Whats the proper way to clean the engine compartment? and what should you use?

 

Don't

 

I would do it with a damp rag and some type of cleaner. Dont use a water hose no matter what! Just get some all purpose cleaner and maybe a squirt bottle.

 

toothbrush

 

Simple green and a rag.

 

what he said. Takes a little while the first time you do it, but its worth it. Dont spray it with a hose whatever you do.

 

Whoa...hold on there! I just sprayed the front of my engine! Granted I removed the entire opti distributor water pump, and had all the electrical stuff moved away from the block. Firgured that while I had everything off the front, I would clean it up a little...so I sprayed Gunk cleaner on the front of the engine and heads, and then spayed it off with a water hose. I did plug the 4 "holes" in the block where the coolant flows to the water pump.
Did I do something wrong?
This weekend, everything will go back on..including a brand new distributor and water pump.

 

Nah, as long as you didn't bathe the opti you should be ok.

 

From my experience - be careful with concentrated simple green...may remove some older paint/worn paint you don't want to. Dilute it a little if this seems to be the case, after simple green I like to use a quick detailer spray which cleans pretty well and gives a little glow -- once clean, a coat of CD2 is amazing.

 

I just took the motor out and cleaned the engine bay.

 

Just a little trick, but WD40 will make hoses and plastic shine really nicely. Just spray it on and let it dry once everything is clean.

 

WD-40 and Silicone spray are good for looks as well as protection. But if you want shine, CD2 is the stuff. Lasts long time too. Clean engine bay, spray this stuff on everything but alternator internals and batt connections, let it air dry 20 minutes, run engine with hood up to evaporate excess, then drive the car for a little while and it'll "bake" on and seal decently well, and look good.

 

Simple green can eat paint but I think as long as you dont spray and let it sit you will be ok.

 

I use simple green and then spray down my engine bay all the time. Get a nice multi-setting pistol grip sprayer on your garden hose, set it to a wide fanning stream, and then spray the engine bay down quickly and lightly. Works for me, still no misfires or igintion problems after 2 years of cleaning it this way.

 

i use the hose and i let it almost leak out, just a small stream of water falls out. that and simple green, then i let the car sit for a day or so to make sure everything is dry. works like a charm.