Anyone clean their engine?

VR3

Anyone clean their engine on a regular basis.

I clean mine about once a year and regularly armor all it throughout the year. But once a year Ill take some all purpose cleaner, drench it - let it set a minute or two then rinse it all off.

I find its easier to find leaks, work on stuff, so on and so forth.

Heres a pic of it -

Sadly right after I took this pic a small pin **** hole came about in one of the hoses for the radiator.

So I had to clean it again, this time its even cleaner than whats in this pic - but Im to lazy to take more pics.

Haha.

audiobliss

If those pics were big enough for diddly, I think I'd say 'good job'.

I was going to wash off my engine once like that, but was informed my electronics in the engine bay wouldn't take to it too well. Being too lazy to clean smaller areas at a time versus just spraying down the whole thing, I've not cleaned it.

VR3

Yeah, I covered the distributor cap and the intake...

But this is the 3rd time Ive washed it now without any issues, so... Ive gotten pretty comfortable with it...

Ill take more pics tommorow - I really drenched it today. I got down into crevices and everything. Good stuff.

Even around the oil cap it clean down and the firewall is pretty clean.

Pretty crazy stuff if you ask me.

joeaudio26

I detail cars trucks etc.. In the spring/summer/fall time


I must give you props, for such a clean engine, there's so much more you benefit from having a clean motor than looks .
When it comes time to work on it at least your not wearing 10 w 30 as cologne!

I clean my car, as often as it gets dirty, which comes to 100 times a year. Wax my car I'd say 10 times or more a year. Impulsive behavior. No just make my paint job have a constant gloss all year round.

I cant tell you how many compliments I get a year...Priceless..

VR3

I remembered I had the pics still on my camera. Heres larger versions...

joeaudio26

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

I remembered I had the pics still on my camera. Heres larger versions...

Where's your power wire at?

VR3

Yeah I hear you on the waxing - I am usually very anal about it.

But I just dont enjoy cleaning/detailing my truck in the winter. Jesus H Christ - way to cold.

So I keep the interior clean and take it to the car wash every few months just to keep it respectable, armor all the trim to keep it black. ETC...

But winter is way to cold to be out there 6-7 hours. Haha.

Very cool though, yeah the compliments make it worth while, and just knowing your vehicle isnt a disaster is as well. Haha

VR3

joeaudio26 wrote:

Where's your power wire at?

Hmm? Im not a big mechanic nut here, power wire?

joeaudio26

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

Hmm? Im not a big mechanic nut here, power wire?

Don't you run a amplifier?

Also, I don't clean my car in the winter either, take out garbage but that's it. As soon as spring hits, I drag out all my equipment and I'm outside for 12 hours..:D

VR3

Im not much into car audio sadly...

Im a big Home Audio guy - I just like to come here and talk about detailing and ask questions about the problems with my truck if they ever come up. Been good advice so far.

Lots of cool folks here.

disneyjoe7

All kidding aside does the Power Ranger help you get laid?

joeaudio26

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

Im not much into car audio sadly...

Im a big Home Audio guy - I just like to come here and talk about detailing and ask questions about the problems with my truck if they ever come up. Been good advice so far.

Lots of cool folks here.

That's home audio.....:eek:

GLN305

Don't be afraid to hose off any 1990 or newer engine. I have been showing cars for 13 years now and everytime I wash any of my vehicles I po the hood and treat it like the outside. I haven't had a single problem yet. My theory is that if you can drive in the rain, what can a washing hurt....and it's proven correct..lol

1996blackmax

I clean my engine once in a while. I go through the car wash and put the engine degreaser on it. On my other Maxima, I would cover the intake (Jim Wolf Pop Charger) and that was all.

audiobliss

GLN305 wrote:

Don't be afraid to hose off any 1990 or newer engine. I have been showing cars for 13 years now and everytime I wash any of my vehicles I po the hood and treat it like the outside. I haven't had a single problem yet. My theory is that if you can drive in the rain, what can a washing hurt....and it's proven correct..lol

Maybe in your limited experience, but sticking the water hose under the hood is a far cry from driving in the rain. As far as I can see, driving in the rain wouldn't get but at most the bottom half of the engine bay wet, and not very wet at that. A water hose is going to dump water from the top, already getting a whole new slew of items under the hood, and there's going to be a lot more water and at a much higher pressure. You really can't compare the two, and, not trying to be a jerk about it, but you shouldn't say that it's fine based on such a limited experience as yours and no solid facts.

You could wind up with somebody really mad at you that way.

ledhed

audiobliss wrote:

Maybe in your limited experience, but sticking the water hose under the hood is a far cry from driving in the rain. As far as I can see, driving in the rain wouldn't get but at most the bottom half of the engine bay wet, and not very wet at that. A water hose is going to dump water from the top, already getting a whole new slew of items under the hood, and there's going to be a lot more water and at a much higher pressure. You really can't compare the two, and, not trying to be a jerk about it, but you shouldn't say that it's fine based on such a limited experience as yours and no solid facts.

You could wind up with somebody really mad at you that way.

Unless the engine bay is sealed off completely on top like some cars, I don't see the harm. When it rains, tons of water comes into my Avalon's bay dues to the grill and water running down the windshield. While just soaking your engine or using a pressure washer is dumb, I see no harm using a spray nozzle.

audiobliss

Again, trying not to be a jerk about it, but you said you 'see no harm in it'. You have any experience or knowledge of engines and their electronics to allow you to reach such a conclusion in theory? If so, then good, I guess the matter is settled. If not, I still don't think anything has been proved.

