need help keeping engine clean

[vaderv]

I was wondering what you ladies and gents reccomend as the proper prcedure to keep the engine and engine compartment clean. I'm not talking about old car grese removal I am wondering about a basic engine cleanliness program of sorts. O.K. gearheads go...tnx:help: :)

[ilpimp]

i recommend driving with the hood on, and don't store things with the engine, that's bad.

[ghost]

From one of our SS guys who's won many awards:

Engine Cleaning/Detailing

by Gary Grant - HOTSS

1) On a hot/warm engine, spray the entire engine compartment down with Windex. Close the cowl(hood) and wait @ 3-5 minutes.

2) Lift the cowl(hood) and mist the engine compartment with water. Now spray the entire area with Armor All. Close the cowl and again wait 3-5 minutes.

3) Repeat the Windex and Armor All application again. Now, after the second coat of Armor All, close up the engine compartment and wash and detail the exterior of your car.

4)When you are finished, open the cowl(hood) and wipe down any excess Armor All.


His engine looks like this:

http://www.hotss.com/Members/gary_grant/95impala/EngineLeft3.jpg

It works - I use the same procedure. It helps to start with a fairly clean engine to begin with, and you guys with your new MMs certainly qualify. :)

HTH,

Eric

[Vince Gortner]

^^^^ That is a sweet looking Lingenfelter motor. Neat headers...

I buy WD40 in the gallon can and apply it liberally on a warm motor. Does a nice job of disolving dirt & grease and washing away crud. Most of the carrier fliud drips away quickly and the remaining lubricant is nice and shiny. I wipe up any excess and polish things up a bit. Anything that lands on the exhaust manifolds smokes a little as it cooks off, but it's pretty minor.

I have used cleaners that require a water rinse, but I try not to use water in the engine bay if I don't have to.

[jgc61sr2002]

ghost - That engine compartment looks great. Nice job. John:up:

[one50npump]

im not doin it if it turns it into a chevy motor!

[CRUZTAKER]

I have never heard of these ideas. Interesting. I am a little hesitant to spray flamables on the motor....but if it works.
:rolleyes:

[jefferson-mo]

I like to use "Big Orange" which I get at Smart & Final.........it cleans without damaging paint and it doesn't smell............but requires water spray to remove it.....


If you must use water....blast all electrical connectors with air before starting!

[TAF]

I have to admit, that is a clean looking engine bay. Only problem I would have is using petrolium based Armor All around the belts and hoses, though. Windex is mostly just Ammonia and water...that I don't think would be a problem.

[ghost]

Let me clarify some things.

That's NOT my engine, that's Gary Grant's engine. The procedures I gave were his, but I use them. I'll see if I can get a pic up of my engine compartment, it's a bit more realistic, if you know what I mean. ;)

Armor All is not petroleum-based, it's silicon-based. And you are correct to try to keep them away from your belts, even though I have gotten the stuff on mine with no adverse effects. It wears off quickly. :)

I think the MM engine compartment will really turn out nice using this procedure. And subsequent cleanings usually just require a wipe-down as opposed to a full cleaning. The Armor All will pick up dust (or lately, POLLEN), but after a good wipe it looks good again.

Now start posting some clean engine compartments! Let's see that good work!

Eric

[schuvwj]

Guys I just spray the engine down with some 50% Simple Green 50% water, let the engine soak for about 5 mins. and hose it off. Blow dry with air hose! DONE!

[Vince Gortner]

Fire? I'm sure WD40 has some petroleum base to it, but I've never been able to get it to light on fire. Maybe if you spray it from the can into an open flame, but a little residue on engine components won't burn and, like armor-all, anything you get on the belts wears off really fast.

[russ in VA]

I don't like putting anything on my plastic and rubber (including the interior). I just keep it clean and it looks great without any buildup of greasy stuff (I DON"T want it to be shiny, just clean). About every other time I wash the car I open the hood and use an old car wash rag to wipe it down with the same gentle soap I use on the rest of the car. Then spray it down lightly and then use another old rag to dry it so there are no water spots.

[MMpridenjoy]

I was just wondering about the rinse on the engine with water...should anything be covered? Or..is it cool to just get in there and blast away any cleaner used? I remember on the old carb equip they used to say to cover things a little (carb, HEI, etc). Any response appreciated.

[TAF]

MMP&J,

As long as you don't use high pressure (like at a self-wash) you're ok with just normal garden hose pressure. IMHO

[Warpath]

Originally posted by ghost
Now start posting some clean engine compartments! Let's see that good work!

Eric


Not an MM, but close. I just wipe it down every so often and clean the dirty areas with Windex. It also helps not driving it more than a 1000 miles per year and only during nice weather.

[jefferson-mo]

:up:

[capt512]

MMpridenjoy - I think these marauder engines have a coil on plug system, where there are 8 coils, and I know the crown vic p71 i had had this same system. When I washed it, water got on the coils and blew them all out, it cost alot to have 6 coils replaced. Anyway the point of this post is to make sure not to spray water or atleast not hard water on or near the coils.

[ghost]

Originally posted by Warpath
Not an MM, but close. I just wipe it down every so often and clean the dirty areas with Windex. It also helps not driving it more than a 1000 miles per year and only during nice weather.

Now that's clean! Nice job! :cool: That's the way an engine bay should look, though tougher for us with daily drivers to achieve. ;)

Eric

[RCSignals]

Windex? Was that detail discovered after watching the movie "My big fat Greek wedding"?

[jgc61sr2002]

I don't like using water in the engine compartment, there are way to many electronic components that are not water friendly. As long as you wipe the engine compartment with a damp cloth it will stay relativly clean. IMHO. John

[MMpridenjoy]

Thanks for the input guys!! Appreciate it.

[ghost]

I said I'd post a pic of my engine bay, here it is. I forgot I had it up on my web site. Gettin' old. :rolleyes:

http://www.doersch.info/ghost/gallery/engine.jpg

I keep it clean with the procedures I mentione earlier in the thread. I like the results. :)

Eric

[Fourth Horseman]

Check your owner's manual, there's actually a page in there that talks about what you need to cover before you hose down the powerplant. I'm going to be doing this myself, soon, as winter weather has got the engine bay looking a touch messy.

[Brett]

ok I am not knocking other procedures, but I have owned several new cars and believe the best way to keep it clean is to wipe it down by hand every week. If you prevent the major grime from ac***ulating, it will always look factory fresh, as opposed to coming back from a detail shop. My grandfather tought me this as he had a 72 Mark IV which he bought new. In 1992, when he died, the engine looked like it was just produced, not just detailed. I like this look better, but again thats my $.02

[Warpath]

That's exactly what I do except I clean the areas that won't just wipe clean with Windex. Windex doesn't leave any residue.

[vaderv]

TNX for the ideas. The reason I asked is that a weekly wiping wasnt doin the trick IMO. Im gonna try some of the other ideas u ladies and gents have posted. Thanks again. ; )