How to keep engine room clean?

[Gin-Coma]

To All Taco Freaks!
I need your advice how to keep the engine room and the engine clean all the time!!
Can I just wash it away? I guess there are things I should know before do it,,,

[rpmspeedyBlue]

[QUOTE=Gin-Coma][size=2]To All Taco Freaks!
I need your advice how to keep the engine room and the engine clean all the time!!
Can I just wash it away? I guess there are things I should know before do it,,,

I use simple green and water when it starts to get dirty, But if you get it really dirty use a pressure washer. Cover the alternator with a plastic bag.

[Gin-Coma]

Thanks for the answer!

[Bluzman]

I would get with Pb2themax, he is THE MAN when it comes to detailing!!

[remelad]

I use Purple Power from NAPA here for cleaning and degreasing engine compartments. Similar to Simple Green.

You do not have to cover the alternator either. Just use some common sense and don't stand there pressure washing items like that for 15 mins a shot...

[JUNGLEMAN]

I use the turtle wax tire stuff on the plastic & hoses to make `em shine after I wash it

I spray it all over the engine compartment just use common sense like they said
it works excellent on the running gear too

[Pb]

I'd be carefull with the Simple Green. If you do use it on plastic parts, be sure to dilute it. Otherwise it can leave residue behind.

I keep my truck pretty clean, so on the engine compartment I use car wash soap and water on an old wash mit. Some dirt and grease won't really leave unless you actually rub it with a mit or brush. Ever take a dirty car through the touchless car wash, and then later when the car was dry you could still see lots of dirt residue and streaks? To really clean it, you have to touch it.

For places that I can't reach I use a 1:2 dilution of Simple Green and water.

A steam cleaner also works great, but I haven't bought one of those yet.

Then to dress up the engine compartment I use Eagle One Interior/Exterior protectant on a foam pad or swipe. It's not real greasy, so dirt and dust won't stick to it as much. On the tires I use a more oily protectant, like Mothers FX Tire Care.

[Gin-Coma]

Thank you to all!!

I am so glad that I found this web site

[kpagel]

I just pressure wash it every now and then to keep it from getting dirty. Then I rinse (quickly) with deionized water to prevent spotting (so my lazy ass doesn't have to dry). Then I protect and enhance black plastic parts with 303 Aerospace protectant. Basically, if you can keep it from getting dirty in the first place, you make your job a lot easier.

[Pb]

+1 on the 303 aerospace.

[thoughthard]

Steam cleaner x2

[Pb]

Steam cleaners work great, but I think they should only be necessary on older or neglected engines. On newer vehicles, a regular rag and cleaner will work fine if you give your engine compartment about 10 minutes worth of attention, once a month.

[deff808]

Thanks for the tip! I need to clean mines....