Cleaning Engine bay

Q tips and a cap full of vinegar. Dunk the q-tip in the vinegar and swab the engine bay. Takes just shy of 14 hours to do it right.

 

light water. been doing this every other wash since 15,000 miles (bought it used) and it looks new. just keep it up and make it part of your regular routine and it'll never look bad.

 

x2. Iv'e alway cleaned my engine's with the engines warmed up, sometimes running so I know that it will start and stay running. This was more with the older toyotas when they had the cap, rotor and distributor all exposed, sometimes water would get in there and wouldn't start. I lightly spray over those sensitive parts not blasting them with the hose. I've heard people do both so to each there own. I have not yet damaged any of my vehicals doing so.

Brett

 

i use dawn power disolver, spray on wait 10 min hose off works better than anything ive ever user and smells good also.

 

Anyone else heard the acid in citrus degreaser causing an issue that was posted earlier? I haven't and have used some of that in the past....haven't noticed anything yet. I do make sure it is thouroughly rinsed.

 

So I have a 1998 V6

Here's what I was thinking of doing. Please tell me if I should do anything differently.

1. Engine cold, engine off.

2. Spray with Simple Green. Use cloth to wipe down dirtier spots

3. Rinse off with a gentle stream of water from a garden hose.

4. Wipe dry as much as possible.

Should I cover anything? Should I not spray certain areas?

Thanks.

 

I cleaned my engine 2 weeks ago and all i covered were the spark plugs and that metal box with rods coming out on the upper left corner of the engine bay...idk what thts called lol and thats about it

 

That's what I do. I power wash at the car wash first, then scrub parts with a citrus degreaser like Simple Green or Zepp (whatever its called), a brush like the Weasel or the Racoon (bends into whatever shape so it curls around hoses and boots nicely, then after its dry (which takes 10 minutes in New Orleans) I spray Bare Bones on it. Same with the undercarriage.

Edit: and by the way, these pics are of an '06 with over 80,000 miles on the odometer.

 

Sounds like no one has had any problems? I'm gonna steam clean mine. Bought a 40 dollar steamer I'll let you know how it works.

 

Those of you that have posted photos- wow, looks great. Could someone list for me the parts that should be covered, just to stay on the safe side? i.e. Fuse box, and... ? Anything else?

 

S100 Total Cycle Cleaner is what i use.

 

Bro... teach me.
Would love for my truck to stay that clean.

PS, is that the oil filter? That white cylinder?

 

Back in the day, I used to crash dirt bikes into trees on a daily basis. I called it Hare Scrambles racing and Enduro's. Loved it. Also was a bit obsessed with keeping my bikes looking like new. Lots of plastic, a fair amount of aluminum, and some painted steel....Some of which got hot from time to time and was exposed to dirt, mud, gas, and oil. Sounds not at all UNLIKE an engine bay. Back then I used the SAME THING I USE NOW......Mr Clean. Put it in a spray bottle, or, I use a small garden sprayer. I wash everything with the pressure wand at the car wash. Then spray everything with Mr Clean. Wait about 10 or 15 minutes, and wash again. It's as clean as new. A light misting of WD40 afterwards helps dissipate the water.....It's relatively inexpensive and it works.

 

Spray lightly with diluted Meguiars APC. Let soak for a couple of minutes and power wash. Let dry and wipe down the plastics with Aerospace 303.

 

Old thread, but I look forward to seeing how this works, dvolk2.

 

That's your ABS

 

Is bare-bones available locally or is that the type a thing you have to buy off of Amazon?

 

Bare bones is manufactured by Chemical Guys. You can buy it online.

 

should I wash engine bay with engine on or off? when using pressure washer.

 

Engine off and cool.