Im new to this forum and recently acquired a 1986 rx7 in really good condition, the previous owner took great care of it, but the engine looks like it could use a good cleaning. So on to my question, is it acceptable to use a car wash pressure washer to clean it, or is it best done by hand with a bucket and a brush? Sorry if this has been asked, i searched but to no avail.

 

elbow grease, i used a pressure washer one time, killed my alternator. Elbow grease works better?

 

Ive hosed mine down.

Wrapped airfilter witha bag, avoided spraying directly at the alt, and sprayed away.

Followed witha generous amount of APC and a bunch of different brushes.

 

yeah wrap everything electrical in plastic bags (safeway) tripple up on them as well covering coils ALT. BAT and air filter and a few other electrical things..

i pressure wash all the engine bays i detail and not once have i had a problem.

i use foamy engine bright, spray engine and other greasy areas let it soak for 5-10 mins and spray with a pressure washer or a hose (pressure washer works the best, mines 2400 psi)

dont spray near any electrical connectors once its fully washed remove all the plastic bags and always start it and let it warm up to normal op temp making sure all water evaporates this ensures no water is left to do harm.

after that i use simple green and a brush.once its all cleaned and washed again than let it dry and than i follow it by a nice dosage of 303(areo space uv protector). do all the above and your engine bay will bling!

 

Good tips, thanks ^^

 

areo space is by far the best ive ever used. my engine bays are so clean you can eat off them i always amaze people when i lift open my hood.

http://www.303products.com/shop303/i...protectant.cfm

303 cost alot but you get what you pay for.i buy it by the gallon and its 50-70 bucks a gal

 

Probably going to be a three stage process.
I don't believe any special precautions are necessary-" yeah wrap everything electrical in plastic bags (safeway) tripple up on them as well covering coils ALT. BAT and air filter and a few other electrical things.", oh come on...really?- except the air filter if it's an aftermarket cone-type.

-Car wash high pressure soap and rinse.

Now you can see the really bad spots.

-Purple Power (or the cleaner of your choice) and whatever implement fits the space...brush, 3M pad, rag...you get the idea.

-Garden hose and soap for final clean, followed by rinse.

If you're lucky and have a carwash nearby that actually has "spot-free rinse"- which is just ultra demineralized water but most place lie about it- that would make a good final step.

 

NEVER EVER USE HIGH PRESSURE WATER!!

it gets into places that you dont want. like electrical plugs and wires and ****.

use a gentle spray, almost like a spray bottle.

use FOAMING degreaser, or use a degreaser that you can put into a spray bottle and spray directly on areas.

use the foaming de greaser on the lower parts of the engine bay and the hard to reach places that the drivers side of the engine bay. fill that up with foam, then work your way around the front, to the exhaust, and then back around and then under the intake manifold if you can.

then do under the hood.

let it sit and let the foam roll off and start to drip away. after you spray the foam on, and after 30 minutes are up, use a gentle spray to spray the engine bay. just keep it in the center of the engine bay and move it around above the engine. you can try and put it down into some spots if your able, and then do the hood.

after you are done, let the **** dry off and prey to god that the engine starts.

 

Please, don't yell...my car-which gets high pressure sprayed all the time- might hear you.

 

ha ha ha. yah i know. its a common practice but generally its frowned at. you dont really need high pressure at all. just good solvent. usually dish soap on a non wet surface works wonder on grease and buildup.


also, those steam cleaners that are sold at bed bath and beyond wit the pointed tip are probably the BEST way to do that.

 

I never would use a pressure washer, knowing that most of the electrical connectors on the FC are not weather tight.

Spray it down with Castrol Super Clean, brush the nasty spots, rinse and repeat until it's clean. Then from now on when you wash the car, just spray it with a solution of dish soap and water, wipe with a cloth and rinse off.

 

Take "before" picture.

"Gunk" the hell out of engine bay.

Let it sit for ten minutes.

Garden hose or pressure wash entire area.

Conventional car soap and sponge scrub everything.

Steel wool aluminum.

Garden hose everything again.

Blow out all connections with air hose.

Go to wall mart and buy 98 cent black spray paint.

Pull faded or rusted black parts, sand, clean and paint them.

Put everthing back together.

Take "after" picture.

john ny

 

pull out the engine? the most betterest way

 

I use a this blue stuff called "wheelie clean" strong yet gentle. I used that wooden paint mixing sticks for that really stuck on gunk.. Nylon brushes.. Tooth brushes.. Water dish soap and a lot of time.. Light spray from the garden hose.. And depends if there's is a lot of oil sludge not a bad replacing the front main seal isn't a bad Idea. kept my motor real clean! Pretty easy to do !