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Cleaning your engine bay?

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Old 07-09-2008, 08:58 AM
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Cleaning your engine bay?

what is the best way 2 clean your engine bay? ive seen everything from a powerwasher (bad idea in my opinion) to a good old rag soap and water. any tricks?
Old 07-09-2008, 09:04 AM
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Simple Green and garden hose for me.

BTW, simple search showed some good threads:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/h...gine-bay-8508/

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/h...ne-bay-110685/
Old 07-09-2008, 09:34 AM
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dur. sorry about that. thanks
Old 07-09-2008, 09:37 AM
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I use the garden hose sprayer and just avoid the electronics or places where water will sit and you should be fine. I soak everything down in Gunk's Engine Bright,hose off and then cover the rubber parts and pieces in a quality tire shine and I'm done for a couple of months.
Old 07-09-2008, 10:54 AM
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i disconnect the battery cover up the alternator and the fuse box really good remove the air filter stuff some rags down in the air box then hose it down then spray it really good with castrol super clean scrub it and rinse then take a leaf blower to it
Old 07-10-2008, 10:39 AM
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Take it to an auto detailer for a steam clean:

This is the 22RE in my truck before/after:




Old 07-10-2008, 10:46 AM
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skjos, how much did that steam clean cost, that looks good!
Old 07-11-2008, 04:17 AM
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damn that looks good dude......only issue about using water is that i have had bad issues down the road after spraying down the bay. yes i cover electrics and i even cover the air box(i clean it by hand)... the 2 jeeps i had (save the jokes lol) totally ed up (computer gone and more electrical issues) after spraying down my engine bay.. again i covered up everything that was electrical and then after i was done ran the jeep down the road to heat up the motor and dry the water... i wont do it again.. it
Old 07-11-2008, 04:47 AM
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I spray down my engine at least 4 times a year for the last 4 years and no issues.

Old 07-11-2008, 08:27 AM
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what do you use? do you use a standard garden hose?
Old 07-11-2008, 08:57 AM
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I either clean mine at the car wash and use the power sprayer but I don't pull the trigger and just use the lighter spray but most of the time I just use a standard hose attachment for a litlte pressure.
Old 07-11-2008, 09:01 AM
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no soap of any kind? also isnt it bad for the metal for cold water touching it when hot? warping?
Old 07-11-2008, 09:37 AM
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you could have lunch on that 22re!!!!!!!!
Old 07-11-2008, 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by 94Runner4x4
skjos, how much did that steam clean cost, that looks good!
I'm not sure how much the engine steam clean is by itself, it was done as part of a complete detail package (wash,buff,wax,vacuum,shampoo interior,dress,engine steam clean). The complete detail cost $159.
Old 07-11-2008, 10:12 AM
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pressure washer is good for certain areas if your careful otherwise id go with simple green and an assortment of rags and brushes
Old 07-11-2008, 11:09 AM
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After degreasing, spray down with CD2 engine detailer and all the plastics will come back to life-- my 4Runner's engine bay was coated with red Maui dirt, and a degrease/CD2 spray brought it back. Spray on and leave it, no wiping... you can get CD2 at Autozone or other parts stores (or buy online):

http://www.amazon.com/CD-2-Engine-De.../dp/B0002JMAOS
Old 07-11-2008, 11:45 AM
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Purple Power degreaser and a gaden hose seems to work for me. The purple power does a nice job.
Old 07-11-2008, 12:14 PM
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I usually spray a cooled down engine but if it's been sitting for 10 minutes it's ok to spray with no ill results.
Old 07-11-2008, 04:02 PM
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I soak the engine bay in degreaser for a few minutes before blasting with hot water. I connect the garden hose directly to my hot water tank outlet. That cleans it up pretty good - although not quite like that 22RE pic. The Toyota electronics are pretty waterproof for the most part - I don't cover anything up before spraying.
Old 07-11-2008, 04:48 PM
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purple power will etch the hell out of soft metal if left on to long


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