Best way to clean engine/eng. compartment?

[waggin'ear]

I bought another vehicle that I don't need and can't afford. I've decide that I am going to replace the leaking oil seals. I know this is an easy question that reveals my inexperience, but I am trying to learn. Besides, i know that you guys would never make fun of anyone.

What is the best way to clean the engine?
What stuff should I remove (Distributor? etc.) before cleaning or at least take care of by drying etc after cleaning?

I am hoping that there is some magic easy answer, but I have a feeling that this may take longer that replacing the seals.

Thanks in advance.

[Lindel]

Steam cleaning is the best choice. Don't remove any parts, but you might cover the dist, the carb, and any other doodads that you don't want filled with water with plastic, and aluminum foil over that. Steam will cut/blast any grease or oil covering the engine. If you don't have access to that, rent a high pressure washer (1300 psi, or so), and have at it.

[OBX-AUTOMOTIVE]

OK...DO THIS!!!!!!!!!......... AT NIGHT......DRIVE LIKE HELL TO THE LOCAL CAR WASH.. ........THE KIND YOU DO YOURSELF............ ...WITH THE HAND HELD SPRAYER..................... THE ENGINE IS HOT...RIGHT!!......... FROM DRIVING LIKE HELL.....POP THE HOOD......DO WHAT LINDEL SAID.ABOUT COVERING EVERYTHING.. ...........TAKE THE ENGINE SPRAY CLEANER, THAT YOU GOT FROM THE AUTO PARTS.....SPRAY THE ENGINE WITH IT.......IN THE FEW MINs IT TAKES TO WORK......KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE OWNER OF THE CAR WASH...BECAUSE MOST DON'T LIKE PEOPLE CLEANING THE ENG IN THE CAR WASH......THAT'S WHY YOU GO AT NIGHT.......REMOVE EVERYTHING YOU COVERED UP....CRANK IT UP THEN GO>>>>>>>>> SO, FOR A FEW BUCKS YOUR ENG IS CLEAN......... .....GARY ;) smile.gif

[Crazy_Jeepman]

All great suggestions on the cleaning of the engine compartment. I have to lean towards my way being a little more exciteing however Jeep Cleaning The Fun Way!!! (http://images.andale.com/116/106/4651773/989548985019_jeepen_3.jpg) ;)

[JINGA]

Call me a tree hugger, but there's a reason car wash guys don't want you to clean an engine in there. :(

When I lived in Cali, I took my Jeep to a place in Oakland. It was a truck stop of sorts off of East 14th (IIRC). Anyway, they cleaned the big rigs that came through. For $25 or so, I had the guys there steam clean my engine. (I wanted to see where my oil leaks were coming from.) They even steamed the whole undercarriage for me! That might have been their mistake, but oh well. All that dried up mud was getting heavy!

This place knew what to do with the run-off. They filtered and recycled, etc. When I called other places in town that advertised steam cleaning, they wanted $60 or something. Crazy. Try a truck stop place that normally doesn't do cars.

One other thing, the guy doing the spraying told me to leave the engine running while he did the spraying. Nothing disconnected, nothing covered up. I guess he's a pro and knows where to spray and where not to. smile.gif
Then I left it running for like 15 or 20 minutes afterwards, too.

HTH,
Jeff

[WillyPete]

okay, you guys have probly seen pics of my engine bay, you know it looks like a shipyard. so once the engine bay has been cleaned, how should i go about painting the inside? just slap POR15 everywhere?

thanks

[Lindel]

I did the "Jeep cleaning the fun way" in the 87 GW, we used to have. The wife wasn't impressed when the weeds started growing in the cargo area!! :D :D

[Lindel]

UHHhhhhh... If they don't want you to clean your engine, why do they put that selection there?? :confused:

[nograin]

Paint ? :confused:

POR 15 will work I guess, If you prep everything exactly as they tell you. I like Corroless myself for rust thats tough to do right, and an enamel that matches for the color. Not laquer - doesn't hold up as well.

For the engine itself - you want an engine enamal. I like mopar performance. At least the old stuff. Took forever to dry, great finish, toxic as h*ll. Not the stuff for a quick job though!

Don't ask me about cleaning. I've been doing it the hard way. Scraping, lots of paper towels, rags, Foamy engine bright, hose, purple castrol stuff, etc. All I can say is that its better, but not perfect. (I'm talking about the underneath, top was easier). On top you may want some rags to soak up the water from between the intake manifold runners -pretty deep there on an AMC 360.

I don't bother sealing stuff up anymore. I use to, but its not too necessary. Main thing to watch is not get water in the distributor, carb, or air filter - the last pretty much already sealed up on all these snorkeled air cleaners.

my .02 :D

[JINGA]

Hey Lindel, I just moved back East after living on the "LEFT" (West) Coast for 13 years. Just about every do-it-yourself car wash out that way has signs saying "DON'T WASH YOUR ENGINE IN HERE, BUDDY" Or something to that effect.

It's a big EPA thing. I thought it was world wide, maybe it's just the West Coast. :confused:

But yeah, if you can do it in the car wash, cool. Like I said above the guy that cleaned mine had me leave the engine running and didn't cover up anything. I think he was a little careful not to wash the air cleaner and the alternator or distributor.

I think leaving the engine running for awhile afterwards helped dry out anything that got wet. That was 4 or 5 years ago and the Jeep is still running and never had a problem related to that washing.

[Stuka]

When I clean engine compartments I cover the carb / air intake the distributer. then i spray it down good with some Castol Super Clean. soak everything. let it sit for about 10 minss, then spray it off with a hose that has decent pressure. if its real bad i gota do it twicce. But it will get rid of even the thickest grease and oil. Try to avoid getting it on your hands to much, as they will sting and then get tingly feeling ;p

[Lindel]

Thanks for the tip, Stuka. BTW, I should be back on the chat by Friday. :D

[Lindel]

That was kind of my point, Jinga. If they don't want you to clean your engine, just don't include that selection, and no more problem. Out of site, out of mind, in most cases. Those that will clean the engines, will, warnings or no. Those that don't see it as an option, will never bother.