Engine bay cleaning

[Manutea]

How do you guys take care of the exterior of your engine and make it look good ?
I want mine to shine like brand new, lol
So if you guys have some tips

 

[ram-head]

I took one of our cars by the car wash last week and was very happy with how it turned out. I know you may or may not get the same results at your local car wash. All I did was spray it with the rinse to get it wet, sprayed the tire/engine cleaner on it, sprayed with high pressure soap, then rinsed it off. I don't have it a before picture, but it worked extremely well.

 

[brightwhitesport]

On a dry engine, spray tire foam on everything you want to shine, then let it dry, voila you're done

 

[ZakkBaker]

All tire foams work the same? Or do you have a preffed brand.

 

[brightwhitesport]

I use armor all but I'm pretty sure any will work

 

[SmokedRam]

Block off anything electrical, like your alternator...spray it down with Simple Green, scrub it where needed, then rinse it off with light water (I don't use any "pressure") then dress it with a silicone free dressing. Silicone can screw with sensors, never use it under the hood.

 

[04hemi_bRand]

I took one of our cars by the car wash last week and was very happy with how it turned out. I know you may or may not get the same results at your local car wash. All I did was spray it with the rinse to get it wet, sprayed the tire/engine cleaner on it, sprayed with high pressure soap, then rinsed it off. I don't have it a before picture, but it worked extremely well.

Did you cover the alternator with anything? Especially with the high pressure soaping? The alternator has always been my major concern but secondarily other connections too and has kept me from opening the hood at the car wash on any vehicle I've ever owned.

 

[smiley]

I have never believed in the old spray it off method. I use a wet towel and or the air compressor now way I am spraying water under the hood under any of my vehicles. Looks nice but sounds like a very bad idea to me.

 

[ram-head]

No, I just avoided spraying the alternator directly.

 

[bigbadram1500]

On a dry engine, spray tire foam on everything you want to shine, then let it dry, voila you're done

I like that idea. May have to try that.

 

[redram2007]

I agree with not using water or at least making sure anything electrical is covered. When i first did mine i used a small pressure washer and lightly hit the engine. I wasnt aware i needed to cover the coils until the next day my truck was in limp mode. I checked everything and realized that water had gotten down into the coil/spark plug sockets. I pulled all of them out dried them off replaced the plugs and i was good to go. so from now on i use a wet towel and then tire foam.

 

[brightwhitesport]

I used to go mudding a lot with my Dakota so it got pressure washed underneath and under the hood a lot, but then my coils got allergic to water so it would miss bad until it dried out, and that's when I switched to my armor all technique

 

[ram-head]

Yeah, it's not something I do very often at all. I haven't done it to my truck yet, and if I ever get around to buying a Vararam, I probably never will.

 

[OGsohcHondaLOVE]

I have pressure washed every engine that I own. I don't use the high pressure at all. I just use the TIRE/ENGINE cleaner at the car wash and then use the soap without pulling the trigger, then rinse without the trigger as well. I stay away from the air inlet and haven't had a problem with any misses or other issues. Most electrical connectors are water tight anyways.

my .02

 

[Psycho White]

higher pressure and heat the better, make sure so let it soak in bio-sol drilling rig degreaser first for 5 minutes... and get right in there!!

 

[Big Boi]

Start with cool engine. Aluminum foil wraps what you dont want wet. Light spray of water to loosen dirt and debris. Saturate with degreaser (Purple Power full strength) and let sit for 5 minutes. Before degreaser dries, agitate heavily soiled areas with a brush. Pressure clean engine bay. I use my 20 gallong air compressor to blow excess water out, then dry with non-paint towels. Saturate with WD40. Let that sit for 15 minutes them wipe excess.