Best way to clean the engine compartment?

[Abq Bill]

With only 1700 miles on my '02 GTS, I probably don't need an engine cleaning just yet, but eventually I will.

What methods are best- hand cleaning, high pressure sprayer, etc?

Bill

 

[ArlyDude]

good old soap and toothbrush.

 

[Fast Viper Dan]

I used a bottle meant for feeding your lawn. Screw it onto a hose and add dish soap into the bottle. This way you get soap and water mixed with some pressure. But not enough to cause any harm.

 

[GTSPOWERED]

I use simple green and a garden hose.

 

[00prowler]

I use simple green and a garden hose.

Me Too

 

[95Viper]

I used simpe green and a hose last weekend on a bimmer and it worked fantastic. Covered electrical with plastic wrap and didn't go nuts with the water.

 

[JPL]

I use simple green and a windex bottle full of water.

 

[obaa996]

Simple green will attack aluminum if left on long enough; same thing with Castrol's purple stuff. I used to Simple Green heavily on my motorcycle until I saw that it etched the polishing on my wheels. So be careful to thoroughly rinse with a lot of water if you use it.

 

[Got Venom]

I cleaned mine up by putting in a "Polished Sean Roe Supercharger"

 

[Newport Viper]

good tips found here...

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=69

 

[Joseph Dell]

It is perfectly ok to just run the hose over the motor too... I did this when i lost a radior hose (ok, i didn't screw it on tightly enough)... Anyway, it was good to clean it out. it baaaadly needed the wash-down.

JD

 

[GTS Bruce]

Just be careful to dry out around the spark plugs.Leave water in there for too long and they will tend to corode to the head. GTS Bruce

 

[PhoenixGTS]

I have always had great luck using the engine clean function at a high-pressure do-it-yourself car wash on engine comppatments and always wanted to take the Viper, but the engine is so hot by the time you drive to the car wash it would be insanity to be spraying water on the engine. A couple of weeks ago I dropped my car off at an independent service center to have the AC charged after I replace the six o-rings in the system. The guys finished the car about 10:30 am. Just so happens there is a do-it-yourself high pressure facility right next store, so I pciked the car up about 3:00 after it had sat for a good four hours, drove it for about a minute to the get into a bay at the car wash and after a little wait to let the headers cool down had at it. First I did the "engine clean" setting and went all over the compartment and radiator area. Then I switched to soap and finally rinsed like crazy. I disconnected the injector plugs and blew them out then let them air-dry while I towelled everything down. WOW did it work! I had the intake manifold off recently and was disgusted how dirty the top of the block and thermostate housing were. While it was apart I went at it with Simple Green and a tooth brush and it did not even touch it. I gave up and put everything back together dirty. Now, after the power car wash if you look down through the intake runners you can see that the top of the block is a nice clean aluminum color (I had sprayed stright down ont he engine taking care to blow through the intake runners). I do not know what chemical thsoe car washes use for the "engine clean" function, but it works (and did not do any damage to the powder coating on the intake/valve covers).

 

[Got_Vnum]

What a timley topic as I am cleaning my engine tomorrow. Ive had okay results with a solution of Dawn and water, but wanted to try Gunks Foamy Engine Brite. The label says its safe for most underhood plastic and rubber, and safe for most painted engines. Ill test it out tomorrow and post results.