Cleaning Engine Bay
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From: Kaneohe, Hawaii
Cleaning Engine Bay Anyone have a step by step, including products and procedures, on cleaning the engine bay up? I don't mean like coil or battery relocation, I mean like if its really dusty or greasy. I guess like how do you guys who take your car to auto shows keep the bay clean?
Ive always cleaned the enginebay with spray detailer if its just dirty
if its greasy, likes its been lately, simple green
Too bad the original owner or I never really waxed under the hood, cause if I just touch the paint it rubs off
if its greasy, likes its been lately, simple green
Too bad the original owner or I never really waxed under the hood, cause if I just touch the paint it rubs off
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Castaic Lake, So. Cal.
I heard Simple Green etches aluminum, best to do a small patch first to see if it does. I use the spray foam cleaners on a slightly warm engine, cover anything that has lots of wire with plastic, then hose it off, trying not to flood anything. I dry it with a leaf blower and wipe it down.
Originally Posted by BoneSS
What do you have to worry about getting wet under the hood? With my old 93Z, I had the opti to worry about, anything under the LS1's hood?
try to limit the water getting underneath the intake manifold...if too much water gets in there it could damage your knock sensors.
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Thanks, I'll look into. I was always wondering how I've heard of people just shooting water in there, I thought I was just hearing things. So best thing I guess is to try out some of those products mentioned, covering the electrical stuff (ie wires, battery, fuses, plugs, etc) and just soaping, rinsing, and drying, so to speak.
Here's what I do on every car I've ever had:
1. Get some degreaser (I use "Gunk" brand foamy engine brite), a can of WD-40, and some armor all, and some small brushes.
2. With the engine cool, plug any openings like breather caps or air intakes (this hasn't been necessary on my LS1 so far).
3. Empty the can of degreaser into the engine compartment- let it set for a minute and then scrub any really grimy areas with the brushes. Try not to get any degreaser on the paint on the outside of the body- it will cause streaks (takes off wax).
4. Hose it off using LOW pressure water - keep spraying electronic devices to a minimum.
5. I start the car right away and drive around the block to get most of the water to evaporate / shake off
6. Let the engine cool, dry up any excess water.
7- With the engine COMPLETELY dry, empty the can of WD-40 into the engine bay- especially hit all the plastic parts (if there is still water in the engine bay, the WD-40 will bead up). Try to avoid the fan belt, but a little on there won't hurt.
8- Wipe down the excess WD-40.
9- Rub armor all onto all the rubber hoses.
Trust me- it works awesome. Ususlly, it stays much cleaner as the WD-40 prevents grime from sticking and prevents the alum and steel pieces from corrosion, plus makes the plastic look new- I can usually just hose it off the next couple of washes and it still looks good. It will have an aroma when you start it up as the WD-40 burns off the exhaust, but I think it actually smells good.
1. Get some degreaser (I use "Gunk" brand foamy engine brite), a can of WD-40, and some armor all, and some small brushes.
2. With the engine cool, plug any openings like breather caps or air intakes (this hasn't been necessary on my LS1 so far).
3. Empty the can of degreaser into the engine compartment- let it set for a minute and then scrub any really grimy areas with the brushes. Try not to get any degreaser on the paint on the outside of the body- it will cause streaks (takes off wax).
4. Hose it off using LOW pressure water - keep spraying electronic devices to a minimum.
5. I start the car right away and drive around the block to get most of the water to evaporate / shake off
6. Let the engine cool, dry up any excess water.
7- With the engine COMPLETELY dry, empty the can of WD-40 into the engine bay- especially hit all the plastic parts (if there is still water in the engine bay, the WD-40 will bead up). Try to avoid the fan belt, but a little on there won't hurt.
8- Wipe down the excess WD-40.
9- Rub armor all onto all the rubber hoses.
Trust me- it works awesome. Ususlly, it stays much cleaner as the WD-40 prevents grime from sticking and prevents the alum and steel pieces from corrosion, plus makes the plastic look new- I can usually just hose it off the next couple of washes and it still looks good. It will have an aroma when you start it up as the WD-40 burns off the exhaust, but I think it actually smells good.