can someone recommend how to clean out the engine. my car has 51k on it and its kind of dirty in the engine. I want to clean it up a little bit. I need recommendation. please help me out. I am new to Maxima.org.

 

unless you want to have electrical problems

 

is there anyway just to clean it out. so make it look new? i mean not to use water.

 

a wet rag and some elbow grease works wonders

 

engine degreaser..spray everything but dont srpay anything electrical.cover battery..and othe wiring..than spray with hose..repeat if necessary..

 

cover alternator/fusebox/battery (if u dont have covers for terminals)
use a plastic bag or something just cover it fully so no water gets into them.
You can use a solution of simple green/water about 40/60.. let it sit for a little while about 2/5min scrub and rinse with water.
After rinsing dry as much as you can..then start car up help evaporate water away and keep on drying add some whatever meguiars spray/wax even on parts to make them shiny etc.
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IS washing engine with water safe? would it make engine parts rusting? should wait until summer and do it?

 

Even though it isn't the best practice in the world, I used to use a high temp (220Deg F) high pressure washer (2200psi) to clean engine bays when I worked at a local detail shop. I probably did 300 cars over my working period and never once did the cars not run properly after drenching it with a high pressure blast...boy did those engine bays come out nice!

Spence

 

Yeah I agree. You can take it to a car wash and they will usually do it for like 10 or 15 bucks.

 

Wait till Spring. It'll only get dirty again, and freezing water in engine compartment may hurt some parts.

I spray bacon grease on my engine, then let my dog lick it clean. I found a nice little Dachshund at the pound that works the best on my Maxima.

Other than that, if engine is moderately dirty, warm up engine, shut off, then let exhaust pipes and block cool enough to touch. This will help water evaporate later and lessen condensation. If you wet it when it is too hot, parts might warp.

Cover electrical parts well, then don't ever hit them with high pressure when washing.

Use hot water from a bucket filled in the sink, and use car wash soap with wax in it, like Turtle Wax soap. The wax helps prevent corrosion somewhat, makes it easier to clean next time, and helps some parts shine when you hand dry it off. Pour soapy water from the bucket over the motor, then scrub by hand with a soft scratchless brush and rags. Rinse with buckets of water before soap evaporates, or a hose set on low.
High pressure water is not good: It blows water where it should not go. The electrical connectors on Nissans are notorious for corroding and failing. The less water used when washing, the better

Use a towel and compressed air to dry parts. Connectors can be pulled off, cleaned, re-lubed with connector grease, and replaced if you are really **** or live around salt water or where they salt the roads in the winter.

Let it drip dry for about 15, remove protection from electricals, start engine (if you are lucky, it will) and let run for a few minutes, shut off, wipe dry again to prevent water spots, then start and drive around for a while to make sure engine is really dry.

If engine is just dusty, simply scrub it with wet rags.

 

No touch tire cleaners does wonders... just be careful with the electrical contacts.

 

I used castrol degreaser, spary all engine, not the electrical like some people are saying, then washed it down with water. After that i let me car run for like 30 minutes and it dryed up the water. I wouldn't recommend doing it in cold though.

Worked well for me, also.... If you wannamake some things shine for about 2-3 months, take a rag and dip it in some oil, not to much though, and whip partsa under the hood with it, and it will give it a matalic shine!

 

I use simple green and some rags, but I'm thinking dogpound for next time.

 

I'm sorry, but let a Dachshund near my VQ? NEVER!

Only a Japanese Spitz will do.

 

yeap, same here...i use castrol degreaser jus for the surface of my engine bay... intake, battery, valve cover, ram air, etc... it's doin a fine job =)