Whats the best way to clean an engine while its in the car?

What is the best way to do this? I got an 84 305 5.0 HO 4bbl. What chemicals work best? Which are safe on the rubber and electrical parts? Should i cover anything up? Should i spray off while engine is warm, running or cold? I have always heard to cover the alternator up, but not sure if thats true or not. Thanks.

buy some engine degreaser from a parts store, typically you warm the engine up, then put a grocery plastic bag over the distributor and have at the engine bay with 3-4 cans of that stuff. let it set per directions then spray off with a garden hose. i would then wait an hour or so and start it up once it dries.

i heard NEVER put cold water on a warm/hot engine....just what i've heard tho...

i didn't tell him to put cold water on a warm engine, he's putting engine degreaser on a warm engine, then waiting 15-20 minutes as per the can and then spraying it off. the motor will cool off enough during that time period since it won't be running during that time anyways.

I drive to the coin wash and use their big sprayers along with some cleaner.

I go to my buddies detailing shop and he sprays my enitre engine bay with chemicals and then sprays it off with a very high pressure hose. Comes out gleaming! :cool:

Use GUNK Foaming degreaser. 2 cans or so. Just spray it off with a hose.

Simplegreen or that purple bottle of cleaner works good too but watch out for your paint :eek:

Cover your distributor, alternator, air cleaner, etc up with plastic bags.