xcusemi

Hello all:

As stated on the title, I would like to know what part in the engine bay needs to cover on our beloved 993. I plan on doing this for a long time, but really worry that I might end up breaking things. Pls advise


Thanks

mike cap

On the 993 I use aluminum foil and wrap it around the electronic controllers on the LH and RH side of the engine bay and around and over the distributors. Everything else can get a good wash and soap. Warm water and Simple Green works well. Try and keep the water pressure as low as possible and warm if you can get a tap off a sink.

Aluminum foil will mold and stay on anything you wrap it around. These items don't need to be sealed, just protected from direct spray.

Make sure to rinse the engine well when all done.

cosmic_993

good idea on the foil wrap.

xcusemi

Thanks Mike for the suggestion. I plan to clean up the engine this weekend after the oil change before putting her away for the winter =)


Thanks

dcdude

Took it to a coin-op car wash. I think I rubber banded a plastic bag over the air intake and hit her with spray Gunk. Tried not to hit it with too much of the high pressure, if any. IIRC, they had a low flow ("no spot"?) spray. Followed instructions and drove off the moisture for at least 15 minutes.

Sacrilege, perhaps, but lived to tell the tale. Engine compartment looks great!

Pete Lech

Basically I bag the air intake and avoid spraying directly into the fan to spare the alternator.

I have done it this way for years with no problems. The engine was made to get wet from the louvers above.

IXLR8

You really do not need to cover anything if all you are using is a fine spray from the garden hose nozzle to rinse off the engine after cleaning.

Use a quality industrial cleaning product like Swish Facto AT-30 and you won't need the pressure of a pressure washer to remove the dirt.

To dry the engine compartment, all I do is start the engine and run it for a few minutes. The heat given off by the engine after it is shut down will dry it out nicely.

1pcarnut

Great tip on the aluminum foil, I use Saran wrap but I like your idea better. However, maybe someone else can correct me, but I believe the Simple Green is not ph neutral and will cause corrosion on bare aluminum. I use Gunk Foaming Engine Cleaner, it doesn't hurt paint and is non-corrosive. I wait for it to come on sale at Kragen and then buy a six-pack.

Rdelvalle

Hi guys:
I am planning to clean mine but I have one question. How do you clean the alternator fan blades. Mine is very dirty more stain than dirt. I lightly tried to clean it with cleaning liquids and did no budge. IXRLS your fan blades look immaculate. Like I said mine looks like the plastic is stained, is brownish red.

IXLR8

From what I have read on this forum, the fan blades are painted magnesium alloy.

I cleaned my fan blade using Swish Facto AT-30, but then is has been my number-one degreaser since 1986. I've tried others since but have found none even close in performance.

Although I do have Dunk and kerosene on hand, I only use those products when cleaning a used vehicle that I just bought. It takes the years of the caked on grime off faster. What I don't like about Dunk and kerosene is that it wrecks asphalt driveways and the strong odor.

BTW, brownish red can be rust or grease from a rusty bearing or shaft.

IXLR8

If by pH neutral you mean 7 on the scale, neither is Swish Facto AT-30 which has a pH of 12.9 . Yet it is approved for mass transit vehicles including aircraft...that are made out of aluminium. My motorcycle parts are made out of aluminium. Plus the product is safe on paint.

mongrelcat

Here's a good guide:
http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-P...ur-engine-bay/

I like Optimum Power Clean as the degreaser (either straight-up or diluted depending on the grime level) http://www.detailedimage.com/Optimum...287/128-oz-S2/ pH is around 11 if I remember right.

And Aero 303 after. http://www.detailedimage.com/303-M2/...P12/128-oz-S3/

dcdude

+1. Don't know the Ph either, but Tony Callas steered me off of Simple Green for the engine as well, also saying that it doesn't play nice with aluminum. He recommends aerosol brake cleaner, compressed air and eye protection to spot clean the bottom of the engine. Don't know his opinion on the top.

I do like Simple Green for lots of other non-car related uses.

Stealth 993

Don't waste time covering anything. Just don't put the hose in the intake, on under the electronics panels on either side. Try not to put a hard stream on any connectors or the distributors.

The use you favorite degreaser, & APC (NOT Simple Green). Of course have an assortment of brushes, towels, & dowels to reach the hard spots. I got some cool long handle brushes with foam on the end, that works awesome for the fan blades, & deep in the engine bay.

A clean engine is a happy engine!

ltc

Do not use Simple Green !

P21S Total Auto Wash is a better safe choice.

But, fir much more expert opinions, search the Detailing forum, the sponsors there are professionals.