Engine Cleaning

On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:50:56 -0700, Built_Well wrote:

>
> Hi, I have a question about engine cleaning.
>
> A beginner's book called "Auto Upkeep" says to clean the engine like
> this:
>
> "Open the hood. Wet a shop rag with a multipurpose cleaner and wipe
> grime, dirt, and dust from the engine compartment. Close the hood."
>
> What kind of multipurpose cleaner would work--Ammonia-based spray?
>
> Also, do I have to worry about accidentally cleaning off
> intentionally
> lubricated surfaces inside the engine compartment?


What car are we dealing with here?

We used something similar to Simple Green, we would spray the engine with
it and let it sit for about 5 minutes and then rinse it off with a high
pressure hose, but a garden hose works just as well. On newer cars this
works quite well. When I did it to my Supra at closing time, the Service
Manager was quite angry with me because the car wouldn't start because
everything was wet and we couldn't get the car out of the wash bay. On
older cars it is best to leave the engine running, but take care not to
get water into any air intakes.
 >> Stay informed about: Engine Cleaning 

Built_Well wrote:
> Hi, I have a question about engine cleaning.
>
> A beginner's book called "Auto Upkeep" says to clean the engine like
> this:
>
> "Open the hood. Wet a shop rag with a multipurpose cleaner and wipe
> grime, dirt, and dust from the engine compartment. Close the hood."
>
> What kind of multipurpose cleaner would work--Ammonia-based spray?
>
> Also, do I have to worry about accidentally cleaning off
> intentionally
> lubricated surfaces inside the engine compartment?

Do not use cleaners or solvents on ANY decals or stickers, dry rag only.
 >> Stay informed about: Engine Cleaning 

On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:50:56 -0700, Built_Well wrote:

> Hi, I have a question about engine cleaning.
>
> A beginner's book called "Auto Upkeep" says to clean the engine like
> this:
>
> "Open the hood. Wet a shop rag with a multipurpose cleaner and wipe
> grime, dirt, and dust from the engine compartment. Close the hood."

That is only good advice if your engine and engine bay is already pretty
clean. If you have some oil leaks and operate in a dusty environment then
your engine bay might be filthy.

> What kind of multipurpose cleaner would work--Ammonia-based spray?

Kerosene cleans really good. Wash it off with detergent water. Really
tough stuff can be attacked with steam cleaner, high pressure sheep urine
etc.

> Also, do I have to worry about accidentally cleaning off intentionally
> lubricated surfaces inside the engine compartment?

Not unless you deliberately fill the sump with detergent.
 >> Stay informed about: Engine Cleaning 

> Hi, I have a question about engine cleaning.
>
> A beginner's book called "Auto Upkeep" says to clean the engine like
> this:
>
> "Open the hood. Wet a shop rag with a multipurpose cleaner and wipe
> grime, dirt, and dust from the engine compartment. Close the hood."
>
> What kind of multipurpose cleaner would work--Ammonia-based spray?
>
> Also, do I have to worry about accidentally cleaning off
> intentionally
> lubricated surfaces inside the engine compartment?


Honestly? Just leave it alone...

When you start cleaning an engine you knock things loose accidentally,
water gets places it can't normally get.. brittle plastic parts get
snapped off. I've never seen a car cease to run because the engine
wasn't cleaned. I've seen tons of cars that don't run anymore after
the engine is cleaned.

If you really want to have it done have a professional steam clean the
engine.

Steve B.
 >> Stay informed about: Engine Cleaning 

On 2008-07-01, Steve B <none RemoveThis @none.com> wrote:

> When you start cleaning an engine you knock things loose accidentally,
> water gets places it can't normally get.. brittle plastic parts get
> snapped off.

Not if you show just a little bit of care.

> I've never seen a car cease to run because the engine wasn't cleaned.

But a clean engine compartment and engine is so much nicer to work with.

> I've seen tons of cars that don't run anymore after the engine is
> cleaned.

A little bit of care prevents that. And the condition should only be
temporary and self-correcting unless they were VERY stupid.
 >> Stay informed about: Engine Cleaning 

On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:50:27 -0400, Steve B. wrote:

>
> Honestly? Just leave it alone...
>
> When you start cleaning an engine you knock things loose accidentally,
> water gets places it can't normally get.. brittle plastic parts get
> snapped off. I've never seen a car cease to run because the engine
> wasn't cleaned. I've seen tons of cars that don't run anymore after
> the engine is cleaned.
>
> If you really want to have it done have a professional steam clean the
> engine.
>
> Steve B.


I cleaned hundreds of cars with a grease cutter like Simple Green.

Unfortunately, the only one that wouldn't run afterwards was my Supra...
 >> Stay informed about: Engine Cleaning 

What I do, and have done for a long time, is when I take the rig to a
"do-it-yourself" carwash I LIGHTLY spray under hood with the soap spray,
ease hood down and wash car - then when I rinse, I rinse under the hood
again fairly lightly - but then I do it several times a year so don't need
the pressure. Need I say Toyotas stay fairly clean w/o oil leaks?

