Want to clean my engine

[midnightblue97lx]

I really don't want to fuck anything up on my car, but my engine is dirty as hell, I can't stand it anymore. What should I cover up before I spray, what would be best to just wipe with a damp rag, what can just be hosed down, etc........ I think with stuff like fuse and relay boxes, I'll just take the covers off and wash them by hand, same with the air box and a few other things, but some of the other stuff I'm not sure of. I know that I'm not supposed to put cold water on a hot engine, but should I run it afterwards?? And, is there any engine cleaner/degreaser that any of you recommend??

Thanks

[seadooguy]

I bought some stuff from Crappy Tire a few weeks ago, but I haven't put it on yet. I'm a little hesitant. I am definately going to clean it up so she's ready for Dark Nights.

The stuff I bought is called Gunk - Engine Brite. It's a heavy duty engine degreaser.

I wanted to find out from other people how to apply it and what to cover before I wash it off.

Hopefully we can get some advice...

Lemme know if you hear anything..

peace

[ChopstickHero]

Ryan, if you're unsure about what to cover, then seek professionals to do it the first time and watch what they cover and not cover.  FINE DETAILS (http://www.finedetails.org) does engine shampooing/cleaning for $35.  My friend went there with his Civic and his engine came out spotless!  Keep in mind that they use industrial cleaners that are probably better than the stuff at Crappy Tire and such.

I got this sample bottle of Castrol SuperClean degreaser stuff and it says on the back that it is strong enough to clean engines.  When I try it, i'll most likely spray it on the valve cover and wipe it off, instead of spraying my engine with a hose.  I'll tell you what the results are when I do it.

http://members.rogers.com/mickle/06212002/psn00006.jpg

[MiniRX7]

I used that BRITE crap and it did jack $hit..

IT doesn't clean anything.. i guess mostly because the mainifold and the intake tracts were still dirty...

I wonder if it was aluminum.. but i used a tooth brush and scrubbed hard... Its really hard to clean the damn engine.. and i suggest you go to the professionals..

Back in the protegetech days, some guys ended up damaging thing trying to clean their engines..

Words of advice.. BE CAREFUL...

CHops - do not do that... you must rinse the crap off or else it may eat in to the valve covers and what not... That stuff is pretty strong and if left it could damage or end up marking things up..

ED

[midnightblue97lx]

Thanks for the advice guys, like I've said before, I used to work at a dealership detailing cars. As far as the engines went, we sprayed the shit on and hosed it off didn't cover anything. Never had any major problems, but a few check engine lights and an alternator or two that fucked up, most likely as a result of that. Which is why I'm a little skeptical of doing it myself. When shit like that happened at work, I had the dealership backing me up, and didn't have to pay for whatever bad happened as a result of doing that. But now that I'm doing my own car, I don't have the $$$ to fix anything. I was thinking of going to Canadian Tire or a detailing shop around here and get it done since if something happened they'd fix it for free, lest I quote the automotive repair act on them, but once again, I don't have the 35$ or so at the moment for that. My brother cleaned the engine in his Miata a few years back, and for about a month after that the check engine and alternator light would come once in a while, just while he was driving it around town.
That would be unacceptable for me, I should probably take it somewhere, that way I can blame my problems on them.

[ChopstickHero]

Ed, maybe you're right... this stuff should clean other shit other than my engine. in super small print, it says don't leave on engine too long. yikes! http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Ryan: if you had your dealership backing you up, then that would be fine cuz it's probably their responsibility to train you on how to clean engines. but if you're unsure, then go to a professional. i was thinking of doing the same in july before we go to Darknights. I'll let you know when i'm going and maybe you could join me.

[midnightblue97lx]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ChopstickHero @ June 23 2002,10:07)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Ryan: if you had your dealership backing you up, then that would be fine cuz it's probably their responsibility to train you on how to clean engines. but if you're unsure, then go to a professional. i was thinking of doing the same in july before we go to Darknights. I'll let you know when i'm going and maybe you could join me.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Yeah, you would think that. They trained me to do a few things, but nothing really extensive. I was mostly just the bitch at that joint. The place was horrible anyways, nothing worked, I'm surpirsed its still in business, the owners got busted with fraud or something like that and its still in court, 3 years later. If I had worked at a place like Ziebart, or any other decent place I'm sure they would have taught me more than to just spray the shit on and hose it off, but not there. Yeah, I think I'm going to a pro.
Thanks for the offer to join Chops, I might just take you up on that offer, though I'm not sure if I'm going to Darknights.

[markque]

I've tried Dunk, Brite, and several others over the years from Crappy Tire without much success.
Last year I stumbled across Simple Green Engine Cleaner and WOW! what a difference (not the all purpose cleaner). I sprayed the $hit all over the engine until I couldn't see anything but foam, let it sit a while, then hosed off. It's a spray bottle, not aerosol. I got it CHEAP @ Liquidation World - like $1.99.
I never had bad luck with my former Shadow ES Turbo or Accord EXR as far as trouble starting after engine cleaning, idiot lights coming on, etc. (except once, temporarily, the car stumbled after putting it in drive immediately after cleaning) Of course, I was just using a garden hose, not some high pressure unit.
Try SIMPLE GREEN and let me know what you think. http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Protege_fan]

I've used a citrus based degreaser to clean the really hardcore crap off of the engine. That seemed to work well. For the hoses and everywhere else, I just used a wet soapy rag and wiped it down. It worked great.

Then I used 303 Aerospace Protectant on the hoses and other plastic parts. Wow...big difference! All shiny! http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I didn't spray down the engine bay though....too risky IMO.
For a wealth of detailing info go here:
http://www.autopia-carport.com/forums....umid=51 (http://www.autopia-carport.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=51)
There's an article on engine detailing there too.

[Familia 323]

I've used Simple Green... pretty good stuff and it's cheap !