cleaning engine bay

[xbrightsidex]

does anyone know if it's safe to use a pressure washer in an engine bay? i have some good degreaser, but i know a couple quick shots with the pressure washer would get anything out of there.

[spd]

yep its perfectly ok to pressure wash the engine bay and use degreaser also. i detail cars professionally and we do exactly that to the engine bay of every car that we do. spray everything in view of you with the hood open and wash it away. make sure your pressure washer isnt so powerful that id take off the paint of the car and your set.

[dlandis01]

If you have an open air intake i'd cover it with a plastic bag first. I used to work in a detail shop and we always wrapped them in some kind of plastic to keep water from gettin in the intake...

[Prime Xtreme]

just make sure to cover the alternator and air cleaner

[xbrightsidex]

fantastic.

i'd heard of people doing it, just wanted to ask you guys, since some of you are detailers or just more informed than i am.

clean engine bay this weekend then.

[lakeratokc]

if you have a distributer it is best to thro a baggie over it and if ur runnin old style carb as well

[wally02]

I'm wanting to spray my engine compartment with degreaser and power wash it out but i'm afraid it will hurt the computer. Any tips or suggestions?? Its a 98 Bravada with the computer in the engine bay.
Thanks

[buellwinkle]

What works for me is the engine degreaseer, ionized water rinse from my local coin-op car wash. It cost me $2, I spray the caustic chemicals (not under pressure) in the engine bay, under the hood and undercarriage, switch to ionized water rinse (not the pressure wash) and rinse it off and it gets the engine bay pretty clean. I own a pressure washer but forcing water at high pressure into all those sensor connectors is asking for trouble but the engine is fairly waterproof so getting it wet won't hurt anything. Also, I don't want to wash harsh chemicals down the street and kill a neighbors pet, not good karma. Go over the engine bay with some cheap terry towels and some mild cleaner/degrease to get anything left dirty, clean. That will clean everything up but to give it that show car look, pickup some Meg's Hyperdressing from their detailer line (not stuff you get at a local Pep Boys/Autozone) and spritz it on when the engine dries up and it is an amazing transformation that makes the battery, hoses, plastic look brand new, even on my wife's '97 CR-V. The stuff comes only in gallons for pros but there is one place that puts in small bottles for us hobbiest, AutoDetailingSolutions - http://www.autodetailingsolutions.com/Meguiar's%20Detailer%20Line%20Prices.htm

[GiveMeBreak]

This is how I picked up my truck....










This is with a hose,Orange Blast, Scrub Brush, and Armorall Tire Foam

[98 Pewter Sonoma]

good comparison shot, even if the before is in too direct of sunlight.

Thanks for the info.

[dropped1]

I also do engine details when the engine is still warm, and then after completion I start the car and let it run for a few minutes.

[GiveMeBreak]

Quote: Originally Posted by 98 Pewter Sonoma

good comparison shot, even if the before is in too direct of sunlight.

Thanks for the info.

Ya...unfortunately the first shot was in the sun...but the layer of dirt
didn't help the white washing of the picture too!

Thanks

[comics22]

i bought some simple green concentrate today and wanna do this soon. could someone make a step by step?

[98 Pewter Sonoma]

spary the engine down with water to cool it

Spray degresser, let it set for time stated on bottle

Spray off

Start up engine

[GiveMeBreak]

Quote: Originally Posted by 98 Pewter Sonoma

spary the engine down with water to cool it

Spray degresser, let it set for time stated on bottle

Spray off

Start up engine

I also use a few style scrub brushes to remove any heavier deposits.
Also....If your engine is REAL bad....you might want to start off with Heavey Duty GUNK
Engine Degreaser

[93dime]

i used the engine gunk remover on my 93 s10 when i first got it and it took all teh dit off when i pressure washed it clean

[Eight433]

careful with the pressure washer. I did it and even though i stayed away from anything electrical, everytime i took a right turn, the windshield wipers would turn on untill i went straght again.... it dried up in about 2 days though.....

[lowriderbowtie]

just wrap up the starter, distributor, intake, and whatever electrical things you 'computer operated' vehicle guys have.

[comics22]

hey dont mock us cuz we liek to save gas... but anyways i did this today and my wipers wont turn off, as soon as i put the key in the ON possition they keep going. should i just wait to let them dry up? right now ive got the plug unplugged that goes to the wiper motor.

oh and i musta got a spark plug wet so when i pressed hard on the gas (2.2L go fig) it wasnt firing in one or 2 cyl, but itf i let off it was fine. and its fine now the water evaporated.

[comics22]

my wipers work fine now, now i gotta fix the tranny leak and finish cleaning cuz i didnt have any foaming tire shine, all i had was spray...

[comics22]

done finnaly heres the clean pics
before:

after:


i know iknow i didnt get that foam like stuff on the bottom of the hood....

[xxosiris9xx]

i would like to see a pic of everything that should be covered in a later model 4.3 engine bay (easier than having to search around fo revery last thing) if anyones got one

[GiveMeBreak]

Quote: Originally Posted by xxosiris9xx

i would like to see a pic of everything that should be covered in a later model 4.3 engine bay (easier than having to search around fo revery last thing) if anyones got one

I obviously can't help you when I got the 2.2, but.....
Just to let you know....I have never covered anything
on any motor I have owned....and havn't had a issue..............................(yet)

[redrider]

if u dont have a pressure washer is a hose fine just to rinse the area off?

[GiveMeBreak]

I don't use a pressure washer....in that case
things probably should be covered. I have
a pretty high pressure house at my house, which
is more then enough.

[redrider]

so a hose is fine to use? my hose puts out a good pressure.....

[comics22]

thats what iu used, worked fine, cover the wiper motor, mine got wet and they wouldnt turn off for a day....

[redrider]

where is the wiper moter located?

[comics22]

well if your looking from the front of your truck its right behind the oil dipstick.

look at my last pic and see the dipstick? its the black and aluminum thing right above it.

[2Xtreme]

i know this is an old thread cause it came up when i did a search but what degreaser would anybody recommend to clean the engine bay and then im just gonna hose it off im not gonna pressure wash it what do you guys think

[samueljackson]

hey buelwinkel...

do i see a side ways distributor??? u tryin to tell us sumthin?