Engine Wash

[bobtasco]

I used to have an old diesel and you pretty much took it to the car wash and sprayed it down with degreaser to clean it. I think gassers are supposed to be a little to fragile for that, but how do you clean out the engine compartment?

[Fishslayer]

I don't.

Every time I did it to my '85 Ranger I had to wait for hours before it would start. I'm gonna guess my Elantra would like a hosing even less.

'course, you guys would know better than I. If you say it's OK to Gunk it & hose it, I'll give 'er a try!

But then, PETA might have my azz if they caught me destroying the "habitat" growing under my hood... :D


Fishslayer

[jayupark]

I gunked and hosed mine down last summer... it looked sooo nice, but it stunk for days... (the smell of gunk engine degreaser burning is not a nice smell). I think I'm still high off the fumes.

[Munky]

The best way is a little elbow grease. Takes a lot more work, but it's worth it.

[ghrpdx]

I use the engine degreaser that is available at the self service car wash. It's one of the selections along with soap, rinse, tire cleaner, wax, etc. The only problem I have EVER had is I cracked the insulator on one of my spark plugs. So ... make sure you're not cleaning a hot engine. Give it time to cool down. I spray the engine with the degreaser or "engine cleaner", let it sit for a little while, then use the soap setting, then rinse. It sure makes a difference in the appearance.

I bet a clean engine runs a bit cooler than a grime coated engine as well.

[NY2002ElantraGT]

Let your engine cool, Spray degreaser all over, let it sit for a few minutes to work. hose it off with a mist (dont use stream). find the dirty spots, respray with degreaser use a rag and elbow grease, re rinse, then armoral hoses. thats what i do.

[mtlelantra]

I use Simple Green degreaser. Cool engine, cover the coil, alternator, AC, DRL unit, intake with plastic bags. Spray the compartment down to wet it. Spray degreaser over the whole compartment, let it sit 5-10 min, spray it down. Repeat if necessary.
I've been washing engines this way for years and haven't cooked a coil or alternator yet.

[elantra_mann84]

i used a turtle wax platinum touch up spray then scrubed with a soft brush hosed off then sprayed again then wiped around till dry heres a pic

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/2401000-2401999/2401043_17_full.jpg

[Fishslayer]

i used a turtle wax platinum touch up spray then scrubed with a soft brush hosed off then sprayed again then wiped around till dry heres a pic

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/2401000-2401999/2401043_17_full.jpg



SWEET! :D

OK... might give 'er a try...


Fishslayer

[elantra_mann84]

post pics when finished i wanna see

[ghrpdx]

From Ask A Mechanic on tcc.com

A cleaner engine

Q--What is your take on cleaning an auto engine and its area with water and auto store cleaners? An aero mechanic friend says, "Don't. Leave it to the pros." I know that used car dealers do this all the time. What are your thoughts? How can I do this without problems?

A--I like a clean engine and a clean engine compartment. Some people say that a clean engine runs cooler, which may be marginally so. But I like a clean engine because it is easy to spot leaks and more pleasant to work on. Most of the store-bought products are sprayed on a warm engine then rinsed off with high-pressure water. If you chose to use one, I suggest you rinse the engine at a coin-operated carwash where they have grease traps that prevent crud from entering the waste water system. Also, avoid excessively high pressure; don't squeeze the trigger for a maximum water blast as it can damage some engine parts such as sensors and electrical connectors. Also, avoid getting any water in the air intake system or air filter. Finally, it's a good idea to wash the rest of the car, just in case any of the cleaner got on the paint.

[turboron_98]

I pressure wash my engine compartment all the time. I am a tech at a dealer and we wash engine compartments out all the time when we spill coolant or p/s fluid, ect. It isn't an old carburated setup with a points ignition. These cars have sealed air boxes with distributorless ignition. As long as you don't spray the Throttle Position Sensor directly for about 30 sec with a high power pressure wash unit you are fine.

[Codenomics]

I wash mine every time i wash the outside. I wont let the engine get so dirty that i have to scrub, i just spray it down with soap and water at the car wash. I had to scrub my 06 elantra engine once! argh! went through 2 cans of break cleaner and my mother in laws toothbrush.

[Avante-Horizon]

Myabe it's about time I start cleaning under the hood too. :) Never have at this point. And I have an '03. I guess washing the car's outside but skipping on this is like brushing only the front of your teeth. :D

[Codenomics]

A clean engine is a happy engine!

elantra_mann84, is that just rattle can paint under the hood or what? ive been thinking about doing the same... havent had time yet.

[jrod13]

I am a detailer at a dealership. Pressure washer will not hurt your engine. We spray some degreaser on them then spray the hell out of them with the pressure washer. Then shine them up with a nice dressing. Just be careful if you have a CAI or SRI, basically anything that isn't a stock air filter setup. You don't want to get that wet if you plan on starting the motor anytime soon.

Spray away my friends... spray away.

[Slapshotman7]

So for my engine:
Ive added a SRI intake and wires from the battery for my amp/switch but thats it.

So what exactly would I need to cover with a plastic bag for the spray degreaser then wash with mist method.

I know the SRI obviously, but anything else? (I would temporarly remove the other wires also)

Although my engine compartment is black it wouldnt really be as noticable but I would know. haha.

[jrod13]

I have sprayed mine with my fuse block for my amp exposed. Just take a plastic ziploc bag without the ziploc part and rubberband it around the tube over the filter. You should be good to go. Nice part about working at the dealership is we have air hoses to dry them off with.

[DESIGN]

cool engine, simple green, scrub brush, then rinse.

[logan4ta]

any nice member out there wanna point out what to cover (in a pic) before spraying down the engine?

[cclngthr]

I talked to several people about cleaning engines and those who I talked to with electrical backgrounds tell me not to use Gunk or engine degreasers around the alternator. Plain soap/water is recommended because the degreaser chemicals break down the brushes in the alternator.

I generally use a high pressure soap/water mix when I clean an engine.

[HYTECH]

if it runs like crap when you are done pull the plug wires up and dry out the sparkplug wells. other than that you are good. like cclngthr said don't degrease the alt. but you can spray it with the pressure washer.

[sadasar]

thanks guys i really need to get on the ball with this i bought my 02 about a year ago. and well lets just say if you guys saw it right now you wouldn't be happy it isn't like horrific but, i mean you know the ole saying you can tell alot about a man by the way he keeps his car. yea its that sort of thing i guess.

[quickfingerz]

I spray down my engine compartment regularly as well. I actually prefer SuperTech Engine Degreaser from Walmart for $2 over GUNK. SuperTech foams and doesn't run down into hidden spaces.

[NY2002ElantraGT]

thinking about using my dad's steam cleaner for those hard to reach (scrub) areas. wonder if that will lift heavy grease.

i got my engine cleaner and im ready to go to town on my filthy engine.

[2003GT]

I used Gunk and sprayed it everywhere. I even got it all around the plug cover because I removed the plastic cover. I rinsed the hell out of them and it still fired right up and ran fine. Someone else also told me to spray the car down while it was running to prevent the plugs from getting water in them. BOB

[RotaMan99]

Nothing wrong with spraying down your engine. I would recommend leaving the engine running while doing it. Unless your engine has thick grease that you need to scrap off. Some wheel cleaner and a hose works like a charm.

Plain soap/water is recommended because the degreaser chemicals break down the brushes in the alternator.

Sounds a bit fishy but I have might have some spare brushes I can test with.