But my unorthodox under driven pulley is kinda purdy :)

Back to the OP...as long as you aren't driving the car into the Atlantic Ocean for a wash/bath...you should be fine on a simple rinse.

[shifts13]

dont forget to disconnect your battery!

[projectRDM]

dont forget to disconnect your battery!

Why? Never disconnected a battery in my life to wash the engine.

[The Chad]

Me neither. Just don't focus the spray on the battery and you should be fine...if you really can't controll yourself with a hose...maybe a relocation to the trunk is in the future. :)

[Phatz]

i really love this website. thanks to you all for the help full discussion! +'s for everybody! i miss the rating system :(

[MisawaJason]

about the alternator. I've always wrapped mine up with plastic when I used to clean my engine bays. Or if not, I'd refrain from starting the engine for a while until I thought that the alternator was dried.

Do those of you who spray your alternator just fire the engine right up afterwards or let it dry for a while?

[landins13]

bay country rentals rents a high temp pressure washer that ive used to cut through 3" of grease on a dumptruck, its pretty baller but i used it with no engine or wiring in the bay, its good for under the car, and it will remove paint if set properly, or undercoating so you can redo it

[projectRDM]

about the alternator. I've always wrapped mine up with plastic when I used to clean my engine bays. Or if not, I'd refrain from starting the engine for a while until I thought that the alternator was dried.

Do those of you who spray your alternator just fire the engine right up afterwards or let it dry for a while?

Drive it right away. I've never had a problem with one going out or seizing. Letting it sit would allow rust to form if it was going to.

[Nezahualcoyotl]

try not to use the pressure washer on your radiator. it will bend the fins.

[DC S14]

i used oven cleaner and a wire brush to clean everything up then degreser and pressure washed it all. looked awsome.

[MisawaJason]

Drive it right away. I've never had a problem with one going out or seizing. Letting it sit would allow rust to form if it was going to.

really? Good info to know