Leaf blower...

 

I hope I don't kill my motor doing this. It really needs a cleaning.

 

Wouldn't it be nice if Ford would just equip the trucks with enclosed wheel wells and eliminate most of the need for this discussion?

 

That would be great. (we'll see in the near future.)

 

I recommend simple green, spray the compartment liberally and I use a HF engine cleaning gun that hooks to a compressor & is of course cheap....but it works well....I use a bucket of hot water to feed the gun and rinse the compartment. The gun has pinpoint like accuracy that almost eliminates any physical scrubbing and avoid saturating e-connectors/components. The most important item....do not use any solvent based engine cleaning product- the underhood e-boxes & harnesses can't take it.

 

Sara,

Your credibility continues to slide. Do a search here on cleaning Ford modular motor engines and count the horror stories - including mine. Cleaning one of these engines is a roll of the dice at best. Some people haven't had any problems - yet. May others have wiped out coil packs and worse. So using degreaser may work once in a while or on other motors, but you're playing with fire on a modular motor.

 

Sara is a spammer if you look at "her" other posts. Post reported.

 

I use the car wash about twice a year without covering anything. I leave it running, get it wet, use the wheel cleaner spray (smells and looks like simple green), then rinse with the spotless setting. Come home and use a shop vac on blower, then dress with In & Out Spray. Never had an issue on an 06 with 135k on it.

 

I wonder if any of these issues would be less or non-existing with the older style vehicles.......with less electronics, say like my classics the 77 and 79 Fords.....would like to know others' opinions on this.....getting ready to re-detail my 77....I've always done it by hand, but I'd love to just hit certain spots on the manifold and underneath with a pressure washer and some chemicals.....

 

I was wondering how my new/used 2001 F-150 Lariat 4x4 63k had such a clean engine compartment & engine,like new.
It was from 50 mi away and all dirt/mud roads to get to the few paved. It has dust & water spots just going in and out of my place 4 times.
Pretty sure it was garaged.
I'm lucky it has clean carpet and mats......getting Huskies soon.

 

On a cold engine cover ALL electrics with plastic bags.
I like Covermate Stretch-to-fit Food Covers for electrics.
Simple Green 1:2 > Spray, scrub, LIGHT mist to remove.
Run engine for 10 minutes to dry. Let it completely cool off.
If it is REAL BAD spray you can use Gunk Engine Degreaser.
Then I dress the hoses with Lexol Vinylex (it's water based).
I like Sonus Trim & Motor Kote to dress. It has a matte finish.
* Since the pic I have polished the C&L elbow to a bright shine.

 

That's real clean!
Mine is close,or was,LOL.
Thanks for the tip .

 

Here's a pic on the C&L elbow polished.

 

You polished parts of it from blue to black Looks great! What did you use? I've have tons to polish in my mustangs engine bay and usually use Opt metal polish.

Man, your really making me wish I had gone with the 100th Anniversary truck over my 04 to match my 100th Anniv Fatboy. I really wanted one bad but i had just purchased the Harley so i ended up waiting a year for the new body style and i thought i was going to need a 4x4 at the time. Now i wish I hadn't . I couldn't imagine one now with the current miles i have on my truck.

 

Sadly, I don't remember the exact polish I used but I do remember using the Porter Cable 7424xp with a 3" backing plate and an orange foam pad.

How many miles do you have?