I was just wondering what most of you guys on here do or use to clean the engines in your new F-150's or just new trucks. My brother has a 2001 F-250 superduty, and I am in the market to purchase a 2005 F-150 when they come out, and we were trying to figure out the best way to clean the engines without harming the elecronics. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

I've never had any problems using Gunk for heavy duty and Simple Green for light duty, diluting either based on need. some areas, e.g. aftermarket air filter, I cover with trash bags to protect.

I then blow-dry with compressed air.

 

If you utilize an agressive cleaner like Simple Green, please dilute it down considerably.

Personally, I use Meguiar's EXTRA All Purpose Cleaner (Purple Bottle). It is my understanding that they have discontinued this product (according to my contacts with Meguiar's) but, I managed to find a small stock of it at my local Big Lots.

Spray it on and allow it to sit for about 3.5 minutes. Spray it down using a flow of water (not a stream with pressure).

I've had ZERO problems.

RP

 

Just make sure to cover things like the fuse box, alternator, coil packs, any air inlets that water could get into are covered. It is best not to use real high pressure so that it doesn’t accidentally knock any vacuum lines off…

It is always best to warm the engine prior to using what ever your going to use as a cleaning agent to help assist with getting it off. Not a hot motor, just warm, like running it for 5 minutes or so.

Also helps that once you’re done and get most the water dried up to run the motor to help assist in drying it.

 

Look at the owner's manual. At least with my 1999 F-150, Ford shows exactly the areas that should be protected from high pressure water spray. I use grocery store bags to cover these areas and then go back and wipe them off with the towel I'm using to wipe the rest of the engine. I for one think it is important to keep the engines at least washed off a couple of times a year, but then I live in a rural area on dirt roads.

Would also mention that I take a great deal of care when washing the engines in my trucks. I make sure the exhaust manifolds are not hot and also make sure it is a nice sunny day - I fill a 100 foot hose up with water and let it solar heat for a couple of hours before hosing off my luke warm engine - trying to keep the water and metal about the same temp.

I'm probably a little **** about this as I know folks that believe you should leave an engine running when you are washing it! Would never do that for fear of sucking water into the intake and then I've had exhaust manifolds crack on my older F-150 (302 cid) because I simply took it to the car wash and sprayed the underside good in cold (probably freezing) weather.

I also use that nice sunny day to be parked with the hood up and into the sun to let the engine dry completely before restarting it. Like I said - probably somewhat **** and it takes a while to do, but so far over many years, I have never had a problem with this process. The engine cleaning is something that needs to be done periodically and you are wise to be careful about the procedure.