Ron in Ca



"Built_Well" <Built_Well_Toyota.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ce3f4006-e31a-4b71-aaf0-c1a0e2a15716@r66g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>
> Hi, I have a question about engine cleaning.
>
> A beginner's book called "Auto Upkeep" says to clean the engine like
> this:
>
> "Open the hood. Wet a shop rag with a multipurpose cleaner and wipe
> grime, dirt, and dust from the engine compartment. Close the hood."
>
> What kind of multipurpose cleaner would work--Ammonia-based spray?
>
> Also, do I have to worry about accidentally cleaning off
> intentionally
> lubricated surfaces inside the engine compartment?
 >> Stay informed about: Engine Cleaning 

"Steve B." <none.RemoveThis@none.com> wrote in message
>
> Honestly? Just leave it alone...
>
> When you start cleaning an engine you knock things loose accidentally,
> water gets places it can't normally get.. brittle plastic parts get
> snapped off. I've never seen a car cease to run because the engine
> wasn't cleaned. I've seen tons of cars that don't run anymore after
> the engine is cleaned.
>
> If you really want to have it done have a professional steam clean the
> engine.
>
> Steve B.

Double ditto this post.. If he doesnt know how to do it, he shouldnt.
You CAN cause a lot of problems with injudicious engine washing.
Leave this until a little later in the development of your automotive
hobbying.
 >> Stay informed about: Engine Cleaning 

"Built_Well" <Built_Well_Toyota DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ce3f4006-e31a-4b71-aaf0-c1a0e2a15716@r66g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>
> Hi, I have a question about engine cleaning.
>
> A beginner's book called "Auto Upkeep" says to clean the engine like
> this:
>
> "Open the hood. Wet a shop rag with a multipurpose cleaner and wipe
> grime, dirt, and dust from the engine compartment. Close the hood."
>
> What kind of multipurpose cleaner would work--Ammonia-based spray?
>
> Also, do I have to worry about accidentally cleaning off
> intentionally
> lubricated surfaces inside the engine compartment?

Get some Simple Green - I bought a gallon about a decade ago and still have
plenty left. Simple Green works on grease and just about anything you spill
in the interior, it works as a household cleaner, and driveway degreaser.
Of, you can try stuff like Gunk Engine Brite.

Spray the cleaner on the engine, avoiding the coils, spark plugs, electrical
connectors, engine air intake, and throttle body. Let the stuff sit for 5 ~
10 minutes, rinse off with a gentle spray. A full power shot from a hose or
pressure washer can knock stuff loose or force water into the intake (very
bad - you can end up needing a new engine).
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
 >> Stay informed about: Engine Cleaning 

On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:37:29 -0700, ron wrote:

> What I do, and have done for a long time, is when I take the rig to a
> "do-it-yourself" carwash I LIGHTLY spray under hood with the soap spray,
> ease hood down and wash car - then when I rinse, I rinse under the hood
> again fairly lightly - but then I do it several times a year so don't need
> the pressure. Need I say Toyotas stay fairly clean w/o oil leaks?


I WISH!!!! My last three have leaked like sieves!

One of them had the oil pan bolts working loose and the entire underside
of the car was oil undercoated.
 >> Stay informed about: Engine Cleaning 

Thanks for all your suggestions.

I guess when I clean underneath the front hood, I'll just do it
the careful, tedious way, with a shop towel passed over individual
surfaces, one at a time, like Auto Upkeep recommends.

It sure will take a lot longer, but for a beginner like me, it's
probably safer.

On the other hand, in the '06 Camry, the engine's spark plugs are
protected by a large plastic engine cover, and I guess I could
cover the air filter housing's air intake with something, and
cover the alternator and MAF sensor, but I think I'll just follow
the book and use a dampened shop towel.
 >> Stay informed about: Engine Cleaning 

> "Open the hood. Wet a shop rag with a multipurpose cleaner and wipe
> grime, dirt, and dust from the engine compartment. Close the hood."
>
> What kind of multipurpose cleaner would work--Ammonia-based spray?
>
> Also, do I have to worry about accidentally cleaning off
> intentionally
> lubricated surfaces inside the engine compartment?


I've always used the gunk "Engine Brite" spray. Start with a cold
engine, idle for 2-3 minutes to warm it up just a bit. Then let loose
with the entire can of gunk and have a toothbrush handy. Go around the
entire engine compartment and use the toothbrush on any dirt you see,
hit the firewall, strut towers, manifold shields, hoses, clamps, etc.
The solvent will keep the dirt loosened up once you touch it. Once
you've hit everything use a garden hose to rinse it all out. Whala,
perfectly clean engine compartment.

Now you do need to be careful if your engine has the plugs down inside
a 'well', because water will invariably get down in there and keep you
from driving until you get it all out. I use compressed air to dry
this area off, but if you don't have that option you need to mask that
area of the engine off with a block of some sort(plastic bag and
tape?) to keep water away from there. Another area to avoid getting
intentionally wet is the distributor, cap and wires. Or if you don't
have a distributor, keep the coil packs and wires dry.

Chris
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=?iso-2022-jp?q?Hachiroku_=1B$B%O%A%m%=2F=1B=28B?= <Trueno DeleteThis @e86.GTS> wrote:
>
>One of them had the oil pan bolts working loose and the entire underside
>of the car was oil undercoated.

Good thing. Prevents body rust.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
 >> Stay informed about: Engine Cleaning