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

[Mega-Man]

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]

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]

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

 

[98SteedaStang]

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]

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

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]

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]

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

 

[BLKVERT]

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]

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

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]

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.

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]

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]

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]

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

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]

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.