LT1 Based Engine Tech 1993-1997 LT1/LT4 Engine Related

Cleaning the Engine Bay

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Old 05-15-2004, 12:36 PM
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Cleaning the Engine Bay

When you guys clean the engine bay, do you just soak it down with a hose, soap it up, and rinse it off? How sensitive is the optispark, I have heard that they can't get wet.. If this is not how you clean it, what do you do? Do the LS1's have the optispark as well? Thanks!
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Old 05-15-2004, 12:53 PM
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I give the engine compartment a quick wipe down using the damp towels from after I wash the car. After wiping things down, a t shirt and Armor All will get everything shiny and purty. If you are removing grease WD40 or Simple Green and rags work pretty well.
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Old 05-15-2004, 01:05 PM
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DON'T, DON'T, DON'T, get the engine wet with a hose. Unless you want to buy a new optispark. Sometimes, I think just spitting on those damn things is enough to start the opti-doom cycle. The LS-1's do not have an opti. Just use some rags, simple green sprayed on the rags and some armour all wipes. That with an *** load of patience and you'll be fine.
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Old 05-15-2004, 01:29 PM
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1.simple green automotive spray
2.Spray bottle with soap and water mix
3.towels
4.time and patience
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Old 05-15-2004, 01:36 PM
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Start your car, leave it run, spray down with pressure washer, spray simple green all over, let it sit, wash it off with the pressure washer.

Works fine for me.
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Old 05-15-2004, 01:46 PM
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Originally posted by Serene
Start your car, leave it run, spray down with pressure washer, spray simple green all over, let it sit, wash it off with the pressure washer.

Works fine for me.
LOL...It's just a matter of time before you start posting " I have a high rpm miss??" or "My car runs like crap after it warms up??"
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Old 05-15-2004, 02:02 PM
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Yeah, cause driving in the rain kills the opti to.

If you have a vented opti, it pulls out moisture while the engine id running.
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Old 05-15-2004, 03:29 PM
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I use Simple Green as well.
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Old 05-15-2004, 04:12 PM
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This is what I do.

Have the engine warm. Take a couple rags and stick them under the intake elbow to protect the opti. Turn hose on mist and do the entire engine. Close hood and let it sit for a few minutes. Open hood and spray everything down with windex. Close hood and let it sit. Open hood and spray everything with Armor All. Close hood. You're good to go with a spotless engine bay.
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Old 05-24-2004, 11:40 AM
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Yeah lot's of rags covering the opti area sounds like a good lan but spraying a hot engine bay cannot be a good one.
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Old 05-24-2004, 11:47 AM
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Why not? A hot engine bay would promote a steam process which helps clean the engine. And if you have a vented opti, and your engine is running, then like was posted before, it pulls any moisture out of the opti, so you should be ok unless you sit there and spray water directly into the opti. But to each their own
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Old 05-24-2004, 01:22 PM
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If you want warped heads and cracked block feel free to wet a hot engine.
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Old 05-24-2004, 01:52 PM
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Originally posted by 30696bird
If you want warped heads and cracked block feel free to wet a hot engine.
You have got to be kidding me. How sensitive do you think they are? It isnt going to cool the block down anywhere near enough to cause a problem.
People believe anything I swear
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Old 05-24-2004, 04:14 PM
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I clean the "slow way". Simply Green and by hand...no hose. Part by part, usually starting with the strut towers, because that's a big area of metal. The shininess makes me encourage to finish the engine bay. Note that Simply Green is organic, but it has a nasty smell. You should definitely use in a well ventilated place.

Results are awesome though.

Cover PCM and optispark.
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