Engine Cleaner?

6thsense · 09-20-2005, 03:47 PM

Does anyone have a tips on a good engine cleaner? I have used the gunk products before and had good results.

Also, if you have cleaned your engine already, did you cover up anything so it wouldnt get wet when you hosed it down? I saw the detailer at the dealership just takiing a hose to it with nothing covered up. Is this okay? What about the electrical components under the hood.

1BadTitan · 09-20-2005, 04:05 PM

I just use my wash soap and wash mit to wipe it down then hose it off. I only cover my AEM intake filter.

DeeDubya · 09-20-2005, 04:17 PM

You know, this is a fairly important topic. I have always been a stickler for a clean engine but have made some mistakes in the past. Cleaning the engine at a car wash was one of them. Too much pressure can blast water past the sealed electrical connections and not be evident until sometime later when they start to corrode.
I still use Gunk (although it stinks) only because it can be sprayed into hard to get places, and then spray on Simple Green (it smells pretty good) to remove the Gunk and remaining oils. I just use a hose (no spray nossle) and soft brush to clean the surface areas. I no longer coat the hoses and other black plastic shrouds etc. with ArmourAll because it collects dust. Then just take an air hose or even a leaf blower and knock off the standing water.
Also, after washing, I like to drive for a while to build up enough heat to evaporate any remaining moisture.

VShortt · 09-20-2005, 04:21 PM

Simple Green here. Spray it on very liberally. Wait 3 or 4 minutes. Spray another coat and without waiting, hose it off. It works great for me.

TXTitan05 · 09-20-2005, 04:59 PM

Here is another link on the same subject. It has some good suggestions too.

Happy reading!

engine cleaner

Bayou Titan · 09-20-2005, 06:07 PM

Here is a link that tells you everything you need to know about engine cleaning;and more!

http://www.guidetodetailing.com/arti...p?articleId=25

gtbigup01 · 09-20-2005, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VShortt

Simple Green here. Spray it on very liberally. Wait 3 or 4 minutes. Spray another coat and without waiting, hose it off. It works great for me.

Did you know simple green, even though it works great causes corrosion? I work on Black Hawk helicopters in the army and we swore by simple green, but it was later banned from being used on helicopters because it causes corrosion. Don't get me wrong I still swear by it for my personal use on my autos, I just make sure that whatever I use it on has no chance of holding water. Just FYI.

captain · 09-20-2005, 08:56 PM

I use the Orange Clean that Walmart sells. It smells like orange and is a very good hand cleaner. I clean my engine after every oil change and it looks new!
Jim

yellowv · 09-20-2005, 11:32 PM

I do not use any kind of degreaser on aluminum engines. It will cause oxidation and it looks horrible. Mild soap and water works fine unless you are dumping oil all over your engine bay. Also cover all electical connections before hosing the engine down.

BigBlackTruck · 09-21-2005, 08:08 AM

I use simple green for cleaning when I wash the truck, but for sstubborn stuff and when a gunk like product is needed I like the STP foaming engine cleaners, they seem to stay better than the more liquid like Gunk.