Cleaning Engine Bay

Is there a safe DIY way to do a cleaning of your engine bay? I just opened mine up after winter, and it's got some good build up of grit and sand and salt from general driving. The engine bay has never been swamped. I would like to do a good once over just to keep the grit and corrosiveness at bay. I've seen peopel suggest different things, but I'm wondering what is actually safe. I'm thinking something like simple green and low pressure hose rinsing? Dumb idea?


Thanks

 

The best I have found, is let the engine totally cool and good old fashion blue Dawn soap and water with a brush for tough stuff. I still never found an easy spray on cleaner. Most all of them leave a residue, especially if the engine is even remotely warm.

I have one of those steam cleaners from harbor freight and even that didn't do that great.

 

I never do anything special, I just avoid spraying directly at the alternator, fuse box area or the cabin air intake. Done it at least once a year for the last 14 years with no issues. Other then the sparkplugs, filters and the PCV valve everything is still original under the hood so it's not like it's hurt anything. I use simple green and foaming gunk then wipe it down afterwards.

 

The last engine bay I cleaned was on a 2003 Suburban when I was selling it. Water got into knock sensors & required the removal of intake to access & replace the sensors. It's a truck, leave it alone. JMO

 

I use simple green and do all the surfaces I can reasonably get at. I also use plastic/rubber from chemical guys to put a nice look on the places I clean. I like to keep it clean because when you bring it to a mechanic I believe they are a little neater since your engine bay is clean and he doesn’t get dirty

 

Which foam you use?

 

I believe that too! Especially for suspension work, you want to piss off a suspension guy or alignment guy real quick bring them a dirty truck!

 

Gunk foaming cleaner, it still has the diesel in it like the std stuff but lays down a foam instead of the diesel liquid.

 

I worked as a mechanic long enough to feel exactly the same way. It sucked getting a dirty grimy motor to work on.

If it doesn't appear condition-wise that the owner cares for the vehicle what level of detail will you expect from a mechanic that's stuck working on it? In a perfect world they would do the exact same level of work but this isn't a perfect world. I'd want it to be obvious to the mechanic that it's well taken care of and I'm not dropping off my dirty laundry for them to fix. I rarely drop off the truck anyway so it mostly results in a clean engine if I have to work on it.

I hate working on a dirt caked motor and many mechanics feel the same way.

 

It's kind of like your mom telling you to wear clean underwear in case you are in an accident and take to the hospital, right?

 

Simple green for the win. Been chasing a squeaky belt issue nd noticed my pulleys were really dirty . So with engine running I sprayed directly on the pulleys and misted water and after they all dried out no more belt squeal

 

While I haven't done the Tacoma, I vote Simple Green too.
I use it on a bunch of household projects, and buy by the gallon.

 

I've cleaned my 2020 twice now. Not that it was really that dirty, but just because when I open the hood, I love to have it look like the day it rolled off the dealers lot. I've just used regular ol' Gunk and made sure I covered the alternator best I could (A MUST) and stayed clear of the fuse box. Then a low flow/low pressure rinse with the garden hose. So far, so good.
I agree with others about that if I have to take it in for some maintenance I can't do myself, the tech appreciates a clean working area and that is a clear signal to them of 'OK... This guy really cares about his truck, so I better too'.... At least I hope so.. lol

 

i use gunk too. just apply, let it set a few minutes, and rinse off. i do it on a warm sunny day to help it dry afterward. i will also take a compressor and gently blow off any excess. i have done a lot of vehicles like this and never had an issue.