I use that engine cleaner that is orange from advanced. Spray that on a warm engine let sit for 5 minutes then hose off. Then spray the cleaner on the parts and wipe off with a rag. That will leave a shine. Most components under the engine including electrical are intended to get wet so I hardly ever cover those up. I only cover up air filters if the element is exposed.

 

i used to detail cars and we just used some of our generic degreaser sprayed all over the engine (try not to get it on the exterior paint) then used a car wash brush and gently brush what we could reach, and then go at it with the pressure washer, but try not to go overboard on the electrical stuff. i've done this with my own engine but of course took a lot more care not to screw anything up. in 8 years of doing this at work, we only had a handful of cars that had trouble and it was the older cars, they usually just needed to dry out overnight. i would say that if your engine is dusty without anything really caked on, just use some Advanced Auto degreaser and a garden hose. although, that steamer method looks to be the best option and the most gentle on the engine, might be worth it to find some one that does that.

 

I use purple power or simple green and the garden hose but I hook the garden hose up to a hot water line seems to clean a lot better with the hot water.

 

some simple green [very environmental friendly] and works wonders

 

the cd-2 detailer-- do you spray it off with water also? or do you spray on there after its already clean?

 

Some manual car wash places should have an option for engine/tire/trim cleaner. I know both in Medicine Hat, AB and in Quesnel, BC there was an option at the local manual car wash places for it and it would work wonders.

 

so here is what my engine looked like when i bought it


some people said they just hose there engines off so i tryed that


that didn't do much so i looked in my fathers garage and found this

worked well but didn't know that it was only 1/4 full so i couldn't finish heres what it looks like now

 

careful with engine degreaser... i used it on mine, and it took off some of the powdercoat on my valve cover.