I've been just using rags to clean around the exterior motor.......But as we all know it takes serious elbow grease to get around the motors to get a semi-new look. I have the STP Exterior Foam Engine cleaner, but honestly havent wanted to risk the use of sprayin my motor down with a hose on a cold engine ofcourse, concerned about electrical wiring etc.

what you guys using?

 

I was scared at first bout spraying anything on my engine as well... I was told by the Chevrolet service people spraying it down was fine unless you have like high pressure on certain things (alternator, elec. box) that sorta stuff. My engine is still pretty new so I can just spray mine a lil then use some rags to get the crap off of everything. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />
<img border="0" alt="[Truck]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_truck.gif" />

 

When I pop my hood, people ask if it is 2002. I say no it's a 2000. I use the cheap stuff. Wal-Mart engine cleaner. I spray it on with a semi warm engine(not up to temp, usually in the morning before the carwash) then I let it sit for 20 min or so. Then I spray it down. After that I drive it around for 5 to 15 minutes to let the engine warm up nicely. Then I wash the truck and before I dry it I mist the engine compartment with armor all (being carful around the belts) then rinse the truck agin to get the armor all overspray off then dry the truck. That's my routine.

 

Only thing I am concerned about is the wiring.....distributor wires, etc.... But its really time my motor gets a good scrub. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Is your walmart engine cleaner a foam as well? Or just a normal spray?

 

It's just a spray. The coils are sealed up pretty well.

 

I use a pressure washer on my '99 it looks brand new all the time under there. Yup the only thing of real concern is the alternator for me (put a large ziplock bag over it) Other than that, before a show I use a tooth brush around the heads and oh yeah go over the loom with the brush too. No mater how much i spray those, they still hold dirt. Tooth brush and car wash soap <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

Well I went to Pep Boys, got some engine cleaner/degreaser (spray, not foam)........

The spray nozzle on the cleaner wasn't the best one I've ever seen. It managed to get everything in front of it within 3 feet covered as well.....next thing u know my entire motor was soaked. Ofcourse I covered the filter, alternator.

When the time to rinse came, the nozzle on the hose gun wasn't too nice either, that somehow managed to soak my entire engine, only way I could really rinse all of it off anyway. Apparently, when I started the motor, not all the cleaner/degreaser was off, as I could smell it burning and saw smoke coming from the headers......

Anyway, when it comes down to it, I think a wet rag, a brush, and a shining formula is the best and safest way to keep the engine lookin good. This engine cleaner really wasn't the best......

<small>[ May 14, 2002, 12:44 AM: Message edited by: SportVortech ]</small>

 

I sprayed my engine with a hose.
It was covered in a thick layer of dirt, as the previous owner used it as a work truck on a farm. I used the Wal-Mart foaming engine cleaner. It didn't come as clean as I'd hoped, despite spraying EVERYTHING underhood with the hose on full blast.

Most engine cleaners are designed to cut through grease.

I haven't had a single problem, even though I sprayed the crap out of pretty much everything underhood.

Is there anything that cuts through DIRT?