Cleaning the Engine

[dieselshu]

Hello all, What is everyone using to clean the engine of the oil mist created from the breather bottle. I know to cover the alternator, any other words of advice, ie; cleaning solution etc.

Thanks in advanceOo.

 

[FourBarR]

engine cleaning

Dshuart i have been using simple green to wash down the engine compartment since 1998. works well. not on a hot engine!! Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[Shovelhead]

Don't forget to remove the plastic bags before start-up



This could happen.

 

[LSMITH]

I use simple green too, and it works. I have never covered anything, I just douche it with cleaner and then rinse it off. No problems so far and it has had over 40 underhood baths. I cannot stand an engine with more than just a light coat of dust on it. Rinse well if you use simple green as it will make aluminum look terrible if you don't.

 

[Deezul1]

Castrol Super Clean is awsome on a really grubby engine or underneath but be careful with your eyes and hands as it is very caustic, i wouldnt use except underneath or some thing very bad dirty and then it does a great job.

 

[Motorhead]

Watch any of the cleaners/de-greasers on your paint. It can etch it. Try to keep the rinse water spray away from the master cylinder.

 

[rono]

What LSMITH said. Be sure to rinse real good. A friend who is an oilfield welder had never cleaned his 3500 in almost a year. It was imbarassing to look at that fine cummins engine in that condition. I sent him to walmart to get some simple green and he brought it over one day and we soaked the whole engine compartment with it, twice, used a sprayer on the garden hose and it looks new again. He just kept on about how good it looked, and said that it would never get in that condition agian.

Ron

 

[Todd T]

OK this is gonna sound strange, but i have been showing cars for ten years now and have never had a problem. wash the entire engine compartment with simple green, purple power, or whatever is equivalent. to do this spray the compartment first to get it wet. dont use simple green on dry parts it can discolor some things. next after cleaning the engine get yourself a can of STP Tire Foam or Armer All's equivalent. spray the entire engine bay down with the foam make sure it covers all the nooks and cranny's and shut the hood (dont worry, it doesnt leave a build up like regular armer all or son of a gun does it will dry and leave everything looking like brand new). NEXT, wash the outside of the car like you always do, after washing and before drying use the tire foam again of the wheel wells and any thing black that hangs off the bottom of the truck (rear ends, shocks, gas tank, etc, etc. ) then get a bottle of Maquires Quick Detailer(do things in this order so any overspray will get wiped off as you dry the truck). Quick Detailer is made to use on a dry vehicle but usually leaves streaks doing it that way. thats why i spray it on while the truck is still wet and shammy it off as i dry the truck. on darker clolored cars it will sheen down and hide those pesky spider web looking things in the paint and shine your ride like you've never seen. if you are going to show the truck next take a dry rag and get under the hood and wipe around the Tire Foam to make sure it covered everything evenly and wipe down the spots you might have missed.



now you have detailed the engine bay, blacked out the wheel wells and basically waxed the entire vehicle. all you have left to do is clean the rims, door jambs and spoof up the tires with your favorite foofoo juice



the STP Tire Foam is cheap too $3-$4, i usually buy two cans at a time to make sure i dont run out.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Covering the alternator.

Something I used to do until I changed the exhaust manifold. (I won't go there. ) The alternator got so sooted up, I figured what do I have to loose. On a good hot day, I soaked it with Castrol and blasted away. Did that a number of times now and the alternator still works. I always let it dry before running it though.

 

[clem]

Originally posted by Dshuart

Hello all, What is everyone using to clean the engine of the oil mist created from the breather bottle. I know to cover the alternator, any other words of advice, ie; cleaning solution etc.

Thanks in advanceOo.

I use Simple Green like every one else. and blue magic the engine, but use your air compresser to blow all the water off. Then wash the rest of your truck and get any place you might have missed when you do the door jams. Ready to kill more bugs

 

[Blakers]

If it's really grubby, soak everything down good with kerosene, let it soak a few hours, then use the Simple Green. The kerosene will soak into and soften grease and oily grime build up. Fuel oil will work fine if you don't have kerosene, but I prefer kerosene.



To the guy who uses Tire Foam... do you have to rinse it off?



Blake