Cleaning my Engine bay.

Hey guys I’m planning on giving my engine and engine bay a good cleaning, it’s filthy from the winters salt. Other than covering my battery, alternator, and fuse box with plastic bags, does anyone have any advice for washing under the hood. These new vehicles are so electronic I’m hesitant to spray much water under there but it has to be done it’s caked in salt. Thanks in advance.

 

Washed mine and it's fine just dry it all over with compressed air. And don't pressure wash. Use a mild detergent

 

Cover those areas with plastic as you stated. I use Chemical Guys degreaser, and a soft brush after I rinse with water. Then I will spray some soap on it and brush it all again. Then rinse, and dry, if you want put a nice protectant on there. I have been doing it this way for several years. I use a hose, no pressure washer obviously. There are folks who say no to the water though. Take my opinion for what it is worth.

 

cover battery & alternator , i use a pressure washer but just give it quick shot the less water the better off you'll be .. also keep vehicle running while cleaning it and after let the heat dry your engine bay .. make sure engine bay is dry before shutting off and you should be fine .

 

This is what I use to clean my engine bay and it’s amazing. Living on the east coast you are going to want to do this often. I had my truck over there for one winter on those salt roads and can definitely tell. I washed my truck weekly too. Not my Engine Bay at that time. I wish I had though.

Adam's Polishes Soft & Short Red Wheel Brush



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Adam's Polishes Car Shampoo - is a concentrated, high-performance, pH neutral soap that lubricates as you wash. This product prevents spotting even when washing in the direct sun or with hard water.



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Here are some videos for you:

https://youtu.be/EkfyJW8xBqM

https://youtu.be/ZQfsdL61q8w

https://youtu.be/rZvEZrgyoX0

 

Adams polishes is absolutely the way to go!

 

You can use a pressure washer...I use an electrical so it's not to strong vs gas. I just spray farther away and never had problems. Any APC (all purpose cleaner) will work, and if your engine is really dirty grab a degreaser. I've also seen others mix their degreaser and APC.

I also use 303 aerospace protectant after it dries.

 

Use Simple Green bike degreaser. Inexpensive and does not etch metal or cause corrosion on electrical connectors/contacts. Just use a garden hose for rinsing. Many other degreasers are too acidic/caustic.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Simple-Green-24-oz-Bike-Cleaner-and-Degreaser-0400000113075/206624119?cm_mmc=Shopping|THD|G|0|G-BASE-PLA-AllProducts|&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8-38557V2QIVEY_ICh1IvgweEAkYAiABEgKrtPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CJrKq_2e1dkCFQy-TwodH08JLQ

 

303 is good stuff. I've had good results with S100 motorcycle cleaner.... won't hurt paint, chrome, plastic, leather, etc. My wife uses it on the shower door and walls. All the advise on this forum is correct, including the long handle "milk can" brush!

 

Here is a pic of my 14 TRDOR @ 60K all I ever used was straight Simple Green then hosed it off then used compressed air to dry it off then spray Stoners trim shine on it.....

You can also use Adams in and out spray that dries really well without a greasy touch....

Below is my 2012 VW Touareg

 

All we should have on our trucks is mud, dirt, dust from offroading or rain splash, therefore no harsh d-greasers or chemicals should be needed for cleaning. If there's any grease or oil stains there's a problem.
I keep my engine compartment spotless by wiping with an old damp bath towel after washing the whole truck. After offrading, any grimed in dirt or mud gets a soft rinse, and then wet soapy brush down and soft rinse again.

Oh and btw, very important, I make dam sure not to touch or rough handle the heater element hoses against the drivers side firewall, and I stay away from the A/C evaporator lines coming out the passenger side firewall as it doesn't take much handling to cause them to leak by handling them.
Ask me how I know

Cheers!

 

I'm a simple green guy too....I just spray the entire engine bay with the simple green and lightly rinse with garden hose and very little pressure. Works great. If you have not tried simple green you are missing out....good stuff. I use it on everything from my truck to the bathroom in the house.

 

I just spray it with plain water every time I wash the truck, then dry it off. I've been doing this for years and never had an issue. After 250,000 miles my first gen was as clean as the day it came of the showroom floor...

 

I have gently hosed mine off 3 times without covering anything. Fired up right away without issue. Now wondering if I should cover anything.

 

Why cover the battery when washing the engine compartment? Other than laying something conductive across both terminals,the water won't hurt anything. Ever look under you hood after driving in a rainstorm?

 

Why cover the alternator?? There are NO electronic contacts like brushes in it - it is a coil of wire spinning inside another coil of wire.

 

Learned it in a detailing class , always done it since and never had any issues

 

I take it back - there are slip rings and carbon brushes. Sorry for the #fakenews.

 

Ditto for the alternator and driving in a rainstorm. The alternator is soaking wet.. Unless you put the pressure washer nozzle in an alternator opening you are fine.

 

I wouldn't use a pressure washer under the hood, or compressed air to clean it because you're gonna drive moisture deeper into electrical connectors where it can't evaporate as easily.

As long as my engine bay isn't so dirty that it invites corrosion or makes it hard to work on stuff or spot leaks I'm not sweating it. Nobody looks in there anyway except for me