engine compartment cleaning

[Ima 77 Z]

I know this is a basic question...

I've looked but saw no discussions on engine/engine compartment cleaning/degreasing.

I have a clean  77 z with 30k. The engine looks good, however, I'd like to clean it and the walls. Any suggestions as to what product to use and or other suggestions would be appreciated.

[bartsscooterservice]

I use a citrus based degreaser, works fine. Spray WD40 on everything electric first, this way water can't get in.

[siteunseen]

I cleaned my engine bay with Simple Green.  I had my air line in one hand and a Scotch Brite cleaning sponge in the other.  Never thought about spraying water dissipating WD-40 on the electrical.  That's a great idea Bart! 

 

I wouldn't spray in there with a high pressure wand like with a pressure washer or a spray car wash.

[Pmg]

Would spraying deoxit be acceptable ad well?

PMG

[S30Driver]

WD40 has moisture dispersant properties & lubrication.  Deoxit is primarily a contact cleaner.

The WD is a good idea, but if you are careful and clean only a small area at a time, you probably can get away without it.

 

I used the Deoxit when I cleaned the bay as I went along since you end up temporarily moving some connectors as you clean the bay.

[gundee]

Best combo I have ever used.

Super Clean with a designated water only garden sprayer.

Spray cleaner long enough to loosen grime then rinse with

the low pressure sprayer. With the long nozzle you can direct 

rinse water exactly where you want it. No over spray.

Edited November 9, 2015 by lumens

[grannyknot]

Ima77z, first off welcome,

 

Super Clean is great stuff but it will dull paint if left on too long.

In fact I'm restoring a 72 yr old lathe at the moment and I drop all the parts into a buck with a couple of gallons of SC, within a few hours the paint and grease just fall off.

Once the engine bay is clean, one of the most versatile products I have found to put some depth and shine back into  paint, rubber, plastic, any smooth surface is Auto Glym Instant Trye Dressing. It's a British Company, they make a lot of different products but this one can be used for almost anything.

The thicker you put it on the shinier it will be, a very spare wipe of it will leave a low sheen that will last for weeks and it hardens as it drys so dust doesn't stick, great for car shows.

Chris

[TomoHawk]

You can use plastic bags to cover parts that don't need to get wet, and some dielectric grease to seal-off connectors (which should already be sealed with dielectric grease.)  Park the car in a place where you don't mind greasy run-off getting on the ground, and not over the drain, for environmental reasons.

 

Warm the engine just a little.  It it's 'too hot to touch'  let it cool first.  A hot engine doesn't like degreaser or cold rinse-water.

 

I use Gunk Foamy for the most part under the hood.  I also use some citrus cleaner first for heavier grease or grime.  I use a bottle brush to scrub things, and since it has a big and little end, you use the big end for flat areas and most parts.   It gets in the smallest gaps or holes and is flexible.  I rarely use the little end, but it's still useful.  A medium-size stiff brush may be useful for you. (YMMV)  Rinse using the 'shower' setting  or a light spray, and be careful where you spray into (use a glancing spray, not directly into things, like the air filter or the intake manifold.

 

Then start the engine to help it dry.  Some people like to use a leaf blower.

 

You really need to clean the thing a few times before you really get it right, so don't expect perfection on your first try. 

[Captain Obvious]

I'm restoring a 72 yr old lathe at the moment

 

It's not that old. 66, 67 tops.

[TomoHawk]

I thought you meant it was from 1972

[TomoHawk]

I forgot to say that you can't do the whole engine and engine area at once.  The suds won't last long enough.  Divide the engine and body parts into sections and clean it in parts  Otherwise you will just spread the grease and dirt around.  Also, try to  use several tools or brushes;  use one for painted parts, one for really dirty areas, one for hoses and one for  polished parts.

 

Remember to clean the tools or brushes when you are done, so you have clean tools for the next time.

 

When you are finished cleaning the engine and engine area, wash the outside out the car.

[TomoHawk]

Don't you ever wish that HotRod or MuscleCar Magazine would have an article on cleaning the engine?  Maybe they did one, 40 years ago, but if you look up online information on cleaning & detailing the engine/ engine bay, you get this:

 

• remove plastic covers
• spray  citrus cleaner everywhere
• Wash off with light misting spray
• Use your $280 blower-vac to force air into everything and hopefully dry it
• Spray detailing potion everywhere
• re-attach plastic covers
• shine the plastic covers with a microfibre cloth

 

So if you have polished or chromed parts, or carburettors, you are on your own.  If you don't have any plastic covers on the engine, you can't show off your engine.

 

BTW-  The information for "old" car engine detailing are all awful amateur web pages or videos made with a smartphone, so it's guaranteed to be useless.  "Professionals" won't discuss cleaning & detailing engines unless they can sell you their products or services.

Edited November 9, 2015 by TomoHawk