Dirt in Engine bay

[gonedoit]

I noticed the other day that my engine bay is getting pretty dusty, can anyone tell me if I can spray water in the engine bay while the truck is running, my work has a dusty parking lot, just wanna clean it up.. thanks for the info

[B.DeFeo]

yes you can clean up your bay with water... Make sure it IS running! i suggest a light mist of water, then give a hit of all purpose cleaner(simple green diluted 50% works great), then antoher good rinse. the reason for leaving it running is so that you know if you can hurt the engine. if the engine starts to stall out or anything, move the hose to another spot!
Happy cleaning

Brandon
Email me at B.DeFeo@hotmail.com for all of your Adam's needs

[ChrisNJ]

I clean my engine bay about 1 or 2x a year. What I do is use p21s total auto wash, which is arguably one of the best citrus degreasers out there. WHat I do is, spray down the engine w/ the total auto wash, let it soak a little, then agitate with a soft bristled brush. From there I take a hose and gently spray down the engine and watch the dirt melt away

[Timmay]

Whatever you do, don't do it to a hot engine. I like to clean mine with the Engine off.. Wrap a plastic bag around the intake for sure. Some people will go to the extent of Taping off the battery and alternator.

Do your cleaning..

Start the engine for about 15 minutes to make sure all the water evaporates out of the engine bay.

[GiveMeBreak]

I clean mine every time I wash my truck.
I have never covered anything....with any vehicle I own.
Never had a problem "yet". I have been doing this for 17yrs now.

1 - Warm engine for a couple minutes.
2 - First time cleaning, use Heavy Duty Engine Degreaser by GUNK
3 - Rinse
4 - Spray Orange Blast by Grease Lightning over the whole motor.
5 - Use a tooth brush for hard to reach deposits while the Orange Blast is soaking in if needed.
6 - Rinse and repeat if needed.
7 - Let it dry or use your chamios to dry the motor.
8 - Once dry apply Armor All Tire Foam and let it sit for a few minutes. You can smooth it out with a rag once it starts settling. Don't aim for the belts, but I have gotten them with it and had no issues.

9 - Sit back and smile, she is all sparkley like.

Repeat steps 4 - 9 for routine cleaning.

[neuronyx]

GiveMeaBreak- Your photos motivate me to clean out my bay!

[ooopseyesharted]

Nice job on that engine.....I am gonna have to do mine today. It is dirty than paris hiltons sex life

[sr98219]

GiveMeaBreak, that about how I clean mine, I just spray it w/ Orang Blast, spray it off, dry it a little w/ a chamois and go over it w/ tire wet foam. Thats the best way I've found

[GiveMeBreak]

Quote: Originally Posted by sr98219

GiveMeaBreak, that about how I clean mine, I just spray it w/ Orang Blast, spray it off, dry it a little w/ a chamois and go over it w/ tire wet foam. Thats the best way I've found

Yep thats my routine when I wash her down.

[gonedoit]

Thanks for the info guys, I will take it to heart. I cant wait till my work paves the lot.. Its soo dirty I hate looking at the engine, I used to look at it all the time..lol

[beandip]

i always keep mine clean so if it ever leaks i know where it is coming from

[gonedoit]

Bean, what year is your truck?

[Timmay]

Quote:

2000 Ext. cab 2.2L 5 Speed

Its in his sig.

[DroppedOnDuece210]

I used to detail cars, and im not sure about the tire foam but the regular tire shine is pretty sticky stuff, do you guys ever have probems with dirt sticking onto the engine plastics? Also I know the regular tire shine is extremely flammable, I would be worried about spraying it all over my engine, just my opinion..

[BeyondeXtReMe]

i wouldnt use the tire stuff becuase it's sticky so it would make it worse (like most armoralls for interiors), I wouldnt spray water on my engine either because of all the electronics, it may not effect anything right away but you could end up with coroded wires or short circuiting stuff. As for an engine cleaner, you want to make sure what ever cleaner you use is no corossive and no combustible, I suggest using this stuff meguiars makes, it's called Meguiars natural shine, It's a rubber and vynal protector, It moisturizes all your rubber hoses and such to stop them from cracking and drying out and It cleans all the plastics on your engine and gives them that wet look (not as wet as tire shine) but it's no corrosive and does an awesome job. Just spray your engine and wipe it off after 5min, i do it everytime i wash my truck takes like 5min to do...

Here's the stuff: Natural Shine Vinyl & Rubber Protectant G4110 Product Information

[ACE2790]

O'Rileys Auto Parts store carries a product called "Instant Shine"...catchy right? Either way this shit is awesome, clean the dirt off and spray the engine bay with this. I PROMISE you it'll be the easiest and best shine you have ever seen seen/had.

[GiveMeBreak]

Looky what I just found at the autoparts store

[sr98219]

what auto parts store did you find that in? I'm gonna have to try that.

[Red X]

Hmm my methods are a lil different, i usually cover my cold air intake breather, and i turn the truck off, i use a pressure washer and some cleaner stuff that is engine safe. Then once it dries, i cover up the paint and windows, and use duplicolor clear coat on everything thats black, it leaves it shiney as hell, and very nice. Ive been doing this for at least 10 years, and my pappaw has been doing it for over 30. No problems what so ever.

[neuronyx]

Wow, cant say I have ever heard of that method before! Have any photos of what a clear-coated engine looks like?

[GiveMeBreak]

Quote: Originally Posted by sr98219

what auto parts store did you find that in? I'm gonna have to try that.

I saw it at Autozone