Safe engine cleaning...it runs!

[oldyak]

I have read so many HORROR stories about the after effects of engine cleaning that I thought it would be a great idea to solicit successful tips...you know,the engine runs afterwards......
My 1989 daily driver needs a good under hood wash but I have been using wd-40 to spot clean after I read all the horror stories...
please share your tips with me and the other 'dirty engine' readers.
thanks
oldyak

 

[93rev2sev]

Remove DIS, coil, wires, etc...

Bag and tie the connectors.

Clean away.

 

[LJRuddy]

I usually take the car out for a drive to get things nice and hot. Let the engine idle with the hood shut for a few minutes to get everything toasty. Keep engine running, spray it down with simple green and let it dry to the engine components. (be sure to not spray anything electric) Then, take a garden hose and lightly spray the dried simple green until it is off of the engine. Simple green bonds to grease/grime/anything dirty when it dries. Rinsing it off will remove 95% of the grease that you see. Anything else will need to be removed with smaller tools i.e. toothbrush, paper towels......

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

I usually take a towel and some citrus spray cleaner. I use it conservatively and wipe all the parts I want to clean. It's a little more time consuming but it does a great job.

 

[sho'd]

i just power sprayed mine when i got it, the only problem i had was water in the plug wells. other that that nothing happened.

 

[baySHO_510]

I get a strong degreaser and spray liberally AROUND my engine... not directly onto the top of the intake manifold. I also try to avoid getting water into the plug wells, its a pain in the rear to get it out. I go ahead and scrub it down with a wash mit and rinse it where its possible with a very light stream/mist of water. The intake manifold I lightly mist with a degreaser, scrub it, then VERY LIGHTYLY spray it with water and wipe it dry.

Just dont get a harsh cleaner on your paint cuz it'll probably put spots on your paint & dont get any water directly onto any electrical parts that might become damaged.

 

[Mr95Gl]

Simple green PRO-series, and a ONE hand towel on my 95 ATX FTW!

BEFORE



AFTER






Spent about 3 hours last saturday cleaning it. Not a single drop of water was used. And yes, I'm well aware that someone stole my hoodmat. Consequences of living in the "hood". . . . .

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

Someone stole your hoodmat (I'm assuming when you stepped away from the car)? Someone's got some balls.

 

[ohfosho]

its fine to get the citrus degreaser and go to town spraying on metal parts. first use plastic bags to cover everything that you dont want wet. do not spray that alternator, or much of that side of the engine, your belt will squeak at least a day... then pressure wash on the fanned out setting...not direct/1" of area cleaning... and do not directly spray anything electrical.

of course i did it all wrong yesterday... cleaning my 99 grand am after having a used engine installed. i didnt cover anything, last night my DRLs stayed on for an hour before someone knocked at the door... so i pulled that fuse. then an hour later a friend leaving our place came back to the door to say 'it sounds like somethings running in you engine bay!', so the rad fan was going. so i unhooked the negative on the batt. let it dry. today it's still misfiring. i'll have to pull spark plug wires tomorrow, and put some di-electric grease in them.

'do as i say, not as i do!' lol

 

[93rev2sev]

And they didnt take the shock tower caps? *********...

 

[Mr95Gl]

Had them in the trunk at the time. . . . .

 

[revhardSHO]

I bag the DIS and MAF and then pressure wash avoiding the spark plugs and coil area. If you stay away from the ignition system that will eliminate most misfires after washing. Plus it saves mucho elbow grease.

 

[baySHO_510]

I had my hood off my 89 during a clutch job so I went ahead washed it like a car =)