Engine Cleaning
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Joined: Aug 2006
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Engine Cleaning
It's embarassing, but I've never cleaned my engine in the 5 years i've owned C2S. The car's been so reliable, I don't get in the engine bay often. The engine is extremely dirty and i'm a little afraid to clean it? How have others done it?
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: San Antonio, TX
Subscribed. I used to keep my E46 M3 engine bay spotless, but the 997 bay seems to crowded and I suspect things need to be removed depending on how clean you want it. Just the same, I'm interested in what others have done.
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Joined: Apr 2010
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assuming you're talking about what you can access through the door, pretty much everything can be cleaned with a wet rag. But, really you can't access much of the engine there- that's just the airbox and accessories.
I also shoot out the mufflers with a hose through the wheel wells and work it with a rag and and occassionally wet rag off the bottom of the engine when I'm under the car.
I'm sure you can spray the engine itself from the bottom with some kind of special sauce to clean it but I'm not sure I like that approach. I stick with water and elbow grease.
I also shoot out the mufflers with a hose through the wheel wells and work it with a rag and and occassionally wet rag off the bottom of the engine when I'm under the car.
I'm sure you can spray the engine itself from the bottom with some kind of special sauce to clean it but I'm not sure I like that approach. I stick with water and elbow grease.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Tampa
I've cleaned mine off using Simple Green be ause it doesn't harm rubber or plastic. Just cover tape up the air intake. I scrub around with different size brushes then crank the car and let it idle and get hot to dry up the water while I wash the car. Also don't use high water pressure.
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From: Winston-Salem, NC
I've cleaned mine off using Simple Green be ause it doesn't harm rubber or plastic. Just cover tape up the air intake. I scrub around with different size brushes then crank the car and let it idle and get hot to dry up the water while I wash the car. Also don't use high water pressure.
I also use a leaf blower to get rid of the excess water when I wash the car.
- Wash the top and glass, and rear deck - rinse, dry with leaf blower, finish drying with micro fiber towels
- Wash the front and one side - rinse, dry with leaf blower, finish drying with micro fiber towels
- Wash the rear bumper cover and the other side - rinse, dry with leaf blower, finish drying with micro fiber towels
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Joe Kucinski
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Minnesota
Gunk
I've always cleaned all my engines with gunk. I love the smell of gunk in the morning.
it's harder to find these days probably bad for environment or worse. I stocked up on a couple of gallons. You deluite it with kerosine so I have enough for years to come.
it's harder to find these days probably bad for environment or worse. I stocked up on a couple of gallons. You deluite it with kerosine so I have enough for years to come.
Banned
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 250
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From: Naperville, IL
Start the engine and let it get warm, not hot. Turn it off. You can spray diluted (you decide how diluted) Wurth Citrus Degreaser throughout the engine compartment. Use a soft brush to agitate the surfaces. You can do it once and rinse with a soft spray of water. Then do it again and get any remaining dirt, dust, grease. Rinse with a soft spray of water. Then you can use compressed air to get the remaining moisture off of the engine. I suggest you then spray a product like AR Supply, Inc. "Instant Shine" on the wiring, hoses and rubber and plastic pieces. Wipe the excess from the surfaces you can reach. The motor will look nicer than when it came from Porsche.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Tampa
Just be careful blowing air on a wet engine..... Especially compressed air. You do not want you drive moisture down into electrical connections. That is why I let my engine idle and heat up while I was off the car and then possible go for a quick drive.
Also be careful of products like "Gunk" that can be harmful to rubber or plastic components. I've been using Simple a green since the late 80's to wash engines because it is non-caustic and does not harm rubber.
Also be careful of products like "Gunk" that can be harmful to rubber or plastic components. I've been using Simple a green since the late 80's to wash engines because it is non-caustic and does not harm rubber.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 677
Likes: 3
From: Minnesota
Just be careful blowing air on a wet engine..... Especially compressed air. You do not want you drive moisture down into electrical connections. That is why I let my engine idle and heat up while I was off the car and then possible go for a quick drive.
Also be careful of products like "Gunk" that can be harmful to rubber or plastic components. I've been using Simple a green since the late 80's to wash engines because it is non-caustic and does not harm rubber.
Also be careful of products like "Gunk" that can be harmful to rubber or plastic components. I've been using Simple a green since the late 80's to wash engines because it is non-caustic and does not harm rubber.
I have never had a problem using Gunk for over 55 years. YMMV
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Clifton, NJ
why risk it?
There is nothing wrong with it being dusty and slightly dirty.
Its not affecting how it runs, there's not much to show off in there, and there is potential you could screw something up, so I say just leave it how it is.
There is nothing wrong with it being dusty and slightly dirty.
Its not affecting how it runs, there's not much to show off in there, and there is potential you could screw something up, so I say just leave it how it is.
Poseur
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From: Santa Barbara, CA
The importance of keeping an engine bay clean is appreciated more as a car gets older. It affords you the opportunity of seeing seeps or leaks earlier. I use brake cleaner on strictly metal parts (not painted) and Gunk for others (easier on plastics). You may be too late however. Keeping an engine clean starts from the beginning. It's far easier to keep an engine clean when you have only 12 months of grime to remove--than 5 years of it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,189
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From: Davidsonville, MD
I clean almost everything in the engine compartment with Meguiars Detail Spray and rags. That works fine for me since my engine compartment has always been very clean; I don't know how well that would work on a really dirty engine.