My engine is disgusting...

[reticulated]

My engine is horribly dirty, and im going to be doing alot of work on my car, so i figure i should make it a priority. However, I realy dont know much about cars, so everything I do on my own has to be fairly simple. I was wondering if there was anything I culd do to clean it up, or if i should take it to be cleaned by a shop? I just dont want to spend a ton of money on somethign I could potentaly do myself. Any help or suggeations would be appriceated. and Ill take a pic of the "dirt ball" tomorrow moning if it would help at all...

[kickarsgrdam01]

where i live there is a hand power car wash thing that has a setting for cleaning engines. i didn't use it for a long time thinking it was a joke but then i heard from some people that it really works well so i used it once and it was amazing. it took off all the dust, grease, oil, or whatever. just really made it look clean. i would say try and find a power wash with that

[sunrunner_pei]

Personally I'd pick up a good engine degreaser and detailer. Follow the directions on the package. With the degreaser, give the engine a really good soaking. Use a scrub brush and old toothbrush to work at the really coated areas. It might take 2 or 3 applications to get all the gunk off. Then follow that with an engine detailer.

Be sure to cover up any electrical components, your coil pack, alternator, airbox, serpentine belt, etc.

[master]

Make sure you cover and wrap all your electric components with garbage bags.

[FlyingAce]

I'm currently in the process of cleaning my engine bay. I started wrapping electrical components up and moving things out of the way tonight and am going to power spray it when I get up tomorrow. My dad has a high-pressure sprayer so, I'm gonna be using that (sprays at like 1000 psi) Anyway, I'll have before and after pics up tomorrow if anybody wants to see just what it looks like.

[30thAnnGAGT]

Go to a local place and have the SOB steam cleaned. If they charge you more than 15 bucks kick em!

[Matt95GT]

First choice - steam cleaner. The household ones work well.
Second choice - "CD2" engine detailing kit. Follow directions.

[Mike Reyna]

I've always used a pressure washer. Never covered anything, with any of my cars. It's what we used to do when I detailed professionally.

Consumer stuff like Simple Green or Castrol Cleaner (purple bottle) works pretty good. Don't use any harsh chemicals.

[BlackDragon]

An old electric toothbrush can replace a lot of elbow grease.

[ChevyGuy03]

i alone hold the secret at the car shows in my area on how to do that. Degresser will work but might harm components. the engine stuff at the car washes is the same stuff as the pre-soak. my secret is go to your parts store pick up some Bleache-White tire spray. Drive your car to the car wash open the hood a spray it with the product do not pre-soak! Let set for minute or two and power wash it off. It doesnt hurt electrical components and actually cleans the wires and plastics in there. no need to wrap anything unless you have an aftermarket intake. It might take a couple of times trying it but it will get it off. Try it.

[Xeiros]

Originally posted by ChevyGuy03
i alone hold the secret at the car shows in my area on how to do that. Degresser will work but might harm components. the engine stuff at the car washes is the same stuff as the pre-soak. my secret is go to your parts store pick up some Bleache-White tire spray. Drive your car to the car wash open the hood a spray it with the product do not pre-soak! Let set for minute or two and power wash it off. It doesnt hurt electrical components and actually cleans the wires and plastics in there. no need to wrap anything unless you have an aftermarket intake. It might take a couple of times trying it but it will get it off. Try it.


The power washing worries me. Wouldn't the water effect the electricals? I'd be afraid to power wash the engine, as I'd be nervious about the alternator, battery, intake, ect.

[ViperDVMan]

I often wondered that too, since I too need to give my engine bay a nice power wash. So just a nice power wash with the engine setting will do the trick, ja?

[tenspeed]

I just go in with rags, paper towels, wire brushes, etc. I've never used a engine cleaner spray and rarely water. Sometimes I use windex or simple green on spots.

Finish off the hoses and plastic parts with something like Armorall to make it shine. There's plenty of detail products for rubber and vinyl.

[alegar001]

Spray her down with some good old degreaser and hose her off. If you want to cover your coil pack and alternator go for it. But may I piont out that our cars engine gets soaked when ever you are driveing in the rain. Disighners figured on that when they made our modern cars and mad all the components sealed.lol Spraying your engines wont hurt them but just don't drown them. After you spray them run them tell they dry out, me and my friends have done it more times then we can count and the only bad thing thats ever happened was when we had arching happening around a distributer cap.. it was cracked any ways so it really wasen't too unexpected lol.

But to each man to their own. If you are worried about something then cover it up. That bad feeling is your minds way of keeping you out of trouble LOL

Peace ;)