Washing engine bay?

[pabster]

Howdy all! Here's a question- I want to clean up my engine bay, what's the drill with using a pressure washer to clean it up? A local shop wants $125 just to clean the exterior of the engine, which is highway robbery. Any tips, tricks on how to go about this? My '74's engine has a normal buildup of dust & grime on the engine, gotta clean her up for an upcoming show. Anyone have experience with how to do this right?

Thanks!

 

[Budnicks]

Cover your distributor with a big plastic zip lock bag or something to keep the water, soap &/or degreaser out, I would stay away from spraying directly into any of the main electrical bulkhead connections on the firewall, or the distributor, coil or spark plugs, or air cleaner opening, decals etc., use a foaming type spray degreaser after warming the engine & covering the important parts that pressurized water will ill-effect... Clean away, some aerosol carb cleaner & brake clean, will work on stubborn some spots, be careful some chemicals & pressure washers, can really hurt your painted surfaces, hoses, electronics etc., blow off with an air nozzle attachment, wipe it down afterwords to keep excessive water spots away... Do the engine, the under carriage, wheel wells, before the wheels or the rest of the car, it will save you time cleaning the stuff twice...

 

[HitIt]

Simple Green at full strength is a very good degreaser. I think a gallon of full strength can be had for $20 at your local hardware store. That's what I use for most cleanup, I'd say it's as strong as the spray engine degreasers. I have heard it can harm certain weaker paints if left on too long, but I've never experienced that.

 

[Budnicks]

Simple Green at full strength is a very good degreaser. I think a gallon of full strength can be had for $20 at your local hardware store. That's what I use for most cleanup, I'd say it's as strong as the spray engine degreasers. I have heard it can harm certain weaker paints if left on too long, but I've never experienced that.

Good suggestion, I tried simple green with decent success, years ago, worked OK... My stuff doesn't really ever get too dirty now, but I do a complete bottom to top degreasing, when I 1st get a car, then just maintain it...

 

[pabster]

Great tips as usual, folks. Simple Green it is!

 

[ossietim]

Over here I use a truck wash.truck washing is usually just sprayed on and hosed off.it has special properties that dissolve dirt ,grime, grease without damage.




You should try washing your windows on your home with it (amazing results) squeegee off.

 

[wannadrag]

Purple Power works well also.Just a fuzz stronger than the Simple Green.

 

[Sixpack70]

I use simple green for regular cleaning. It takes almost all of the crud off. It didn't damage anything on my old cars up to my modern cars.

 

[69clone]

I just cover the air cleaner and distributor with plastic bags from (walmart,etc) spray engine degreaser all over and spray it off after a minute or two of soaking in. Be careful not to let degreaser sit on paint as it can eat the paint.

 

[RS23VOA]

Go to a motorcycle shop and buy a product called SC200. It's for degreasing motorcycle engines and frames. It is aluminum safe and will not hurt paint. Some of the other degreasers will stain and spot paint and turn aluminum white. This product will not do that.

 

[Pops1967GTX]

This is a great tool for cleaning parts & the engine bay.Hook it up to an air supply & fluid. I Fill a gallon container with part simple green & palmolive dish detergent ,water, customized to suite your needs. The combination of compressed air & fluid slowly applying to area's .Great degreasing......

 

[Ron 73]

If were talking about an old engine bay loaded with grease this wont work, But a regular sprayer like what i use for fruit trees to spray them works great for working around a dirty bay to clean it, fill it with a degreaser, pump it up and go at it, leave it sit for a bit and do it again.. you need to pump it a lot to keep pressure up but it does work good and can be bought at any hardware.. Pops would add more pressure for a heavy degrease job but for one thats just in need of cleaning this will work.

 

[bluefury]

engine comp wash...

Cover your distributor with a big plastic zip lock bag or something to keep the water, soap &/or degreaser out, I would stay away from spraying directly into any of the main electrical bulkhead connections on the firewall, or the distributor, coil or spark plugs, or air cleaner opening, decals etc., use a foaming type spray degreaser after warming the engine & covering the important parts that pressurized water will ill-effect... Clean away, some aerosol carb cleaner & brake clean, will work on stubborn some spots, be careful some chemicals & pressure washers, can really hurt your painted surfaces, hoses, electronics etc., blow off with an air nozzle attachment, wipe it down afterwords to keep excessive water spots away... Do the engine, the under carriage, wheel wells, before the wheels or the rest of the car, it will save you time cleaning the stuff twice.
Good advise....!!!!!

I use purple power cleaner in a spray bottle on a warm engine and a 2500 PSI pressure washer.
Or drive over to the local spray car wash... spray the engine compartment with your cleaner and use the spray wand there.