The engine bay of my car is getting its share of dirt and other things under the hood. Should I have it professionally cleaned or can I do it myself with some sort of cleaner or something?

 

Use a cleaner like Simple Green and a hose. Spray the Simple Green onto the dirty areas, let it sit for a few moments and then spray off. Everything important is covered in the bay so spray away.

 

As long as we are on this subject....Is it better to get the engine steam cleaned? What method cleans the best and doesn't mess anything up?

 

so there is nothing that i shoudl worry and cover up before i spray my engine and clean it myself? other then my alarm? thanks

 

If you have an intake you might want to cover that as well with a plastic bag or something. Wouldn't want to hyrolock the engine!!

 

I am a partner in a detail business. to clean the motor first make sure it is cool. does not have to be cold just not hot like a 50 mile trip. Use simple green (if you care about the environment). Spray on the whole motor (cover anything like a pop charger etc). Let it sit for about a miniute. Spray off. Use a pressure sprayer if you have one but keep a good foot distance away from the motor with the tip. If not a good pressure hose will do. Once rinsed let the motor run for a few to dry off parts. I usually drive around the block a few times. Now here is the secret (don't tell anyone I told you this, its an old detail trick) go to walmart or equivelent and buy the STP one step tire foam (its the cheapest) or the Armor all etc. Soak the entire motor (will use about 1/2 can) and let sit for 20 min. Pop the hood and it will look brand new again. If you have any questions e-mail me at skidmarkracing@hotmail.com

 

I just go to the carwash and use the high pressure rinse and hit it, of course I cover my intake though, but other than that it's good!

 

I just go to the carwash and use the high pressure rinse and hit it, of course I cover my intake though, but other than that it's good! The car wash is less than a mile from my house, so make sure your VQ is cool b4 you rinse it

 

so it's 100% safe that a pressure spray won't ruin any of the parts? i don't want to mess up the engine...just wanna be sure it'll be ok

 

will that hurt the engine? can anyone confirm that it'll also be safe...has anyone else done it before other than SkidMarkRacing? thanks

 

so u just pop the hood and spray away ??? on the battery and engine and everything??? wow i hope u guys are right about this caus this would be a cruel joke otherwise...wont hurt the amp connection will it?

 

my dad's always telling me that u can't just go sprayin under the hood cuz its not suppose to be exposed to any kind of pressure of water? not true? cuz i would really like to clean up under the hood...

 

I also thought just spraying under the engine w/ a hose is bad? Because of the battery and stuff like that.

Well about that tire foam spray, should you rinse that off too of just leave it?

 

i tried what i read on this thread...the simple green and the pressure hose DOES work...and will clean your engine. i was really really hesitant about spraying it with water, but my car is fine. i tried starting it up and it was ok. but if anyone knows for sure that it can damage your engine...reply. (oh i covered the battery with a plastic bag....just incase)

 

and etc.. cause it accelerates cracking and leaves a greasy residue on rubber. Sure it looks great but I wouldn't use them. I used to detail for a short time also and we only used water based products. (they are not the "best" out there but IMHO nothing beats water based as far as safety) http://www.nvo.com/prodcarcare

Go to this site and look up Dressings and either go with
"Blue Rubber Dressing" or "TKO" they are both very good and I'm sure you'd be satisfied with them.. The price isn't bad although it's 1 gallon.
and THAT is my $ .02

 

Hey if you wanna check out some pics of nice 4th gen engines... go to the website in my sig and go to the photo album and the MOREPICS link

 

I wash my engine with the same car wash soap that I use for the exterior. You have to remove all of the grease first, though.

I've never used the tire foam, but it sounds like a good idea. I've used regular Armorall on my show car engine ('76 MGB). BTW, Armorall IS water based. When I use it, I wash the engine then dry it. I then spray everyting with Armorall and let it soak for an hour or so. I then wash the engine again to get the Armorall off of all of the painted surfaces. All of the rubber parts look like new, but are not shiney (I hate the shiney, slick look).

 

Use Simple Green

Take your hose, without an attachment, and wet the motor down. If you have an intake cone, cover it...as well as the battery.

Spray the Simple Green liberally on all surfaces and allow it to sit for about 5 minutes. Hose off the engine and check for results. Repeat of necessary. Do not use high pressure nozzles or steam to clean your engine. There are too many electrical connections at risk in your engine bay.

 

I would be caucious when having our engines steam cleaned. If you do have it steamed, make sure they cover your alternator. I had engine cleaned 2 weeks ago and moister was trapped in my alternator and caused it to go bad. Had to replace it, no good. I would suggest cleaning it your self. Luck.

 

I cleaned my engine today. I waited for a nice cool engine, covered the battery, sprayed on the simple green (waited 5 min), and used a power hose with warm water (several feet away)

I drove it around and let it dry...it came out good, no problems...i didn't use the tire foam, but it will probabily make it even better.

 

I thought I was the only person to spray tire foam on my engine. I was always worried about spraying it all over but now it is definitely on. My engine will look even better. Thanks guys.

 

In Superhonda.com they had some postings about engine cleaning:

http://www.superhonda.org/board/show...?threadid=4500

 

so if I have a stock max.... I dont have to cover anything I can just spray away????
or is there anything I can/should cover to be safe...
thanks

 

I would still go ahead and cover up the battery plus the alternator just in case. I haven't clean my engine yet, but when I do, I'm going to cover up the alternator and battery. Safe is better than sorry. I still have the stock air filter, no worry there. What if I have a CAI? Do I need to cover up the CAI filter as well? I'm planning to get a CAI real soon, so I want to make sure of that.

 

I don't know if its bad to steam clean, use a high pressure hose, cover the alternator, etc. When you use a high-pressure hose, would it somehow get in the engine and be very dangerous to it, for instance, like if it mixes with the oil? I had seen a bad incident where my friend used one of those "spray on/wash off with hose" products. When done, his engine kept stalling after 10 seconds from start. He took it to his mechanic and also got an oil change and realized that there was water draining into the oil pan. I dunno what to think about on cleaning the engine with water. So what is the best solution?

 

So that we can kill this. If you have a 4th or 5th gen Maxima and it is stock, spray Simple Green on dirty parts of the engine. I didn't clean around the battery because it wasn't dirty over there. Let it sit about 45 seconds, rinse with water coming straight from the hose, NOT a high pressure washer. I only say this because you can very easily control the water flow straight from the hose. Rinse and repeat. For those of us with CAI or K&N filters, please don't spray the CAI or filter(though thats how you clean it). Stay away from the battery and I guess the alternator too (although it loooks like the alternator has some green sealant around the coils, at least on mine), just to be safe. I'm not saying that high pressure is bad or not, just don't do it your first time around. Hell, if you are that uncomfortable with spraying the engine, just use a rag then.

 

Stop the madness!

No high pressure water or steam around the engine bay!

If its really that dirty have it doen professonally, otherwise use the simple green cleaner and a rag. For sand or dirt, loosen it with a paintbrush and remove it with a shopvac. There are far to many electrical items that you can screw up and have to spend weeks trying find and fix.

 

How do you think a professonal would clean it? They would steam or spray.

 

IF you were a PROFESSIONAL. If we are asking about if it is safe, then we are not a professional. So lets go with NO HIGH PRESSURE WASHING unless you are totally comfortable with it.