Cleaning The Engine / Engine Compartment... How Do You Guys Do It?

Mega-Man

New Member

Aug 6, 2004

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Sammamish, WA

Aug 11, 2004

#1

• Aug 11, 2004

• #1

Hi Gang,
First of all, I'm asking because this is the first "newer" car I've had in a long time. There's a lot of stuff under the hood compared with a '70 Coupe and I'm just learning what is what. I don't want to damage anything in my quest for my car to be clean. LOL

At any rate, will a bucket of soapy water and a hose do the job? Is there anything I should take care in doing (i.e. cover the carb with a platic baggy)? If soapy water is a no-no, what do you guys recommend?

I know it's not a super "techie" question, but feel it falls under this category due to the parts involved (sensors, computer, etc.). Any help / answers would be appreciated. Thanks! - Mega

 

streetstang03

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Dec 27, 2003

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the dark side of the moon/home of the 1999, 2003,

Aug 11, 2004

#2

• Aug 11, 2004

• #2

i just spray it down with some Simple Green, let it sit a few minutes and then spray it out. havent had any problems yet with doing it like that. Then, i will wipe things down if it needs it and add some tire shine to the rubber hoses and what not.

 

Mega-Man

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Aug 6, 2004

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Sammamish, WA

Aug 11, 2004

#3

• Aug 11, 2004

• #3

Ah--super! Good ta hear!

It's always good to error on the side of caution, I've come to learn. Too many times I have gone full-boar into something without knowing everything and has ended up costing me in the end. (And, after reading people's posts I'm twice as cautious now about doing anything--especially to my car.)

Thanks again for the reply! - Mega

 

9

98SteedaStang

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Dec 11, 2002

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Chicago Suburbs

Aug 11, 2004

#4

• Aug 11, 2004

• #4

Street Stang; do you dulite the simple green? I heard it can be bad for plastics and aluminum is that true. I heard of people geting a white film on everything, any probs with that? You leave the car running while you do it right?
Mega-Man let me know if you find the carb! I cant seem to find mine anywhere. Just kidding.

 

Mega-Man

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Aug 6, 2004

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Sammamish, WA

Aug 11, 2004

#5

• Aug 11, 2004

• #5

98SteedaStang said:

Mega-Man let me know if you find the carb! I cant seem to find mine anywhere. Just kidding.

Click to expand...

Now see--this is exactly why people like me come to places like this. LOL I take it the newer Mustangs don't even have carbs. I just feel damn lucky I know where to put the key to start the car, and can shift without grinding gears. LOL

It would seem if Simple Green is O.K. to use, regular dishwashing soap would work too as a de-greaser for parts. No? - Mega

 

VOORHEES

Stangnet's "35th Limited Edition" VIN Guy

15 Year Member

Nov 9, 1999

3,046

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LaGrange, GA

Aug 11, 2004

#6

• Aug 11, 2004

• #6

I have always used Simple Green full strength. Spray the (cool) engine down. with low pressure water, sqirt SG on pretty good, scrub the dirtier spots and rinse thoroughly. 5 years doing this and no issues yet. Oh btw, run the car after, to finish drying it off. Then apply dressing on some of the underhood parts.
-jason

 

Black2kStangGT

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Jul 15, 2003

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Wheaton

Aug 11, 2004

#7

• Aug 11, 2004

• #7

any tips cleaning with a blower under the hood? my engine is mad dirty, but I don't want to mess anything up...

 

BLKVERT

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Jan 19, 2004

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SATX

Aug 11, 2004

#8

• Aug 11, 2004

• #8

Simple green will degrease the engine and follow it up with some engine detailer. Porter that cleans my engine does a damn good job.

 

john_324

New Member

Jan 14, 2003

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Washington, D.C.

Aug 11, 2004

#9

• Aug 11, 2004

• #9

Mega-Man said:

I take it the newer Mustangs don't even have carbs.

Click to expand...

Yeah, this whole fuel-injection thing is really starting to take off it seems...

Seriously though, also check your owner's manual...it has some instructions/pics on how to safely clean the engine (what Ford recommends you cover up, etc.).

 

streetstang03

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Dec 27, 2003

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the dark side of the moon/home of the 1999, 2003,

Aug 11, 2004

#10

• Aug 11, 2004

• #10

98SteedaStang said:

Street Stang; do you dulite the simple green? I heard it can be bad for plastics and aluminum is that true. I heard of people geting a white film on everything, any probs with that? You leave the car running while you do it right?
Mega-Man let me know if you find the carb! I cant seem to find mine anywhere. Just kidding.

Click to expand...

make sure the engine if OFF and COOL when youo spray it w. water. I use SG at full strength. just spray on, let sit. then spray w. low pressure water. turn the engine on to dry it off as you dry the rest of your car off. should be all dry by the time your done drying ur car. never had any problems w. a white film.

 

flappy3

New Member

Nov 22, 2003

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Aug 11, 2004

#11

• Aug 11, 2004

• #11

Battery, airbox, and fusebox are what the manual says to cover up. I used Gunk Citrus degreaser -- sounds like some sort of dietary fiber supplement -- and it worked very well. Then I used plain ol' Armor All wipes on the hoses/plastic etc. 4 weeks later, still looks sharp.

 

Cobra Jay

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Apr 7, 2004

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Motor City

Aug 11, 2004

#12

• Aug 11, 2004

• #12

When it needs it, I'll spray it down at the .25 carwash. Then when I get home I'll use Simple Green to get rid of any residue that might be left behind. Followed by Meguires Spray Mist and Wpie. After I'm done cleaning it, I break out the Armor All and go to town. Even the Aluminum stuff get's Armor Alled. It get's rid of the Oxidation and keeps it looking like new.

 

Mega-Man

New Member

Aug 6, 2004

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Sammamish, WA

Aug 11, 2004

#13

• Aug 11, 2004

• #13

john_324 said:

Yeah, this whole fuel-injection thing is really starting to take off it seems...

Click to expand...

LOL O.K., you won't hear me mention carburetors from here on out. Once learned, never forgotten.

Thanks again for the tips guys! I bought my Stang from a private owner, bone stock, and didn't have the owner's manual (otherwise I would have read it from cover to cover, I assure you). Thanks for filling me in Flappy. - Mega

 

flappy3

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Nov 22, 2003

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Aug 11, 2004

#14

• Aug 11, 2004

• #14

I'm not sure if anybody else mentioned this, but most instructions for degreasers will tell you to run the engine for 15 minutes or so AFTER you rinse the degreaser off. Definitely NOT BEFORE. Don't put anything, epecially cold water, on a hot engine. You risk cracking something -- like the block. For whatever reason, it seems like the engines on these 99-04s stay hot forever. I let mine cool down for almost three hours before I washed it.

EDIT: Sorry, Streetstang already mentioned this stuff. But I guess it's important enough to repeat.