Cleaning the engine bay

I do it all the time.

After I cover the engine bay with a full concentrate of simple green, (let sit for 5-10 mins). Then place a ziplock over the air trumpet and use a pressure washer on the lowest setting. There is nothing to really watch out for since the engine is not powered by as many electronics as the newer vehicles.

Pressure washer is what I use too. Done it many times, hasn't hurt anything.

i don't squeeze the trigger around the electronics and i keep it running when i do mine..

Try to keep the water away from the PDC and the PCM. Mine did some pretty funky stuff when wet. With the key out of the ignition, my locker pumps were running, lights on for the rear defroster, wipers (soft top was on) and the auto tranny was in limp mode. DoctorD told me to pray and hope that it dried out. Luckily it did but, that was one long Sunday for me. :rotflmao:

Once you get it clear... spray everything with WD40. Next time you get mud in there it will come off easy. Whenever I change the oil I respray it. Works great.

securekey said:

Once you get it clear... spray everything with WD40. Next time you get mud in there it will come off easy. Whenever I change the oil I respray it. Works great.

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I found that WD40 and anything like it, attacts dust and dirt. Are you having a different experience with it?

The dirt is going to go into the engine compartment either way... as is the mud. IMO I would rather it stick to the wd40 then a little water washes it right off. You don't need pressure washers.. in fact you can do it with a rag. Try it in a small space for yourself...

X3 on using Simple Green... I started using some Dollar store cleaner called "Amaze" ...Not bad and is tons cheeper then the Simple Green.

BTW: Check the drain hole in the bottom of the air cleaner box... A little water down the air horn doesn't hurt anythig if the drain is open. :lildevil:

securekey said:

Once you get it clear... spray everything with WD40. Next time you get mud in there it will come off easy. Whenever I change the oil I respray it. Works great.

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I have done this, but it has been a while. Also you can use Tire Wet (What I use the most, use any silicone based tire dressing) and/or baby oil. The baby oil idea comes from Trucks TV, I have not tried that.

x4 on the Simple Green.

After it's clean, I use Tire Shine (any of the spray and walk away tire dressings). Makes everything look new. Once it dries, if you want to make it a little less shiny and sticky, I spray the whole thing down again with the hose. Once dry, still looks new, but won't attract the dust and dirt quite as much.

x5 for Simple Green and I have used also used various spray-on de-greasers with good luck over the years. Also use the pressure washer with a fairly wide fan tip. When I do the Jeeps and truck, I stand on a stepstool to elevate myself so I can spray down on the engine.

My motorhome has a side radiator (diesel pusher) and I routinely use Simple Green and a pressure washer to keep it clean.

One caveat about Simple Green and aluminum - I have heard it will attack aluminum if left on for long enough. Not sure if this is true or not, but I'm always careful to thoroughly rinse it off.

Had a problem just one time in all the years with my '03. I too use Simple Green but just a nozzle on the garden hose. Anyway, ended up with a mild electrical problem once so I have since applied dielectric grease in most electical connectors and plugs, as well as the spark plug boots under the coil rail. No problems since and it also protects when fording through deep water.

Thanks for all the tips guys! I will begin to work on it, when it gets warmer. Even here in SC it is barely making it past 40. Global warming my butt....

I have taken mine to the dealer twice to get it steam cleaned. I know cleaning it is something I could do myself, but it's $22 and 45 minutes out of my day and the engine looks brand new.

If you can afford to feed that twin, $22.00 is a drop in the bucket to you. Avgas at SAF was $6.09/gal!!!!

RockyMnt1 said:

If you can afford to feed that twin, $22.00 is a drop in the bucket to you. Avgas at SAF was $6.09/gal!!!!

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I never could have afforded gas in that thing. Luckily I never had to That is actually a picture of me at work 3.5 years ago. I was an Aerial Survey Pilot at the time. Sadly though, I haven't flown a piston airplane since May 2007 I would love to fly one again, but flying jets doesn't pay what it used to. Maybe this summer I'll rent a Cirrus and take my girlfriend for a flight.