Water coming in the grill is not likely to get past the radiator, I wouldn't think, and so wouldn't have any affect on the engine or the electronics in the engine bay.

RuSsMaN

I should do it Trey, at least more often.

Looks a lot better granted, and will certainly help with resale value.

Cheers,
Russ

VR3

You would be a moron to take a direct stream of water to anything in the engine... lol

I squeeze the nozzle a little bit to get a very wide spray going and just step back a foot or so and rinse everything off gentley... all it is all purpose cleaner - it does most of the cleaning.

Then I uncover everything and start it up and let it run for a little bit. The engine does alot of the drying itself - drive around the block, come back and dry it off....

[Deleted User]

Daily driven for almost 4 years. I would spray it down with Simple Green and hose it off. Never had any problems. I would even have standing water where the plug wires went into the head.

audiobliss

That is an immaculate engine bay. Kudos!!

disneyjoe7

Nice Josh

For the record I never had an issue cleaning an engine bay from old late 60's to anything modern. They are all the same if it does start when done I wouldn't drive it in the rain.

exalted512

I would hate to work on that thing...
-Cody

Jstas

Josh wrote:

Daily driven for almost 4 years. I would spray it down with Simple Green and hose it off. Never had any problems. I would even have standing water where the plug wires went into the head.

Be honest now. The only reason it's so clean is because there's no room in that engien bay for the dirt to fit!




BTW, disneyjoe, if I'm not mistaken on the picture you are referring to, that is NOT a Power Ranger. That is Optimus Prime and he's a Transformer. Get it stright, would ya? Geez!

GLN305

audiobliss wrote:

Maybe in your limited experience, but sticking the water hose under the hood is a far cry from driving in the rain. As far as I can see, driving in the rain wouldn't get but at most the bottom half of the engine bay wet, and not very wet at that. A water hose is going to dump water from the top, already getting a whole new slew of items under the hood, and there's going to be a lot more water and at a much higher pressure. You really can't compare the two, and, not trying to be a jerk about it, but you shouldn't say that it's fine based on such a limited experience as yours and no solid facts.

You could wind up with somebody really mad at you that way.

Let me go ahead and reinforce what I mean. I have friends that detail cars at dealerships, they all wash engines. All of my friends that show their cars all wash their engines. When I wash a family member's car, no matter how old....the engine gets washed. Keep in mind I usually do my engine washing at a high pressure car wash bay, so alot more pressure than a garden hose. It really is safe and if something does happen to your engine then there was a hidden problem waiting to happen anyway. Most people find problems washing the ditributor/coil area if the wires haven't been properly treated with the dielectric grease and other waterproofing chemical that are available and come on the car from the factory. I understand you weren't trying to be a jerk...neither am I, you are right that if I was underinformed or underexperienced that I could make someone mad, but I am neither. Keep thos cars clean!

disneyjoe7

Jstas wrote:

BTW, disneyjoe, if I'm not mistaken on the picture you are referring to, that is NOT a Power Ranger. That is Optimus Prime and he's a Transformer. Get it stright, would ya? Geez!

Sorry DINK reporting and factor in my age

BTW he didn't respond to the question, mind you it's not my business either. :cool: I posted it to bring a smile to the older members on this board, but it's funny to the others also since I don't know a Transformer from a Power Ranger. I mean WHO knew????

Jstas

disneyjoe7 wrote:

I mean WHO knew????

I did!

audiobliss

GLN305 wrote:

Let me go ahead and reinforce what I mean. I have friends that detail cars at dealerships, they all wash engines. All of my friends that show their cars all wash their engines. When I wash a family member's car, no matter how old....the engine gets washed. Keep in mind I usually do my engine washing at a high pressure car wash bay, so alot more pressure than a garden hose. It really is safe and if something does happen to your engine then there was a hidden problem waiting to happen anyway. Most people find problems washing the ditributor/coil area if the wires haven't been properly treated with the dielectric grease and other waterproofing chemical that are available and come on the car from the factory. I understand you weren't trying to be a jerk...neither am I, you are right that if I was underinformed or underexperienced that I could make someone mad, but I am neither. Keep thos cars clean!

Cool. Thanks for taking my post how I meant it instead of blowing it out of proportion.

I guess it is generally safe to take a water hose to an engine bay. However, I have been told my several members of Jeep forums and by several mechanics that I shouldn't stick a water hose under the hood of my Jeep. I guess some Cherokees are an exception?

VR3

I actually thought he was calling my truck a power ranger... as if he thought it was a Ford Ranger.

I never made the connection with the Optimus Prime action figure - haha.

Granted, he would of been/was wrong in both scenarios. However... lol

disneyjoe7

Trey, Ok I put a smile on your face too.

My work has been done.

Greg Peters

audiobliss wrote:

Cool. Thanks for taking my post how I meant it instead of blowing it out of proportion.

I guess it is generally safe to take a water hose to an engine bay. However, I have been told my several members of Jeep forums and by several mechanics that I shouldn't stick a water hose under the hood of my Jeep. I guess some Cherokees are an exception?

Chrysler made (including post-buyout Jeep) engine computers can be kinda sensitive to water, and aren't cheap to replace even with a used one. If I were to do an engine bay detail on mine, I'd be extra careful not to subject it to direct streams of water.