I wash my car at one of those you-do places that have power washers, is that appropriate when doing your engine bay? or is that too much water pressure for the internals? what do you all do to keep your engine bays nice & shiny?

 

Do a search, it was covered last week...

Also there is NO need to cover the alternator, I've washed off plenty of them. High pressure is fine, don't aim the nozzle at any electrical connections or soft parts like the underhood liner. You'll be fine otherwise.

Jeff

 

super green, or ultra green, or something green...at a car store, in the cleaning products section...works nice...juts wipe off any you might accidentally get on aluminum, from what I've heard.

 

I use Armor All mutipupouse foaming cleaner... THAT ***** WORKS GOOD> just rinse it off... Leaves it shinny and hoses and plastic parts looking brand new. I would be careful of the alternator, my buddy washed his car, and bought a new alternator the next day,,,,

 

The BEST way is to take as much stuff out as you can and wash the parts one by one with dish soap. Using harsh crap in the motor (or anywhere) will often lead to corrosion over time. Just take your time and do it right. Get under the car and clean it off. Use as little water as possible and dry it off. Then take a dry rag and go over it again to polish stuff. I use a little wax on the parts to protect them a bit. Use some finish 2000 on the plastic parts. I DON'T use high pressure in the motor.

 

Castrol super clean works great. Don't use it on polished aluminum parts. Rinse cold engine first, apply Super clean, rinse. If you want to get more detailed use a rag with some diluted Super Clean on it. I always rinse the hell out of the engine with a garden hose after I'm done. Towel dry the polished stuff and go for a drive.

Here are some pics of my engine(s). I cleaned them initially with high pressure but at a distance. Is your motor clean?

community.webshots.com/user/turbojeff

Worry about the alternator if you want, I've washed all the FB(1 GSL-SE), FCs (2 sport pkg, 2 TII) and FDs (8 93 and 1 94). I bought a very mild engine burn car in Dec, scrubbed the alternator with a brush and rinsed with a hose, worked fine.

Jeff

 

again, you guys rock!
thanks for the responses

 

I use Greased Lightning de-geaser that you can buy at your local K-mart.

 

simple green - that's the name, and yes, it works awesome. I don't think my engine bay had ever been cleaned before I bought it... a couple passes with simple green and a rag and it looked new again (it took more than one pass because it was THICK with grime)

..smells good too.

 

Caution!!!!!!!!!

When washing your motor buy "Wire Dryer" and spray all electrical connections first. It puts a waterproof coating on it.....after that just blast away.

 

CAUTION Simple Green will eat aluminum and takes off the anti corrosive coating on bolt heads.