Could this do any damage to the gaskets? Just wondering cause I wanted to blast off the nasty grease and oil that is sloooowly making its way down the head to the headers. Figured a good powerwashing should get off all the built up gunk and end the ocassional burning oil smell. I was also planning on blasting around the plenium gasket because I see some oil marks on the intake plenium around the gasket. Thanks for you help guys.

 

i would avoid power washing

 

Just clean it with degreaser and a little work....

 

Thanks guys. Looks like an old fashioned cleaning is in order, no short-cuts! What engine degreaser do you recommend?

 

Simple Green works great.

 

I used 2 cans of Engine Brite (blue and orange can) when I bought the car and since then only need clean dust and dirt from time to time. Follow the directions and use a toothbrush or some steel wool pads. Pay attention if the directions specify to have the engine warm or cold.

 

i've powerwashed a few times. no problems. just don't spray from freekin 2 inches away.

 

Use the orange cleaner, a soft brush, and a garden hose. No pressure or your looking for trouble.

 

Sweet guys, thanks for the advice. Hopefully by Saturday afternoon my engine bay will be clean enough to eat off......well maybe not that clean. You get the picture. Pees

 

this works wonders..we use it on MTB bikes..doesnt leave weird residues...

 

what i use is, a soap and water with a degreaser inside a spray bottle. So i can carefully spray away and clean.

 

i power wash my motor almost every 2 months never had not one problem i cover my hid ballasts nd my air intake das all nd i use 2 cans of gunk degreaser

 

Brake cleaner > *

 

 

clean it all up and then change out the valve cover. The reason why it's all grimy is because it is leaking.

 

I pressure wash my engine bay(s) all the time. Just dont go crazy around the connectors.

 

I know it is leaking, but I wanted to save this repair still the spring when it isn't <30 degrees outside. I dont have access to a garage for the repair. I purchased a can of Gunk Foaming Engine Degreaser and a can of Black Magic 2 in 1 Engine Shine.
Anyone evey use the Black Magic engine cleaner??

 

Yup I used black magic back when i had hondas... boy did the engine bay shine. It also smells good coming through the air vents.So I guess it doubles as an air freshner.

 

Noice, I take it that it will also take care of that nasty oil odor too!! Really need to get that valve cover replaced.

 

Thought I would follow-up with some pics. Only had enough daylight to get pics of the intake plenium. Amazing before and after pics, sorry for the blurriness it was almost dark.


Before.....






After......






I used the Black Magic brand engine cleaner. Drove the car all afternoon, parked it in the driveway, sprayed Black Magic all over engine and scrubbed intake plenium and valve cover with toilet bowl brush, let sit for 10 minutes. Rinsed with hose and voila, clean engine bay. pics speak for themselves.

Thanks for the all the advice guys.

 

Now thats a clean engine bay.
Be sure to replace that gasket in the near future

 

Thanks Lou I plan on it, new gasket is in the trunk along with the valve cover gasket. Any thought on how to replace that thang? I thought it would be as easy as removing those 4 bolts visible in the picture, but once I did the plenium would not budge. For some reason the search tool on the forum is not working for me so if you come across a link please post so I can do this repair. Thanks Lou

 

IF you had time, would it be better to take out the whole plenum and spray degreaser all over it, or no. Bc i was planing to do that in the summer

 

Maxx, I think that would depend on how clean you want it. I think it would be a PITA to take the whole plenum out just to clean it when it can be done while on the car just like I did. Although, if you need to replace your plenum gasket you might as well take the whole shibang out and clean the plenum and replace the gasket at the same time.

 

aight yeah i understand

 

thers two bolts in the back by the fire wall remove them and you can lift it just enough to get the old gasket out and the new one in