Cleaning Engine Compartment

[cdurbin]

My engine compartment could use a good cleaning but I am always leary about spraying water and/or chemicals all over the engine. Any advice or experience?
Thanks

 

[LilBerx]

Cover the alternator and distributor with plastic bags, then just spray it down with a pressure washer, be sure not to get water into the intake. Wipe it clean.

 

[terdog]

I use Castrol Super Clean / Purple Power.
I have never had a problem with spraying it on any engine bay, then rinsing. Just dont put it on a warm/hot engine, and dont let it dry or you may get some staining.

 

[cdurbin]

great. thanks for the input guys.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

That Castrol/Purple Power stuff does work good. It says its environmentally friendly too. I used it to clean my rubber mat on my Harley truck. It came out like brand new. I rinsed it off, didn't stain my driveway or kill my grass.

 

[cdurbin]

Yeah, I've got a jug of it in the garage that I use for all kinds of stuff. I've been using it for years. I'll give it a shot this weekend. I got rained out yesterday.

 

[krazedstang]

Never tried that purple stuff, always used simple green, usually works just fine.

 

[StreetsideStig]

And then you can post more PICS!

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

I've used Super Clean, and it works ok, but i've had best results with GUNK Degreaser. Spray everything down (after bagging up the distributor and any fuse boxes you may have) and let it sit for a minute, then pressure wash it all off. I did it waaaay back in the day at a car wash with my coupe when i first got it.

It went from this:

To this:

Granted it was still a rat's nest, but a much cleaner rat's nest.

 

[cdurbin]

Wow, that looks pretty damn clean to me. It looks like a different car.
I'm ready for the weekend so I can get out there and get after it.
I'll try to remember to take some before and after picks to post.
Thanks

 

[cdurbin]

when you guys say pressure wash do you mean a water hose or an actual pressure washer?

 

[StangYellow]

I've used Super Clean, and it works ok, but i've had best results with GUNK Degreaser. Spray everything down (after bagging up the distributor and any fuse boxes you may have) and let it sit for a minute, then pressure wash it all off. I did it waaaay back in the day at a car wash with my coupe when i first got it.

It went from this:

To this:

Granted it was still a rat's nest, but a much cleaner rat's nest.

Damn your pressure washer is strong! It removed the snorkel off your air cleaner and washed away your a/c compressor.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Damn your pressure washer is strong! It removed the snorkel off your air cleaner and washed away your a/c compressor.

Not only that but it even spray painted the valve covers and brake booster lid!

But yeah my point was directed more towards the rest of the engine compartment, which is hard to see from any of the old pics i have. It was most noticeable down on the frame rails where crud collects.