Tacoma Dude

Hi all!

I'm thinking about cleaning up under my hood. I've heard of the CD2 stuff but I can't find that in my local shops and I'm still boycotting PepBoys. The only thing I can find is Gunk and Simple Green among some other hard to remember names.

All of them say to cover up your electronics before use....
okay, this is where I'm confused.

What do you cover and with what?

Do you bother covering the fuse box?

Should I use duct tape?

Are my relays safe?

Is my auxilary fuse buss okay?

Or should I just leave it dirty and save $$ for something else?

AgRunner06

I've heard of too many people having problems after cleaning under their hoods. So I just leave mine dirty. I'd rather get my hands get dirty when working on my truck than have it not start after I cleaned it.

Maybe someone has some better advice.

DuB

I found CD2 at my local Target. I've never covered anything and never had a problem. I've just been careful not to get too much water or degreaser on the electronics. I think they put it on there to cover their s. That way, if anything goes wrong, they just say, "We told ya to cover it. Not our fault."

99runner

Hey tacoma. The Target off Rosecrans, near the sports arena has it. I need to go pick one up myself.

rimpainter.com

I detailed cars for a long time. We always used a mild degreaser and a high temp pressure washer to clean under the hood. Never had a problem, except for a few distributor caps getting water in them. But, you dont have a dist cap, so dont worry.

I go to the DIY carwash and spray the engine with degreaser, then hit it with the high pressure rinse. I always leave the engine running. I have done this 10 times on the 3.4L engine.

Be sure to close the deckplate and avoid the fuse area and MAFS area too. You'll be fine.

Robinhood150

I just wrapped up the electronics with a plastic grocery bag and a little tape. Then I avoided spraying those areas. Also cover your cruise control box. Mine went haywire until it dried a couple weeks later.

Steve

Bob_98SR5

ditto to what robinhooda nd 96 said.

Bob

Tacoma Dude

Hey! Good lookin' out! Unfortunately, that Target is a bit out of the way for me and it seems kind of dumb to go all the way out there for a can of degreaser. Maybe if I buy a case

I'm all the way in PQ so I'll have to check out my local Target.

Thanks though...

Engine running, really? Is this to keep the engine heat up?
Okay so avoid the fuse and MAFS area - everything else is fair game then?

Tacoma Dude

hmm... that's what I get for leaving my reply window open for 20 min.

Didn't catch your messages Robinhood and Bob.
Gosh, almost seems like too much of a hassle to bother!

Oh yeah, another thing.
Does this degreaser leave a trail on the concrete when it's washed off? I still have a nice set of tire tracks from using a tire spray on new BFGs. Maybe I should just do this on the street?

Thanks guys!

rimpainter.com

No, but it could leave a trail on your paint!

So, what I failed to mention, was that I soap up the fenders and hood, apply the degreaser, rinse the engine bay, and then rinse the truck. Your paint will be fine.

Try the DIY carwash, its much better to make their cement dirty.

Oh, and I used to leave the engine running because the clutch driven fan would keep things a little dryer as I sprayed. Now that I have elec fans, I am not sure what I would do. Probably leave it off.

I just like the assurance that it will be running when I am finished.

Tacoma Dude

QUOTE]Originally posted by <96 Runner>
No, but it could leave a trail on your paint!

Ooh, that's DEFINITELY a good thing to know!


Try the DIY carwash, its much better to make their cement dirty.

Oh, and I used to leave the engine running because the clutch driven fan would keep things a little dryer as I sprayed. Now that I have elec fans, I am not sure what I would do. Probably leave it off.

I just like the assurance that it will be running when I am finished. [/QUOTE]

Sounds good, thanks <96>!
Our latest storm is just about over so it'll be time to wash the car again
I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm looking forward to the next wash!

UKMyers

I killed one of the relays running my Hellas with CD2 once. Other than that I Have never had any probs with it. Cover up your belts and the electronics on the passenger side and you should be fine.

Tacoma Dude

belts too, huh?

Wow.. this is getting more and more complicated. :pat:

rimpainter.com

Its the American way man! Everyone has a different way of doing the same thing...oh wait, that's work.

Anyway, you are going to get all sorts of opinions of the best way to clean the engine.

But I can tell you this, when I detailed cars, it was like a production line, in and out, better, faster, cheaper. We never covered anything in the engine compartment, and must have sprayed the engine of over 500 cars. Mostly Nissans, which are known for their plethora of vacuum line laden engines with mass amounts of control sensors...

So, you be the judge. Just remember, hot water evaporates faster and cleans better if you go that route.

tomus1000

Silly question. What does DIY stand for?

Tacoma Dude

DIY?

Do it yourself?

Do I yell?

Dye it yellow?

Damn it, Yank?

rimpainter.com

Victor

You can clean your engine all you want as long as you don't shoot water directly at the alternator or the ignition parts: coils, distributor cap, ignition wiring harnesses, etc.