May 13, 2016, 02:58 PM
Last edit by: IB Advertising
See related guides and technical advice from our community experts:
- Camaro and Firebird How to Clean Engine Bay<br>Step by step instructions for do-it-yourself repairs.
Engine bay cleaning?? HELP!
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
The best way I have done it, and I have been detailing cars for 8 years, is if you're worried about shorting anything out cover what you need to with plastic bags or hand wash it. Takes a little longer but you don't have to worry about water just being sprayed all over everything. Honestly though i've sprayed down so many engine bays and have never ran into any issue.
Teching In
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I'm a detailer at a GM dealership, and I spray the entire engine bay with degreaser leave for 2 or 3 Min's then blast clean with the high pressure washer, next I use the air hose and blow dry the entire bay dry. Let it sit for as long as possible for a final air dry and you should have no problems.
I'm a detailer at a GM dealership, and I spray the entire engine bay with degreaser leave for 2 or 3 Min's then blast clean with the high pressure washer, next I use the air hose and blow dry the entire bay dry. Let it sit for as long as possible for a final air dry and you should have no problems.
^i do the same thing, but i will add becareful with any kind of degreaser, some of that stuff is pretty harsh, i spray mine off every few months,it doesnt get that dirty,then i hit all the rubber and plastic with stoners trim spray,works out pretty good.just use some sence when you are pressure washing ,try to use less water, air hose is a must imo, and i also let mine run
Trending Topics
Here is what I do.. I let the engine warm up to almost operating temp and then turn it off. Then I spray some Simple Green all over the engine bay. I let that sit for about 2-3 minutes. Then I will rinse it off with hose water just an open end no handle on it. Then I will get my Engine Brite foamy **** out and spray that all over the engine bay and into nooks and crannys. Let that sit for about 4-5 minutes and rinse. I rinse mine VERY well, literally like 8-10 minutes of standing there with a hose getting everything out. After that I grab my shop vac and suck up any water I can see and finish with waffle weave drying towels. Never had a problem. I have a thread about my engine bay build up that you can make an opinion on if you want to follow my steps.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Basically what every one else has said. Warm the engine up a bit, shut off. Spray it all down with DP engine degreaser, let sit. Agitate with brush, rinse off with hose. Blow dry with compressed air. If you are really worried you can cover fuse boxes etc with plastic bags or tin foil, but you shouldnt have any issues.
I don't know if it's just my car or what, I've covered everything necessary to cover but it seems like my car just acts up every time the engine bay gets wet anyway. The last 3 times I did this, I rinsed, and blew out the engine bay with a leaf blower and air compressor.. then, the alt was overcharging, throwing lights all accross the dash, blew both high beams once. I've since then gotten a new alt, but haven't cleaned the engine bay since, so i'm not sure if that was the problem or not.
^ that's crazy :/ I wonder why?? I was thinking about cleaning my engine bay tomorrow but don't want any problems :/ so guys what exactly do you cover when cleaning the engine bay 
i've really never figured out why.. I'm not sure if it was an issue with the old alternator or what, so I got a new one but I have yet to clean it again. After a few days or airing out it was fine, but things were definitely screwy until then. I didn't even drive it because I didn't want the alt to continue to overcharge. I mean the voltage gauge was pegged basically.
Had the old alt tested and they said it was fine though..
Had the old alt tested and they said it was fine though..
Just don't spray under the intake. it can puddle in the knock sensor holes and cause headaches.
Other than that, spray away. I like the idea of letting the degreaser sit for a while.
Other than that, spray away. I like the idea of letting the degreaser sit for a while.
