Well the show is on saturday, and time is ticking by fastly. So far i have cleaned the entire underbody, spare tire, complete interior, changed the oil, rotated the tires, painted calipers, and the front end bra is in the dryer now to knock whatever little bit of dirt that may be on it off. Tomorrow i have to do the door sills, wash it, glass it, clean the windows, polish the chrome, clean the bed, and clean the engine bay. What i wanted to double check on is cleaning the engine bay. I picked up some simple green, and also some other engine cleaner stuff. Its not that dirty or greasy, but its got alot of dust on it. I'll use the simple green unless it doesn't do it well enough. Then i'll use the other stuff. What i wanted to know was what all should i cover up? I know i should cover the alternator, but i didn't know if i should cover the battery, and exactly where are the coil packs??? Am i missing anything else? I'll check this in the morning before i go to the car wash to do it, so hopefully i can get some quick responses. (i'm sure i can in here, this L forum moves so damn fast. LoL0



So far it has rained every day i've been working on it, and i've had to stop in the middle of what i was doing and wait for it to stop cuz i don't have a garage. . They are also calling for rain 2morrow, so i may just wash it, then saturday i'll get up around 6 and wet the truck down, absorb it, then glass it. I quickly forget how much work it takes to clean this truck up to show quality. But it'll be worth it I have about 10 hours into it already and i'm not done yet.

thanks again for any help

 

this is an easy one.

You go to the local carwash and you use the high pressure hose. BTW always keep the engine running and don't lock your key in the truck. Been there done that?

Now put it on soap, and DO NOT pull the handle. The pressure will come out about 1 tenth what it should IF the handle was pulled.

You'll be amazed at what you can wash in the engine compartment at this level.

Be pepraired if you have an open air cleaner. Place an plactic bag over the top of the cleaner, while the engine is running so it sucks the air from the bottom.

Now I'm sure someone out there has a better idea, because every time I do this the electronics get a little wet. But then again it seems to fix it's self everytime.

Best of luck.

 

what do you mean the electronics get a little wet, but they seem to fix themselves??? Does something act weird or something? LoL And why should i keep the engine running? can i have the alternator covered with the engine running at the same time??? sorry for all the questions, just don't wanna mess something up. THanks again.

where are the coil packs located???

 

Spray the engine compartment down with Simple Green prior to hosing.

Great product!

 

Simple Green (light misting), home water hose (easy spray), air compressor (or some type of air source to blow off excess water), and one damn clean engine bay! Works every time!

 

Aight, so i'm gonna cover the alternator, (and coil packs??????? where are they???? ) and then spray the engine with diluted simple green (75%water and 25% simple green), then rinse it off with low pressure, then dry it off (can i use my leaf blower?). I have to do it at the car wash cuz were in a drought (wouldn't seem like it though cuz its rainted the last 3 days---must be cuz i'm tryin to get it ready for a show ) and if i get caught its a 1,000 dollar fine and you dont' get a warning so i don't wanna take my chances. But anyway, does this plan sound aight??? Thanks again.

 

I hit the engine with the high pressure sprayer and soap. Then after the engine is dry I spray Tire Wet all over everything and let it sit for about an hour. I ususlly wash the exterior of the truck while I'm waiting so I can get any overspray off. Then I wipe off the excess off the engine. It leaves all the plastic and rubber hoses looking exceptionally clean. It also makes it a breeze to clean any dirt/dust that gets on the engine later on down the road. It helps to "loosen" any that the soap doestn' get as well.

 

ya think window cleaner will do the trick good enough to make the hoses look a little shinier, cuz i don't have enough time to go buy some spray stuff until after the show. just wondering so i don't go wasting my time. Thanks

 

I use whatever I have on hand (windex, green, purple, whatever), soak the COLD engine, crank engine, rinse with garden hose on spray. As long has you don't try to drown the coil packs (along top of intake, both sides) or the alternator, you should be OK. I rinse with engine running so that any misfire due to "drowned" connection will be apparent immediately. Leaf blower is great for drying.

 

Sorry it took me so long to get back with you.

The "wet" queston is because the truck seems to die after the compartment get's wet. but it's no big deal. After it dies 2 or 3 times it never happens again.

Now I'm an electrical enginner/software programer "shoot my parents not me" and I can't find an obvious problem with the cabling. So don't worry, but also dont soak the truck to it's teeth.

 

I do the same as some but I havn't used Simple Green(CornerCarver say's that is my true screen name) yet but it works.

I use a tire cleaner and spray it all over a 'cold' eng, keeping it off the fender paint. I've never had a problem with alternators or electrical connectors from the cleaner or the water hose spray used to rinse the eng. clean. I do avoid the filter on my Fast Air. I let cleaner soak for about 10 mins. but I don't let it dry out. After rinsing, I start the eng. and either let it idle or, better yet, drive it for 20 mins or so to completely dry it out and off. I then spray everything with a tire protectant and let it soak for at least an hour---better yet, overnight. Then take a diaper(clean ) and wipe off the excess to leave a non-glossy glow.

I'm leery of applying cold water or cold eng. cleaner/soap to a 'hot' eng. I guess if the eng is running, it won't matter but the spinning belt and pulleys would keep me from getting everything clean--I would think?

The coil packs are under the fuel rails on each side of the eng--right where you would expect to see the plugs--but can't. The coil packs 'sit' on top of the plugs and can be identified by a green or yellow decal that is about the size of a half-dollar. They are sealed and shouldn't have a problem if you don't soak them. Water can get around the plugs and might ground them out but it hasn't happened to mine yet. Do start the eng up right after the rinse so the excess water will evaporate/boil off.

Dan

 

thanks for all the help guys. I appreciate it. I'm gonna go clean it now. would wd40 work instead of tire protectant? I don't have any spray protectant, and Intel said that was what he used. Thanks again

 

well guys my battery died so i didn't have a chance to clean it It only gets driven on short trips, and 1/2 of those are at night w/ headlights on and radio going, so the battery must have just been too low to crank it. Here's the thread that i posted explaining about it, don't feel like typing it again.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...threadid=80770

but its fine now. Thanks for the help though, i'll wash it before the next show in 3 weeks

 

Am I the only one who sees something weird with this.

Harley.........we have alternators ya know How the hell does a battery die while your driving your truck. A stock alternator can handle ALL accesories on at the same time i.e. headlights, foglamps, radio, AC, dash lights, interior lights etc....

--Joe

 

Joe, I dunno, i was just as confused as you are. But when i jump started it, the battery charge level only moved over one line on the gauge, so it wasn't drained that much and didn't totally die. Maybe having the doors open with dome light on for about 5 or 6 hours when i was cleaning the interior and having the radio going for about 2 or 3 hours lowered the battery a little too far and it didn't have enough run time to charge it up enough. I dunno, didn't seem to me like that would drain it that much, but that's about all i can think of. Its fine now, so i'm not really worried about it