Anyone tried those engine compartment cleaners? I opened the hood the other day after driving in the rain and it's really dirty inside and had a kind of swampish smell. I've tried a wet sponge on the plastic parts before and it doesn't touch the dust/dirt spots. All this dirty water that splashes up from the road into the compartment isn't damaging things I hope..

 

Well my last car was a Ford Taurus which had 150,000+ miles on it. Just every time I washed it, I opened the hood and gave the engine a light spray of water. That did a very nice job of keeping it clean. My engine with was cleaner than many peoples cars with as little as 10,000 or 20,000 miles on them. Sure it won't win in any car shows, but hey it's free. No product to purchase other than water.


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1999 Lariat SuperCab Flareside, Amazon Green with Silver trim, 5.4L, 4x2, 4 wheel disc/ABS, 3.55 limited slip, towing package, fog lamps, sliding rear window, captains chairs, keyless entry with alarm, spray-on bed liner, bug guard, and K&N. http://www.csc.calpoly.edu/~bfriesen/truck.html

 

Just make sure the engine is cold so you don't crack the engine block.

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'97 XLT Reg. Cab, 4.2V6, 5spd, Superchipped, K&N Air Filter, Lund Deflector, Dash Mat, MagnaFlow Muffler, Hellwig Rear Sway Bar, Edelbrock Shocks, Duraliner, Extang Saber Tonneau, Bell-Tech 2" Rear Drop, Amer. Rac. Atlas Wheels Clad in 275/60/17 Eagle GTII. Likes straightaways, loves twisties.

 

Try Liquid Wrench... Spray it on when the engines warm and let it soak. Wash the rest of the truck. When the engine cools off spray it with very hot water. You're going to be surprised at the results. The engine will look almost like it was just detailed...

 

Under my hood is caked up with mud do I need to keep it clean?

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1997 4x4 5.4 ORP XLT extended cab Dark Toreador red Westin nerf bars tint HARDER THAN A ROCK AND FASTER THAN A HEART BEAT

 

I use Meguire's #40 vinyl cleaner on all black trim/plastic in the engine compartment to shine it up. Just make sure you use it when the truck cools down.

 

I use a cleaner like Westleys Bleech-White or 409 and soak it down when the engine is cool. Then when it is dry I spray the entire engine compartment with tire dressing. It looks brand new for months. I do this about once every six months or so.

For you off roaders, keeping the engine clean will make it run cooler and keep the electronics and engine sensors from premature failure. Dirty sensors (mass airflow, throttle position, etc.) will overheat and fail causing the much coveted check engine light to come on. Keep it clean and use the tire dressing or silicone to spray on afterwards to keep the hoses and belts in good shape and it will make it easier to clean the next time, plus it looks great.

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'99 XLT S/C 4.6 Auto 3.55 LS Oxford White,Orlando appearance package, trailer tow package, keyless entry, A.R.E. Hard tonneau, ventvisors and bug guard all painted to match, limo tint, 5 spoke aluminum wheels, Kenwood 6 Disc, black Back Country nerfs, Buccaneers front license plate! I Luv it! (except for the 60/40 seat)

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