Cleaning Engine Compartment

cdurbin

5 Year Member

Jul 27, 2012

563

109

64

North Charleston, SC

Jul 29, 2012

#1

• Jul 29, 2012

• #1

My engine compartment could use a good cleaning but I am always leary about spraying water and/or chemicals all over the engine. Any advice or experience?
Thanks

 

LilBerx

Active Member

Jan 11, 2012

340

26

29

Logan, UT

Jul 29, 2012

#2

• Jul 29, 2012

• #2

Cover the alternator and distributor with plastic bags, then just spray it down with a pressure washer, be sure not to get water into the intake. Wipe it clean.

 

T

terdog

New Member

Jun 17, 2012

17

1

3

Jul 29, 2012

#3

• Jul 29, 2012

• #3

I use Castrol Super Clean / Purple Power.
I have never had a problem with spraying it on any engine bay, then rinsing. Just dont put it on a warm/hot engine, and dont let it dry or you may get some staining.

 

cdurbin

5 Year Member

Jul 27, 2012

563

109

64

North Charleston, SC

Jul 29, 2012

#4

• Jul 29, 2012

• #4

great. thanks for the input guys.

 

SVT32VDOHC

waiting for the next hack atta

Founding Member

Nov 22, 2001

3,501

28

119

Motor City

Jul 30, 2012

#5

• Jul 30, 2012

• #5

That Castrol/Purple Power stuff does work good. It says its environmentally friendly too. I used it to clean my rubber mat on my Harley truck. It came out like brand new. I rinsed it off, didn't stain my driveway or kill my grass.

 

cdurbin

5 Year Member

Jul 27, 2012

563

109

64

North Charleston, SC

Jul 30, 2012

#6

• Jul 30, 2012

• #6

Yeah, I've got a jug of it in the garage that I use for all kinds of stuff. I've been using it for years. I'll give it a shot this weekend. I got rained out yesterday.

 

krazedstang

15 Year Member

Mar 23, 2009

670

278

104

Streamwood

Jul 30, 2012

#7

• Jul 30, 2012

• #7

Never tried that purple stuff, always used simple green, usually works just fine.

 

StreetsideStig

Active Member

Feb 22, 2011

1,012

48

48

Jul 31, 2012

#8

• Jul 31, 2012

• #8

And then you can post more PICS!

 

Reactions: 88LX5.Oh

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end

15 Year Member

Nov 11, 2003

6,945

1,598

223

Northern KY

Jul 31, 2012

#9

• Jul 31, 2012

• #9

I've used Super Clean, and it works ok, but i've had best results with GUNK Degreaser. Spray everything down (after bagging up the distributor and any fuse boxes you may have) and let it sit for a minute, then pressure wash it all off. I did it waaaay back in the day at a car wash with my coupe when i first got it.

It went from this:


To this:


Granted it was still a rat's nest, but a much cleaner rat's nest.

 

cdurbin

5 Year Member

Jul 27, 2012

563

109

64

North Charleston, SC

Jul 31, 2012

#10

• Jul 31, 2012

• #10

Wow, that looks pretty damn clean to me. It looks like a different car.
I'm ready for the weekend so I can get out there and get after it.
I'll try to remember to take some before and after picks to post.
Thanks

 

cdurbin

5 Year Member

Jul 27, 2012

563

109

64

North Charleston, SC

Jul 31, 2012

#11

• Jul 31, 2012

• #11

when you guys say pressure wash do you mean a water hose or an actual pressure washer?

 

StangYellow

Founding Member

Sep 11, 2002

1,052

1

39

Aug 1, 2012

#12

• Aug 1, 2012

• #12

85_SS_302_Coupe said:

I've used Super Clean, and it works ok, but i've had best results with GUNK Degreaser. Spray everything down (after bagging up the distributor and any fuse boxes you may have) and let it sit for a minute, then pressure wash it all off. I did it waaaay back in the day at a car wash with my coupe when i first got it.

It went from this:


To this:


Granted it was still a rat's nest, but a much cleaner rat's nest.

Click to expand...

Damn your pressure washer is strong! It removed the snorkel off your air cleaner and washed away your a/c compressor.

 

Reactions: 88LX5.Oh

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end

15 Year Member

Nov 11, 2003

6,945

1,598

223

Northern KY

Aug 1, 2012

#13

• Aug 1, 2012

• #13

StangYellow said:

Damn your pressure washer is strong! It removed the snorkel off your air cleaner and washed away your a/c compressor.

Click to expand...

Not only that but it even spray painted the valve covers and brake booster lid!

But yeah my point was directed more towards the rest of the engine compartment, which is hard to see from any of the old pics i have. It was most noticeable down on the frame rails where crud collects.