After Off Roading Cleaning

What product can I use to clean out my engine? And any tips or advice for cleaning FL sandy mud from the undercarriage?

Thanks!

 

when you say "clean out my engine" what exactly do you mean?
in the cylinders? fuel system? engine bay? etc??????????

 

Water is enough, I find rad hoses stain with mud and heat, nothing to be done.

Degreasers are for oils and sludge, mud isn't nearly as bad to wash off.

Quick rinse, blow off with compressed air is ideal.

 

To clarify- wash/rinse the engine bay from sand and mud after some trails (not tear apart and clean for maintenance; it only has 1,100 miles on it lol). So, gentle spray with water?

 

water hose is plenty, maybe a gentle brush to help. not a pressure washer, electronics hate that.

 

Ha get a load of this guy. Actually cleaning his truck lmaooo

Jk here’s a good video. I’ve always wanted to do this but I wheel pretty much every other week so no point lol

https://youtu.be/PRSoRkM8GcM

 

My buddy armoralls the shit out of his engine bay, hoses, etc. when we head off road and it seems to do a pretty good job keeping all the mud and crap from staining things in the engine bay.

I do not... and mine looks like someone shiiiiit in it..

 

Just depends on HOW clean you want it.

Do you want a show truck finish? I'd suggest not taking it offroad, then, lol...

A hose and some simple green or some of that foamy engine degreaser (brand does not matter) does wonders.

Or you can be like my dad's neighbor, who goes out for a 1/2 hour ride on his BMW motorcycle, then spends 3 hours detailing it. The guy uses half a roll of paper towels every time. I'd much rather go for a 3 hr and 25 minute ride, then spend 5 minutes hosing it off.

 

We're supposed to hose our bikes off?

 

At least get the big chunks off.

clean the chain. other than that, no, not really...

I ride a dirtbike, not street princesses.

 

Hahahah, yeah I like it both ways: dirty and clean.

 

chunks and chain is what I do, though not dirt bikes. Tiger and Himalayan

 

Simple green, and plastic brushes. I pulled the battery out and covered the box behind it with a trash bag, just in case. Took about an hour, did wonders for the engine bay.
I did use a pressure washer but stood on a ladder for more distance.

 

An HOUR? You are a better man than I Gunga Din.

Looks good though.

 

Clean your truck like your gun; clean only when it's not working right.

Seriously though it looks fantastic and the water advice is a bit off.

There is a myth that water causes short circuits. It's false, pure water doesn't conduct electricity. The contaminates in the water that are left behind can be conductive and may lead to shorts. So using all the cleaning agents, even soapy water is just as bad if not worse then using tap water.

There is no current in most of the electronics under the hood with the engine off (excluding maybe electric cars?). The main ECU is inside the cab some where. The other stuff (ABS ECU and fuse box, wiper motor, alternator, ignition system) are inactive, or at least is shouldn't be active. I hope you're not using your ABS while cleaning your car; although, it's sealed anyway. There will be a small current draw (for the clock, alarm etc...) in the fuse block; however, a little bit of water shouldn't hurt it. Wiper motor, alternator and ignition can handle some splashing.

Realistically a few drops of water near spark plugs don't matter, it will immediately evaporate. They operate at 10's of thousands of volts. If it fails because of a bit of water it wasn't working right anyway. However, you don't want to get water inside your spark plug boots or distributor (although I think they are pretty much sealed). If you are concerned, you can remove each wire, one at a time and blow them out with compressed air.

Although I think you are better off leaving them alone, if you are concerned about water or contaminates inside the connectors, you can pop the electrical connectors and blow them out with compressed air and clean them with some contact cleaner. Be very careful not to break the connectors. Again, I would rather not fix it if it ain't broke.

Also if you design to polish your aluminum alternator or around there you are risking leaving metal flakes inside the exposed coils. It won't kill it today, but may shorten the life. It's not good, be very careful with that.