What is the best and safest method for cleaning on our engines and all the plastic parts and covers under the hood?? Looks like I might have a tranny cooler line that is leaking going to the top of my radiator,,,want to get everything clean so I can get a good look before my warrenty runs out! THX

 

HI!... I usuall just buy a couple of cans of "GUNK" orange (CITRON) heavy duty engine cleaner and spray down the whole engine compartment. Then use a power washer to clean the entire engine compartment. It would be best to do all of this at a power washer place, so not to get your driveway dirty. Make sure if you have a open filter element that you remove it and cover the open end of the tubing.

 

How about protecting some of the important components around the engine compartment? I don't like to get the two electronic distribution units soaking wet on the front of each engine head. I know they are supposedly water resistant but....

How about covering them with plastic bags and rubber band them? Also, I don't feel comfortable about too much high-pressure water being forced into my throttle body. What do you think? Is it properly protected as it is? I'm just asking.

And the Electrical Distribution Box is completely exposed from the bottom side. It would be possible to splash some serious water up inside there ... and I'm not sure that is such a good idea. Maybe that's just one place to not hit too hard or long?

What else would you protect, or not hit too hard with 1,200 psi high pressure water in the engine compartment ?

BillVoyles

 

Everyone has a prefered method, here is mine:

Use Gunk or your prefered de-greaser

Let it soak

Use a pump up-garden sprayer, with water to spray off the cleaner

If you dont have a lot of mud or heavy dirt this method works great and you don't challenge any electrical components

 

avoid spraying alot of water in the coil area b/c my friends coils fried and all the top of the spark plugs rusted out.
i usually just hose it with a garden hose, then go for a drive to dry everything before rust forms. i havent used Gunk before b/c i was afraid it would take out all the grease in the electical plugs but like i said i never tried it

 

I've had pretty good luck, just spraying the engine with Simple Green, and then hosing it off. I always start it right after and drive it enough to get it good and hot, to help dry it all off. I have had no problems, so far, on my 99 Expedition 5.4, and have been doing this for some years on a variety of different cars and trucks. Be sure your engine is not real hot when you spray it, not good for cold water to to spray against very hot engine components.

 

I cover all electrical stuff with plastic bags rubber banded or duct taped on tight. then i spray it with degreaser, pressure wash it, then remove the bags and wipe down all the platic components with armor all.

-Jon

 

HI!... Well all I ever cover up is the end of my intake tube when I remove the K&N filter. I use a power washer and hold it pretty close to just about everything in the engine compartment. Going on 3 years now doing this about 3 times a month with NO problems what so ever from it.

 

Thanks for all the info. I'll be doing this soon. Just a little worried about all the electrical stuff. but most of all of it should be water tight??? RIGHT?? Think I'll try just a mild cleaner and hose..

 

I agree, I was worried that I might fry something if I sprayed it directly with water. With reassurance from people here and at my dealership I washed mine this past summer. I used a 2 step process from CD2. I first covered the coils, alternator, and a few other things. Oh yeah if it's a 4.6 make sure all the plug boots are seated well. The first step was an engine degreaser which I sprayed on a warm engine. Then washed that off, started the engine to dry, then sprayed on this lacquer type stuff that puts a great shine on things. I then started the engine so the lacquer stuff would dry even. Then all summer all I had to do is wipe off the dust and sometimes spray a little armor all.

End of clean engine 101

 

Spraying the engine compartment is okay, don't worry about the water... where do you think all the rain and road spray go???? Just drive it afterwards to dry it...

 

Well I cleaned uder the hood today,, got some castrol cleaner&degreser ,,put it in a garden sprayer and soaked the engine compartment.. Of course taking off the K&N and covering the altenator.. It did an ok job,but turn most of the aluminum too a snow white!! Dont care for that at all!! Is there any way to get the snow like look off?? Also has anyone tried the CD2 engine detailer?? THX

 

You may have etched the aluminum surfaces. Many de-greasers do that. Either way, some Mothers and a few rags should take care of it.

When ever I have to de-grease a customers engine, I always do the same thing: get 4 or 5 cans of Foamy Gunk Engine Degreaser (blue can), a roll of Siran (I don't know how to spell it, but you know what I mean) wrap, a roll of quarters, and head to the local do-it-yourself car wash. I wrap up any ignition components and carb, if equipped. Then spray, soak and rinse. The one thing I haven't seen mentioned (probably because all of your vehicles are so new) that becomes a bigger concern as the vehicle ages are vacuum hoses. They aren't very heavy duty to begin with, and as they age, they can become quite brittle. Nothing sucks quite like not being able to drive back to the shop from the car wash because you've broken a weak vacuum line or two, and you can't find it (or in my case, didn't realize that that was the problem). All it really takes is some common sense.

Take care,
-Chris

 

Check my post above, the CD2 engine detailer is what I was talking about.

 

Saw this in a ricer mag. several years ago and have done it to all my recent vehicles--for years now with no problems.

First with a cool/slightly warm eng., spray Eagle One's Tire Cleaner(clear purple liquid) on everything in the compartment--being careful not to get any on the painted fenders. Let it soak for 10/15 mins. and then spray off with a garden hose(hit 'thick' spots with a brush). Drop the hood so it's held by the safety latch and drive around for 15/20 mins.

Park it where you want to leave it for at least an hour but overnight is better. With the eng. still warm, spray Eagle One Tire Protectant(milky, coconut-smelling liquid) on everything--aluminum, rubber, plastic, steel, nylon, etc.(eng. should be clean and dry before spraying). The warm eng. will help it soak into the porous pieces. Let it dry for an hour-overnight is better and then wipe everything down with an old t-shirt, towel, diaper, etc. that you do not care if you throw away.

You will not believe the 'sheen' that everything will have. It will not look 'lacquered' as some used car lots will treat their cars. The porous items will last longer and look better while doing it.

Dan