How do you clean the engine and engine bay

Yadster101 · 05-03-2009, 05:19 PM

Washed and waxed my TJ today and every once in a while i just get a damp rag and clean the engine but that isnt very effective. Is it a smart idea to just get some simple green and hose down everything under the hood?

zachbh · 05-03-2009, 05:21 PM

Engine degreaser really helps. Cover the electric stuff and the air intake and spray it down with the hose, or pressure washer.

**2jhanna** · 05-03-2009, 05:29 PM

at home, you can use simple green or 409 in a spary bottle on a luke warm engine. let it set for 5-10 minutes.then hose it all down, like said above cover air intake.

or at self service car wash. the one i use has a tire cleaner (green stuff) setting, wet everything down, let it set. then i use the presoak setting which is hot soapy water at medium pressure. then rinse. i also do the entire front end and undercarrage the same way. couple of bucks every time i change the oil. gets the oil from the filter change off.

have done it this way to all my vehicles, and i have been driving for 39 years.

**GOLENJEEPTJ** · 05-03-2009, 06:21 PM

Cover intake and pressure wash it.Those do it yourself car washes you won't have to worry about that high of pressure,cause they don't have it.Your electrical will be fine just use common sense when spraying?

**JohnyPro** · 05-03-2009, 06:23 PM

As long as you keep your engine running, you dont need to worry about covering your alternator, just don't aim in the air intake and you should be ok. I've used a pressure washer before with good success

rmb2485 · 05-03-2009, 06:27 PM

I take mine to the self car wash which has an engine degreaser setting. Cover the air intake, wet everything down, spray the degreaser then rinse it off.

Before...

After...

BlueFlame · 05-03-2009, 07:54 PM

Engine degreaser doesnt' do much unless it's ... greasy or oily.
I've never tried to 'clean' and engine (wouldn't even consider wiping it with rag!) but when pressure washing mud off after a trail run I lift the hood and blast the mud off. Don't see the need for more, certainly not a 'detailed' engine.

SB99TJ · 05-03-2009, 08:01 PM

Simple Green and a power washer is the answer. One Gallon Jug of Simple Green from Home Depot or Lowes, a $3.00 spray bottle and simply mix 1/3 simple green to water. Use a 75% mixture if you have a lot of grease, up to 100% if you need a putty knife to get the grease off.

Spray down the entire engine, soak it good...it will take the entire spray bottle...They spray it with the power washer. In 20 years, I have never covered anything in the engine bay and nothing has ever happened as a result. Just don't spray down the intake...that's it. The Alternator will be fine.

Spray the underside of the hood, under the frame, the wheel wells...etc. Engine degreaser works worse than simple green, and it can damage the finish of your paint and aluminum metals. Simple Green is enviornmentally friendly and degreases better than any degreaser i have ever used when used in combination with a pressure washer. It also won't damage your finish.

Bishop Creek · 05-03-2009, 08:10 PM

Thumbs up on Simple Green!

**lumpster** · 05-03-2009, 08:13 PM

ive had pretty good luck with "greased lightning".

Yadster101 · 05-03-2009, 08:18 PM

this is great advice i think im just going to cover the alternator and intake with plastic bag over it and just spray down with simple green and then hose off. I was just curious because although my engine bay is never really dirty its never cleanly detailed either and i was just wondering how some guys get this area to be so clean. thnkx for the advice

fried_gold · 05-03-2009, 10:49 PM

Don't forget to remove whatever you use to cover the intake before driving off. For some reason, my Jeeps always wants to run funky when I forget that. Silly jeeps and their air-needing engines.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2jhanna

or at self service car wash. the one i use has a tire cleaner (green stuff) setting,

Amen. I've found the bright, almost neon, green tire cleaner is the best thing to clean dried mud off a Jeep. It will clean things that I've been trying unsuccessfully to clean for months.

TJ311 · 05-03-2009, 11:31 PM

I worked for a shop long ago where the owner always wanted the engine near spotless before he touched it. I think he maybe had a grease phobia or something. He always had me use a kerosene (I believe) pressure washer that heated the water to hose down the engines. It worked like I charm and I never covered anything either. Again, use common sense.

I can't say my engine is always clean but I do like it almost spotless from time to time. It makes it easier to work on and can help it run cooler if there isn't an inch of grease or mud on it.

SECorBust · 05-05-2009, 08:33 AM

Wow, Kerosene, now that's environmentally friendly and good for the paint.

**NotURMailman** · 05-05-2009, 08:41 AM

He meant that the burner in the washer used Kerosene to heat the water, not wahing with Kerosene...