Keeping Engine Bay Clean

[Jaredkm]

Just wondering how you keek the engine compartment clean. On all my old vehicles, I would just use the pressure washer when I was at the car wash. Didnt cause any problems. Upon looking under the hood of my 07 silverado, I am not so sure it will be ok, seems like alot of wiring and conncetions and stuff. What do you guys think? Give me your input so I dont screw something up!

[j.roffel]

Buy a foaming engine cleaner. You sparay it on your cold engine, leave it for 10 minutes or something, then you can either use a low pressure pressure washer, or your garden hose, and the foam should pull off all the dirt. The wash bays I go to have an engine setting on the control, and it cuts the pressure in half.

[99silverado1500]

I put it on high and sprayed all the solid state stuff, like the vortec cover, the plastics, fuse block, battery, and put the pressure washer on medium for the electrical conduit, and have no problems, been doing this for a while, also use it on all my external plastics on high to remove all dirt.

[Zembonez]

I also use the car wsh wand to keep the engine compartment clean. I don't do it but maybe twice a year and I move pretty quickly so as not to force a lot of water into the electrical connections. I do it when the engine is hot and drive around long enough to dry things out after. Todays cars are sealed up pretty well compared to older cars with their exposed ingition components... Never had any problems either.

 

I'm sure somebody out there will tell us how wrong we are.

[mini1]

Just use a garden hose with some engine cleaner. No need for high pressure.

[jrrod2004]

Just use a garden hose with some engine cleaner. No need for high pressure.

 

 

Nope, that is what I do with my truck and it still looks good in the engine bay.

[VMax2007]

"Simple Green" at full strength on a warm engine, wait 5 minutes and rinse with garden hose with engine running.

[rogerf]

Have been pressure washing the engine compartments of all my vehicles for over 15 years without problems. Definately do this in the Spring just after the salt is off the roads. Also use a low pressure garden hose to rinse in the body holes, hood lip, fenders, doors, etc.. to flush the road salt followed by WD40 & motor oil. Makes for a nasty job but the results are worthwhile.

[ws6_guy]

I use a 4:1 ratio of Simple Green and scrub my engine bay down, light spray it dry. & never ever use any tire shine like most people do

 

 

 

[hotwheels57]

Be careful if you decide to use SIMPLE GREEN, especially full strength...it will discolor the aluminum and can remove paint under certain conditions.

Since we're not talking show polished billet aluminum on the motor, it may not matter to you, but it isn't advised.

I use SIMPLE GREEN for a number of uses, but only with the directions of the manufacturer.

Read this...

http://sgnew.com/solutions_cleaning_tips.php

[j.roffel]

 

Thats Pretty.

[jrrod2004]

[

 

so fresh and so clean, looks almost like you just got it off the show room floor

[Jaredkm]

Thanks for all the replies. At the car wash, there is a lower pressure setting, maybe I will just stick to that and see how it works.

[unit731]

Depends on how dusty your area/driving is.

 

If motor is relatively clean, I use a compressor with a paint brush. Sometimes a mild detergent mixed with water. Then hand dry eveything with a cloth rag.

[rogerf]

Thanks for all the replies. At the car wash, there is a lower pressure setting, maybe I will just stick to that and see how it works.

If you are doing this at the local car wash, be careful if using the degreaser/tire cleaning detergents from the pressure wand. They can be very strong and leave marks if it splashes on the paint.