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clean engine bay

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by xgalvanxgx, Jun 24, 2012.

  1. Jun 24, 2012 at 4:49 PM
    #1
    xgalvanxgx

    xgalvanxgx [OP] seymour butts

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    hey guys so ive read a bunch of "similar threads" but theyre all different answers! cold cleaning, hot cleaning, :confused: whats the proper way DIY.
     
  2. Jun 25, 2012 at 1:48 PM
    #2
    Ostrichsak

    Ostrichsak Don't taze me bro!

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    The way I have done it in the past is to start the vehicle and leave idling. Use a can (2 if it's REAL dirty) of engine degreaser and spray the engine real good making sure to avoid the intake and battery/fuse area (to be safe). Then drive it to a car wash that has a pressure wash wand and put it on the 'rinse' setting. Rinse your engine real good to get all the degreaser off being careful to stay clear of the battery & fuse area once again. Make sure you clean your car real good afterwards as you don't want any of this stuff sitting on your paint or other car parts. I've been using this method for decades now and it's always worked fine. Shouldn't be something you have to do very often anyway.
     
  3. Jun 25, 2012 at 2:26 PM
    #3
    CorrosiveTendency

    CorrosiveTendency When up to your nose in shit, keep your mouth shut

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    Spray it down with purple power or simple green or whatever you want, let it sit for a minute then rinse thoroughly with something non-high pressure. DO NOT let it sit for more than a minute or two, this type of cleaner will do damage to aluminum and rubber real fast. A garden hose with your thumb over the end is all the pressure you need.
     
  4. Jun 25, 2012 at 3:59 PM
    #4
    92LandCruiser

    92LandCruiser Well-Known Member

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    I hose it down at the car wash with the wand I just avoid hitting the firewall or fuse box for too long.

    You can wash away stickers though.
     
  5. Jun 25, 2012 at 4:45 PM
    #5
    Utard

    Utard Well-Known Member

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    ------------------------------------------------------------ Stabilus.EZDown.Tailgate http://www.ezdown.com/home.php ----------------------------------------------- Tekonsha.Primus.IQ.Trailer.brake http://www.tekonsha.com/content/default.aspx---------------------------------------------------------------- Leer 180 CC http://www.leer.com/Truck-Caps#------------------------------------------------ Firestone Air Rite Air Bags--------------------------------------Kargomaster Rack
    I wouldn't get the nozzle of the sprayer any closer than 18-24" from anything under the hood.

    And let it cool off before getting water in there.
     
  6. Jun 25, 2012 at 7:02 PM
    #6
    SCSPerformance

    SCSPerformance Stealth Custom Series™ Vendor

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    there are many ways to do it. from my personal experience throughout the years, i've always hosed down a warm engine first, spray simple green all over(it's non-toxic and safe), let it sit and soak for 5-10min, and finally hose it down.

    my old cobra using the method above.

    000_0532_f61fb2ad775ef8d72db78d42c468935434fef96c.jpg

    000_0534_1a42069dcba94ffc2e631e0390af24b0c17d2651.jpg
     
  7. Jun 25, 2012 at 9:52 PM
    #7
    brian

    brian Another Traitor

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    Not fair Vin, I bet that thing was never dirty!
     
  8. Jun 25, 2012 at 10:09 PM
    #8
    SCSPerformance

    SCSPerformance Stealth Custom Series™ Vendor

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    lol, it never got dirty in my hands b/c of my method of cleaning;). unfortunately, i've seen this car pass through 2 new owners and it's not in the same pristine condition anymore.
     
  9. Jun 28, 2012 at 2:34 AM
    #9
    Blueinstinct

    Blueinstinct Well-Known Member

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    Im on the same boat man! I bet you still have them dirt from the last meet :rofl: my friend told me to wash it cold and cover the alternator with a plastic bag and if you have a k&n intake like me cover the filter too.. also any fuse that you think that'll get wet. If I have the time ill wash mine this weekend and upload a video so all the pros can post a comment and talk sh¡t about how I did it wrong lol :p
     
  10. Jun 28, 2012 at 7:56 AM
    #10
    Janster

    Janster Old & Forgetful

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    You know it.......

