I've always been told that if the engine is warm, you need to keep it running when spraying it off. Of course you don't want to do it when your engine is really hot. Keeping the engine running will keep the engine at the same temp.
I've always been told that if the engine is warm, you need to keep it running when spraying it off. Of course you don't want to do it when your engine is really hot. Keeping the engine running will keep the engine at the same temp.
thats true i just prefer to do it when it is cool
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I will agree, its most definitely better and less risky to do it when the car is cold. Its also almost impossible to clean a hot engine with any detail. I usually just give it a quick spray down when washing the rest of the car.
I wanna do mine all over soooo bad. I'll usually take a spray bottle of water and a roll of shop towels to the engine bay, and it's "okay." Some residue gets left behind and areas that I can't reach down too still look a little grungy. And the fact that I spend so long just hitting the main areas...back gets tired, etc. LOL.
I've heard variations on what to cover up though...some people just say the fuse box and alternator (air filter too, if exposed). I guess the COPs make sense too.
I use brake cleaner and carburator cleaner to clean the bay with a water spray bottle. it works super good and fast you can see right away the dirt and grease falling. i see all the dirt and grease right after i move the car from the drive way, unbelieveable how dirty can the bay get
I love cleaning the engine bay. I cover everything up then hose everything down with hot water to loosen things up then spray everything down with some kind of degreaser let it soak for 2 minutes or so then hose down again with the hot water. We can screw a garden hose onto our faucet in the sink down cellar. ran a hose through the wall etc. enough rambaling. Hot water does make things a bit easier, hard to see at times though
Posts: 6
Joined: 5/19/2008 From: Farmington, Pa Status: offline
After I clean my engine bay i always blow it out and i go over all the plastic parts (ex. Radiator overflow air filter tube hoses valve covers ect...) with tire shine... Gives off a very good shine.
&\\;nbsp\\;I cover up NOTHING!!! Def stay off the air filter. I always spray my engine running and Only when it’s at running temp. Never cold. That is the biggest misconeption people have and why they have trouble with water. Spraying the battery is perfectly fine. Spraying the fuse box is fine as well, just cannot stay right on top of it. No alternator water. This is a must. Everything else has double insulated rubber protection from water and moisture. I leave the engine running with the hood just resting on the latch for about 1/2 hour so everything dries completely. Never spray a silicone tire type susbstance on your engine. It does nothing but catches dirt in every crack and crevice. Sure it looks good until you start driving down the road.<\\;br>\\;I’ve been a professional detailer for 10 years. I own my own detail business. I have cleaned several thousands of engines and never not once had any troubles with running or driveability!!!<\\;br>\\;
There''s also something you can buy, it''s degreases and it also shines. I think it might be part of Armor All. But its only a few buck and it work greats.
I have used gunk degreaser on mine, then i pressure wash it, BUT i didn''t know that i was suppose to cover all that stuff. the good thing that i keep the gun away quite a bit for that reason not to damage anything. with this knoledge i will do it from now on ( i dont want to learn the hard way). One tip that i do and you guys might be interested is that for all the rubber hoses and stuff like that (EXCEPT BELT! it will make it squeek) i use a tire cleaner (found in autozone) sprayed onto a rag and clean to hose (dont apply directly to avoid over spray) and it will be like new! lol. NOTE: read the lable and make sure it says "wont atrack dusk/dirt." the one i use comes in a black bottle, it is water based and has silicone (i think) and it works great and makes the engine "plastics" look really nice and shiny. kinda like armor-all but shinyer!
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RE: How to wash your engine bay - 
