I have a new 2006 Screw. I love the truck except how dirty it gets under the hood.
My 99 Silverado would stay clean and I only needed to spray the dust off once or twice a year.
The F150 seems to get all the road spray and dirt all over the motor and it even saturates the insulation in the hood.
Does anyone make covers to prevent this from happening? I like to keep my truck clean but this makes it next to impossible.
Thanks,
Rob

 

Light rinse weekly...

 

Cold motor, Castrol Superclean, let soak for 5-15min, spray off.

 

Both F150's I have owned ALWAYS get dirt all over the engine compartment. My '98 and my '05. I never had that problem with my Ranger.
I just go to the car was that I used to work at and pop the hood, leave it running, rinse it with the high pressure hose, spray some chemical called Luster that they have there all over the engine compartment and top of the hood and rinse. Comes out great! Then I just spray some tire-shine all over and it looks like brand new.
I wish someone made some kind of piece to keep crap from getting everywhere.

 

Superclean is some amazing stuff but I heard it was discontinued. Dont know if it is true

 

A bucket full of soap and water, cold engine, grab a sponge and have at it. Rinse with low pressure garden hose and towel dry.

 

I learned a cool trick from a buddy at a detail shop... He degreases, rinses, and then he takes the tire foam stuff and sprays it on all the black plastic and hoses... REALLY looks sharp!! I did this to my 2000 befor I sold it ($3000 over trade in offer) and everyone that looked at it couldn't believe how sharp the engine looked!! Just my .02...

 

Unless you want a possible problem with your electronics under there i wouldnt be spraying any water on your engine. I guess thats what i was told by a few mechanics. To much electronics to take a change of getting water.

 

Its impossible to keep some water out of the engine compartment... I wouldnt flood the compartment to rinse, but a quick rinse never hurt any of my vehicles...

 

I don't think a hose will hurt after all the crap that blows in there under normal circumstances. My truck looks like its 10 years old under there.
Is there anything made that blocks the spray from coming into the motor compartment?

 

Actually the owner's manual shows you what to cover up prior to washing the motor

 

At the do it yourself carwash:

1. Lightly spray the warm engine w/ the low pressure tire cleaner (green colored stuff akin to Simple Green). Stay away from the spending too much time at the intectors, coil packs or valve covers. You can hit all of those just don't do a concentrated soak. Wait 2 minutes..

2. Rinse w/ the low pressure "spot free" rinse.. this is good since its both low pressure and leaves no spots since its going to heat up quick. You may choose to do a light quick rinse w/ the high pressure rinse, but follow up w/ the "Spot free" for that purpose..

 

use a degreaser and after that a brand of tire shine. Little trick though, before you start spray your fenders down with water. that way if you get the tire shine or degrease on your paint you it will just spray right off. Tire shine is a pain in the butt to get off sometimes and degreaser will eat your wax off

 

Once the cleaning is done, another dressing trick is WD-40....wow! You can forget about the "electrical" worries...but stay away from pulleys and belts.

 

It's well documented and hard learned guys... there are plethoras of detailers out there that have purchased electronics systems for vehicles. While they have to be 'somewhat' water tight, the ASTM testing methods to secure an engine compartment, I can assure you, aren't utilizing a HIGH PRESSURE rinse.

I'd suggest that you cruise the Detailing and General Care forum where several of us have authored long posts about this subject....

RP