Easiest way to clean engine bay?

[bigbull2984]

Hi, what is the safest and easiest way to clean the engine bay. I was thinking of taking the battery out, and wrapping and taping the alternator. But whats the best cleaner and what else needs to be covered up??

Thanks.

 

[Craig in Canada]

Is it really nasty, or are you forming a habit of maintenance?

My cars have never really become nasty because I clean a couple of times per year.

My new favourite way of cleaning a lot of things is to use Simple Green in a hose-end pesticide sprayer where you can dial in the concentration you want. My current car has no distributor and I've never covered the alternator, but I also make a point of not blasting the alternator with soap or rinse water. The low voltage electrical system carries no risk and any high voltage stuff (ignition, HID headlamps etc...) should be fairly well sealed. Other than to clean under it, why would you remove the battery? It gets wet under the hood when you drive in the rain...

I use something like a long-bristle, 3"+ cheap paint brush to work at any "crud" once the soapy mixture is sprayed on. Then I flush with LOTS of LOW PRESSURE water. No power washers, no jet streams, just high volume low pressure water to make sure all of the Simple Green is rinsed away.

 

[bepperb]

People always complain simple green isn't safe for aluminum. Neither is the six months of salt spray mine is subjected to. That would probably be a great cleaner for it. I dunno, I just use a hose, no soap, but I don't have any oil leak/residue/etc... yet. I don't cover anything. I also drive through puddles from time to time.

 

[river_rat]

If you have or will get a smallish air compressor, there is nothing better, IMO, than an engine cleaning gun.
~$11 at Northern Tool and Equipmnent.

Puts out a low volume water/detergent mist at very high velocity and gets into almost every little nook and cranny with excellent control.

Me, I don't even cover my wiring.

 

[Craig in Canada]

Originally Posted By: river_rat

Puts out a low volume water/detergent mist at very high velocity and gets into almost every little nook and cranny with excellent control.


I'm sure a lot of people use them, but this is exactly what I would NOT do. Pressure could force water and detergents through water *resistant* connectors and the like. Medium volume, low velocity water is less likely to be forced into places it doesn't belong.

 

[Craig in Canada]

Originally Posted By: bepperb
People always complain simple green isn't safe for aluminum. Neither is the six months of salt spray mine is subjected to. That would probably be a great cleaner for it. I dunno, I just use a hose, no soap, but I don't have any oil leak/residue/etc... yet. I don't cover anything. I also drive through puddles from time to time.


Never had an issue with Simple Green, unless it wasn't rinsed thoroughly, which is why I made such an effort to point out thorough rinsing. If some simple green is left somewhere, it could flake off engine paint etc... once it gets hot again.

Keep in mind that even at it's highest the hose-end sprayer mixes at 25:1 or so and just goes more diluted from there. This is still plenty sudsy/foamy with good cleaning power but is heavily diluted compared to what comes in the bottle.

 

[willix]

Hi pressure hot water works great on a luke warm engine the only areas of concern would be weather-proof connectors can be breeched by high pressure.

Overhead cam motors may foul plug wells.

Alternators can tolerate being wet.

 

[river_rat]

It's not like a pressure washer. It's a mist. I can hold my hand in the stream pretty near the tip without it hurting my hand.
Takes about 10 minutes to use up a gallon...Mostly air...likle a warm, rather than hot steam.
No issues so far. Besides, it's far more aimable than any kind of hose. I can easily keep the connectors out of the cone.

 

[Aquaticentipede]

Basic dishwashing liquid will work as well. Mix it with very hot water and use a short bristled paint brush or similar, working on small sections at the time.

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: Aquaticentipede
Basic dishwashing liquid will work as well. Mix it with very hot water and use a short bristled paint brush or similar, working on small sections at the time.


I've done the same only with Tide. Both are degreasers and would do an excellent job. I do it first thing in the morning on a cold engine with light spray from the garden hose.

 

[The Critic]

If you have seen the high volume detail bays at auction houses such as Manheim, they power/pressure wash every engine bay and you don't see cars have issues. They process hundreds of cars a day, which amounts to over 100,000 cars a year. If their process had issues, they would have stopped by now.

For me, I use simple green, a brush and a garden house. I do not cover anything, but I do not aim directly at the spark plugs or the coilpacks.

 

[KrisZ]

Quote:
For me, I use simple green, a brush and a garden house. I do not cover anything, but I do not aim directly at the spark plugs or the coilpacks.


+1

This combo works really well for me too, no need for fancy guns, steam cleaners or pressure washers.

Also, if you keep the engine bay fairly clean to begin with, you don't need anything strong, just mild detergent (I dilute SG 4:1) and some agitation, that's all.

 

[RacerE7773]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Quote:
For me, I use simple green, a brush and a garden house. I do not cover anything, but I do not aim directly at the spark plugs or the coilpacks.


+1

This combo works really well for me too, no need for fancy guns, steam cleaners or pressure washers.

Also, if you keep the engine bay fairly clean to begin with, you don't need anything strong, just mild detergent (I dilute SG 4:1) and some agitation, that's all.
I do the same. Cheaper than buying the cans of "motor gleemer" or whatever they are calling them now. I havn't bought one in close to 15 years.

 

[crw]

Ah, I think if I did that to my MkVI Jetta the whole thing would short out and melt into a pile of crayon smelly goo.

Actually, it's doing that now without any moisture added to the engine bay...

 

[Geo_Prizm]

If there is grease there you can use engine de-greaser and a cotton cloth.You can use that for under the hood too.But you have to rinse it.I do that with damp cotton cloth also.

 

[bigmike]

I've never taped up anything when cleaning an engine bay. I just use low volume, low pressure water. I try to avoid degreasers unless it's nasty, dry everything with a towel, and follow up with a light oil (knockoff wd-40 works) and some rubber protectant. Finish with wiping up any excess.

I do this approximately 4 times a year. Used to do it about every 2 weeks when I was into going to auto shows.

 

[steve20]

Simple Green did a number on my underhood aluminum parts--they now make a Simple green BLUE cleaner safe for aluminum, and it works great
Steve

 

[Craig in Canada]

Originally Posted By: steve20
Simple Green did a number on my underhood aluminum parts--they now make a Simple green BLUE cleaner safe for aluminum, and it works great
Steve


What was the concentration? Was it rinsed fully? Was it allowed to dry and then be heated?

I've never seen any effect from using diluted "standard" Simple Green on any surface, including Al.

 

[fins]

To Clean:
I take an old spray bottle and mix up 50-50 Super Clean and water.
Spray all around in the engine compartmet, let it soak for 2 minutes and go at it with a pressure washer.....been doing it for years never had any problems.
To Detail:
After it dries mix up a 50-50 mix of tire shine and WD-40 in another spray bottle and mist on a light coate.

 

[mjoekingz28]

Never heard of mixing armor all and wd-40.

Why not just spray tire dressing on rubber and plastic and wd40 on anything metallic. No need for an additional bottle, but if it works for you then good.