engine cleaning?

[member]

i'm not sure where to make this thread, so i'll just make it here(mods, move it if you'd like).

what's the best way to clean under your hood? regular damp towel? are there any particular cleaners that i could buy in stores that'll clean up all the dirt?

[mt.biker]

I just spray away with one of the high pressure washer thingies at teh drive in coin wash places. My baby's motor is always clean and I've had no problems.

I think the towel would work just fine for the top of the motor but I find it hard to believe you could clean deep down with it.

[member]

seriously? just spray everything under the hood with the water spray?

i thought it damages the engine and/or other parts?

the one like in your sig, correct?

[member]

^^^ why did i even ask that? :rolleyes:

i'm gonna go clean it now. ;)

[ChrisCantSkate]

do a search, ive explaned my method a few times, just dont feel like typing it out again :cool:

[member]

"I would NOT recomend using pressurized water of ANY kind.

Your begging for problems with that. just scrub any bad bits with a brush. you can also do this 2-3 times... it'll look brand new..

the other thing to look out for if you use somthing like gunk is DO NOT spray it on rubber parts AT ALL.. it'll degrade the plactic. even if it doesn't happen right away the gunk will peel of the protective outside of the plastic and start to dry it out.

simple green/foaming simple green don't do this. also it's bio-degradable."

-nonovurbizniz

^^^ that's why i'm confused. one will say it's ok, then the other will say it's not ok.

[nonovurbizniz]

don't use gunk... it's good and all but totally uneccisary on an engine that isnt REDICULOUSLY dirty with TONS of oil and gunk built up...

Use simple green foaming cleaner it is the bomb... and it's safe on EVERYTHING.

also you should cover your distributer. and avoid spraying the battery or any other electrical areas.


hahaha that's funny I didn't even realize "member" had quoted my response from another thread.

So what are you confused about?

You CAN use pressurized water and never have a problem but you RISK minor to severe damage to parts. The biggest risk however is that you soak the dist. or the wires and it will not start till it dries.... which a can be a LONG LONG time.. my buddy in a vw got stuck at a pressure washing car wash for about 1-2 hours because his car would not start after hosing the engine bay with pressurized water.

[member]

^^^ damn, that sucks.

well, i went down to the washer stop and used the engine bay option...a low pressured HOT water started coming out.

is that how it's suppose to be? low-pressured hot water?

oh, and i cleaned up my car today...again. took me around 2 hours to finish everything from wiping the interior to the tires. 4 people passed by and all of them stoped and said, "beautiful car, you wanna wash mine next?"

ahh...the feeling when someone comments about my car...it's great.:yes:

[mt.biker]

Remember when you drive in the rain your motor gets wet, maybe spraying isnt' the best alternative but its been working fine for me till now...

[member]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! i just washed my car today and it's raining! EVERYTIME i clean it up nicely, it ****ing rains!

[firstgeardude]

i use one of those high pressure guns at the coin washes.. it works good ... first i spray with just water.. then the soap.. then i spray it all off... and i got a nice clean engine:yes:

[nonovurbizniz]

Like I said you CAN do it... and MAY not have any problems... but you get water in your distributer or in the wires and your sitting... period...

And ya the engine gets wet when it rains it however does not recieve ANY pressurized BLASTS of water especially not from the top.... Have you ever turned an engine upsidedown when it still had all the fluids in it.... not too water (or even oil) tight... but the bottom is.

You can soak gaskets ruin electrical connections water down a ground to the point the car won't start or run properly (till it dries).

I was just trying to make him aware of the "risks" of pressure washing your engine... it's sorta like the cai/bypass valve thing... you can do it forever and have no problems but hand the advice to the wrong person and their damning you up and down because there car is all F'd up.

I warned my buddy with the VW before he went too.. he was like.. I do it all the time.... 2hrs later he wished he had listened to me.

[Addict]

Originally posted by nonovurbizniz
Use simple green foaming cleaner it is the bomb... and it's safe on EVERYTHING.
And bio-degradable.;)

Don't ever use pressurized water. Just use a rag & some Simple Green. Then just trickle the water over it to clean it off.

[ebpda9]

i hosed my engine a few times anddidn't brak anything. right now i gotta do it again.

[member]

isn't it bad to get it into the intake as well?

[Addict]

Originally posted by member
isn't it bad to get it into the intake as well?
YES.

[member]

UNDERSTOOD.

[Shot 2 Hel]

maybe we should make this post a sticky cause this question always comes up