Cowhorn

Did a search first. Didn't find what I needed.

I want to degrease and wash my engine bay. What needs to be protected from water? I am not going to pressure wash it, just spray degreaser in there and hose down.

I know many will question why I want to do this. The reason is because it is dirty and I want it to be clean.

Thanks.

mike cap

I would use some tin foil over the heater air intake, air cleaner intake, distributors, and the two electrical panels on the LH and RH side of the engine compartments.

The tin foil works well because you can shape it and it will stay in place ok.

"A clean engine is a happy engine". No questions from me about it !!

Quadcammer

While I would never do this, cover what the poster above suggests and have at it. I think you'll end up with a lot of greasy water pooling due all the nooks and crannies and the engine tin separating the top and bottom of the motor. My opinion, its probably easier with a bottle of your preferred cleaner and a few dozen towels.

BobbyT

I have washed the engines on most every car I have owned, with never a problem. I get the engine warm to the touch, but not hot, spray it down with Simple Green, and hose it off, but not using a forceful blast of water, just a gentle spray. I wipe off any pooled water, then start the engine and let it run until it reaches full temperature.

swmic

I've done it several times on all my p-cars without covering anything. I'm just careful not to directly blast the critical areas mentioned above.

Kika

My procedure is similar, I have not warmed the engine, prior, what is the reason for that?

spray simple green, let it soak a little, I use an old tooth brush on metal parts that have built up grime.
I remove the nozzle from the hose so there is a decent volume of water, but not a lot of pressure behind it. avoid distributor, air cleaner opening, electronics on left side of engine bay. personally, I don't think a little over spray isn't going to kill anything. I also clean off the bottom of the engine and brush where I can.

rinse, then I take the car out for a drive and let it blow dry.

I have done this on most every car I have owned, including 3 air cooled Porsches, and never had any problems.

A clean motor is a happy motor, plus I think my mechanic appreciates it.

LexVan

Everything is right here:

http://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia...detailing.html

And always here:

http://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia...yperlinks.html

G-MASSA

One suggestion- I would be careful with some degreasers as they can embrittle plastics and rubbers and also etch aluminum if left for long periods in direct contact. I believe simple green is not recommended for aluminum. Just be quick with solvents. Also- strong degreasers seem to ruin the anodized black coating on newer Porsche brake calipers.

IXLR8

That will get most of it, but I always use a 1" paintbrush and toothbrush as well, along with my favorite water based degreaser which is then followed by a good rinsing using a soft spray nozzle. I've never covered anything.

The end result was a reasonably clean engine compartment.

pp000830

No No No! Don't do it: “accept the things I should not fix, have courage to fix the things I must and have the wisdom to know the difference”

driveline

Just some useful technical knowledge. Get the msds on the cleaner online. Aluminum does not like very basic solutions. ph of 11 is bad. Do not use formula 409! Use mild detergents or petrol based stoddard solvent.

Academictech

don't hit it with the hose....be brave and lose some knuckle skin like the rest of us....by hand with a damp cloth or not at all

DiegoR

I'm just looking for a degreaser as well. Down there is nasty (engine low side and grearbox) and as well my engine bay.How about the citrus degreaser version? Simple Green will work?

mongrelcat

And here:

http://www.detailedimage.com/Auto-De...de/Engine-Bay/

IXLR8

The product I use, Facto AT30, has a pH of 12.7 undiluted which is the way I use it 99% of the time and I have yet to see any detrimental effect on aluminum or painted surfaces in my nearly 30 years of use.

Facto AT30 Description:
A liquid detergent concentrate specially designed to add a new dimension to exterior cleaning of modern mass transit vehicles including aircrafts. Safe for use on most hard surfaces including aluminum, lexan, Plexiglass®, enamelled and lacquered surfaces. Excellent in tunnel washers and portable spray units.