    My engine bay needs cleaned bad....hasn't been done since I bought it 5 years ago. :eek:
    For the most part, mine is just dusty....(no offroading)
     
  11. Jun 28, 2012 at 1:39 PM
    #11
    SCSPerformance

    SCSPerformance Stealth Custom Series™ Vendor

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    Mostly dust is extremely easy to clean. Obviously, you would have to cover the air filter(if it's exposed), but I never have to do anything special with anything else. Right after you rinse off the simple green, I like to start the engine and let the fan and heat dry everything up. Then I go over all the black plastic, hoses, and such with some kind of protectant. This helps keep everything looking new and easier to rinse off the dust the next time around. I like to do this with every other car wash. With my Tacoma, it's a different story, lol.
     
  12. Jun 28, 2012 at 1:45 PM
    #12
    xgalvanxgx

    xgalvanxgx [OP] seymour butts

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    yep we got the same dirt man! but my alternator is dirty too?? :confused:
     
  13. Jun 28, 2012 at 2:25 PM
    #13
    Blueinstinct

    Blueinstinct Well-Known Member

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    You can Wipe it clean brother :thumbup:

    b8ffa899-cbde-bc04_f4464521ce5c5d110808339a86bfbe209dab10be.jpg
     
  14. Jun 28, 2012 at 2:32 PM
    #14
    2004tacoprerunner

    2004tacoprerunner Well-Known Member

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    I won't use simple green on anything with aluminum. Just good old fashioned gunk and a brush.
    Just Google simple green and you get tons of hit for not using it on aluminum.
    There are just too many pockets that might get missed. I know guys that used it to clean their AR's and thought they flushed it out good enough. Bad problems happened.
     
  15. Jun 28, 2012 at 2:44 PM
    #15
    Ostrichsak

    Ostrichsak Don't taze me bro!

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    Exactly what I've been saying... Gunk.. aka Engine degreaser. Been using this method for decades on MANY vehicles and never had a single issue other than on a car that had a weird valve cover that drained fluid into the spark plug wells fouling all 6 but that was the design and pretty much any engine cleaning method would have caused that. No way in hell will you catch me using Simply Green on half of the things people recommend you use it on. It's not the miracle that their marketing team would have you believe.

    Since we're posting pictures to prove our method works here's my Typhoon that was over 15yrs old and over 180k miles and you could eat off of it. I have two vehicles now that are less than a year old that aren't as clean as the underhood of this bad boy.

    IMG_1075_49fd9a3cf5582dc47c706f18d4c6bfafd1fc25a9.jpg

    If we have to keep posting pictures I could fill a few pages with engine pics that are all spotless to prove my method works. Engine degreaser was ENGINEERED to clean engines and nothing else. It's sole existence on the face of this earth is to clean engines. 'nuff said.
     
  16. Jun 28, 2012 at 3:21 PM
    #16
    Blueinstinct

    Blueinstinct Well-Known Member

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    Hey I posted a dirty one lol post before and after :p
     
  17. Jun 28, 2012 at 3:23 PM
    #17
    xgalvanxgx

    xgalvanxgx [OP] seymour butts

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    ill try and do a video tutorial :thumbsup:
     
  18. Jun 28, 2012 at 3:23 PM
    #18
    brian

    brian Another Traitor

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    I'm gonna have to take a photo of mine specifically for this thread
    .... its baddd
     
  19. Jun 28, 2012 at 8:12 PM
    #19
    DR Da_da

    DR Da_da Infrequent Member

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    I understand the dislike for Simple Green because I've had it etch valve cover aluminum. However, after I learned the proper way to use it, I really like it! The keys to avoiding issues w/ Simple Green are to apply it to a WET, COOL SURFACE and DO NOT ALLOW IT TO DRY. Rinse your COOL engine, apply Simple Green and let it soak for 1-2 minutes (you should use it at a diluted strength; I use 50/50), then rinse. Simple Green is all I use to clean my dirt bikes and vehicle engine compartments, and it does an excellent job on dirt, dust, grease, mud, etc. Once I learned the proper method I've had no issues with etching or discoloration. Again, ONLY APPLY IT TO A WET, COOL SURFACE and DO NOT ALLOW IT TO DRY!!!! Below is a snip from a popular motorcycle forum's "How-to" section regarding cleaning motocross bikes (the full article is here):

     
  20. Jun 28, 2012 at 8:22 PM
    #20
    MJonaGS32

    MJonaGS32 MJ on a GS

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    this is what my engine looks like. i don't really plan on cleaning it :D
     

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