Had a question about cleaning my engine. I'm pretty sure some of you guys clean your engines after a trip off-road, but I was wondering when you do wash your engine...do you cover anything like the alternator or something?

 

Well, first of all I would use the search funtion on this forum as there are plenty of threads that pertain to this. But anyways I would go to Checker or some auto parts store and get Engine Brite. Works wonders.

 

Don't use a pressure washer and you should be fine, but I still go pretty easy around the electronics. My best washings come from using Simple Green sprayed in every nook and cranny, left on for about a half hour, and then spraying off with a garden hose and nozzle. In my experience it works better than Engine Brite and smells good too. Engine Brite is the winner on older engines with caked on oil and grease... but that's just my opinion.

 

Cover up all your electricals like your alternator, battery, fuse box etc. Spray with your favorite engine cleaner. Let it soak for a bit. Use a brush to get to those hard to reach spots or the extra dirty ones. Spray down with a garden hose and then start 'er up and drive it around the block to get it somewhat dry and you should be good to go.

 

definitely cover up your electrical parts with plastic bags or something to be safe...i manged to, ahem, "accelerate" the demise of my alternator with a too-vigorous engine washing a while back.

man, did i feel like a dope for doing that.

 

I bomb the engine with the foaming Gunk engine degreaser, use a light brush to scrub areas where grease or mud has built-up. Rinse, drive around for a few days then bomb the engine bay with 303 Aerospace Protectant (available online or at your local kayak shop). 303 is like Armour-All, only it doesn't dry out and crack rubber.

 

I'll put Simple Green in one of those pump up style bug sprayers. Gives it a little extra pressure for cleaning out the grime. Then gently wash with a garden hose. Never had a problem.

 

that is INSANE! you'd think the picture was taken on the showroom floor...

 

im goin to clean mine 2morrow with gunk foaming cleaner

 

I wouldn't jump in and drive it around to dry it off, let it dry itself for a couple hours... If there is water sitting in the wrong spots and you start it that's when you risk damage.

 

wait cant you use a leaf blower to get it dry faster

 

i just keep the engine running when i wash mine down. i usually spray some simple green, and then use a scrub brush. keep the engine going, and use the do it yourself car wash. i just dont spray water directly into sensitive areas ie: distributor cap, alternator, air intake. yadda yadda. the heat from the engine will dry it off. dont worry about driving it around. and if you do get some water in the alternator, just let it dry off. shouldnt be a problem unless you keep spraying it

 

that's the way I do mine, when I do anyway. Never had a problem.

I would also like to add, if you notice the engine hesitate when spraying then you know to stay away from that part.

 

I just use the engine cleaner mode at the u-wash. I spray that on, wash the rest of the vehicle and under carriage while waiting for the engine to soak, and then rinse with low pressure.

On a side note regarding the alternator, I went through some serious mud puddles at one point and had my battery light come on a while later. Culprit? Mud in the alternator - it was only spittin out about 10 volts, and should have been in the 12-14 range. After washing it out with low pressure water, it was fine again. The alternator wires are all insulated, and any mud in there can interfere with the way the coils function.

 

Wow , what a jump 05-10, good subject. I do a Simple green, 30 min sit, then wash. Low pressure of course. Then wd40 it or a light spray oil of the same kind.

 

What really works wonders is Honda-Brite for motorcycles. We used it at Honda to clean up customer's engines after major services, timing belts, etc. I used 2 bottles to clean up my engine after doing valve cover gaskets. You just soak the engine with it, then hose it off...no scrubbing. Just try not to soak the alternator. Let the engine run to evaporate all the water, leaves everything nice and shiny. It does an unbelieveable job and is biodegradeable. Bad part...it's pricey, about $8 a bottle.

 

before and after pics.....

 

Thanks for the tips! This afternoon I went after it. I used (along with baggies) some saran wrap on the 'puter and fuse box. I also sprayed the SP wires with WD40 before applying Simple Green and the hose down to make sure it that stuff didn't creep into anything it's not supposed to. Looks great now!
But I noticed something weird. The 2 metal lines on the firewall directly in front of the passenger side have been cut?
Off to another thread to solve.

 

Weeell if you di-electrical grease all your plugs, and silicon your distributor like me, you can pressure wash the ---- out of it and be fine. Ive been doin it for years. No problems.

You gonna wheel somthin you are afraid to use a pressure washer on?

I spray her down with some simple green then pressure wash everywhere. Keeps my 01 taco 3.4, and my 89 3.0 (wheeler) looking like new. Cant be any worse then takin it under muddy water. And I do that very often .

I have never had a problem. And if it ever does cause a problem, id rather find out in my driveway, then out on the trail, or on a road trip.

 

The cars/ trucks that will have a problem with any water under the hood are all 95 and older. I've pressure washed every rig I've owned and the only problems were with distributer ignition systems where water would get into the cap. And occasionally water in the tps sensor.
Avoid or wrap the "sensitive" sensors and its fine.