How to clean my engine?

I have a 2001 Tacoma SR5. What is the best / safest way to clean my engine? (outside, not interior)

When I was young we used to go to a car wash with a wand sprayer and just power wash it. I was told to keep the engine running. If I got water in the wrong place, it might not start until it dried off. With all of the electronics nowadays, I don't know if this method is such a good idea.

 

I hose mine down with simple green. Let it set for a minute and then scrub the plastic areas and am carful around the electrical stuff when hosing it off. Never had any issues and I've done it a hundred times

Hope this helps

 

Just don't do it while the engine is hot. An hour after it's been driven is safer.

 

Spray on some GUNK ENGINE BRIGHT. Wait a few minutes and hose it off. Everything dries clean and shiny!

 

If the engine is relatively clean to start with, like it is when the truck is new, I wash it with soap and water every time I wash the truck. If it's greasy, I use Gunk. Once the grease is gone, you should be able to keep it clean just by using soap and water. Back in the day engines weren't very water tight, thus the reason to keep it running while washing it. But modern engines are very water tight. I never worry about water exposure any more. I've been doing this for years without any problems. And don't forget to wax the inside of the hood and any areas that you can reach by hand in the engine compartment...

 

I did this for the first time. Worked great. I didn't scrub just hosed off and then left hood open for an hour in sun to dry.