washing engine bay

[louie1086]

Hey guys, I need some info on washing my engine bay. I've already searched the forum and have found bits and pieces, but I'd like to confirm my findings. When washing the engine bay, I just need to cover the battery, alternator, and spark plug wires right? What can I use to cover them with?

I need to wash this thing because I got my grounding wires and want to install them.

Thanks guys.

[mescalito]

12 pack of beer case for the battery and wrap tinfoil around the alternator

I wouldn't worry about the plug wires

[bigbird]

personally i wouldnt put metal foil around any electrical components, it can cause a short and blow a fuse(did it before). a trashbag would be better imo. and make sure not to waste the beer from that 12pack

[eyeball96]

Yea don't waste any beer!!...and don't forget to remove all ur covers before ya start it....been there ...took forever to get the plastic grocery bag outta my alternator ....Drink the beer afterwards!!

[Sniperdude]

If you spill water or anything liquid in the spark plug tube chambers, you'll get misfiring.

I would make sure to cover the top of the engine.

[Venom_5]

i put plastic bags around teh Alternator, Distributor cap [not really plug wires, just the cap area], Fuse Box ... and Air Filter box if its loose for some reason

if youre unsure about anything, just wash the bay and give it like 10 hrs [overnight] to dry

[midnightmach]

I covered, fuseboxes, distributer cap, battery, alternator and the cylinder like thingy on the left side of the engine bay all wiht plastic bags. No problems afterwards

[Venom_5]

ive actually taken a hose to my engine bay with nothing but the alternator covered ... and i had no problems

sure the engine was running a lil off with a wet distro cap, but it was fine after a while - ive also driven an SUV thru mud pits and had the distributor cap soaked with mud, and it had like 5hp after that, but it still made it thru the rest of the day

so dont be too worried

[marc780]

Originally Posted by mescalito

12 pack of beer case for the battery and wrap tinfoil around the alternator

I wouldn't worry about the plug wires

Tinfoil? I wouldn't - "zzzzz pop i shorted the @#$@# altnernator holy crap!" I use plastic bags or plastic wrap. Cover the alternator, the air intake hole for the air filter, and yeah the spark plugs holes. And definitely the distributor if your car has one.

Wash the engine warm but not hot! Spraying cold water on a hot engine will not be good for it - you could crack the block.

I use simple green or gunk, soak the dirty stuff and scrub a little with a toofbrush or something. Then rinse - if at the car wash, i use the low pressure spot free rinse not the regular blast, so i dont knock an electrical connection loose or something.
if it is still dirty after all this i do it again. Then remove your bags and start the engine with the hood open and let it run 5 minutes and watch the steam.

If it wont start or runs bad, hope that you are near a compressed air (gas station air even), pop out the coils and blow out the spark plug holes.

[Venom_5]

i use Engine Brite or Simple Green ... and yeah, i wait until the engine has cooled off for plenty of time so as not to crack the block

i also wouldnt start the car until its definitely dried - never failed me yet

[mescalito]

Originally Posted by marc780

Tinfoil? I wouldn't - "zzzzz pop i shorted the @#$@# altnernator holy crap!"

Every time I do it I haven't had a problem - it easily clings and there is no electricity issues because the car is not on...

[kpszar]

Use some plastic bags that you get from gocery shopping:P

[Venom_5]

ok, i just washed my bay ... and i took pics, so ill post those in like 30 mins after i eat

EDIT:

here's my version of an engine bay cleaning:

1) Cover <from left to right> Alternator, Distributor Cap, Battery, Fuse box area (not always necessary IMO)

2) Spray cleaner (in this case, Foaming Engine Brite) on areas that have grease/oil/dirt ... let sit for 15-20 mins

3) Take a hose (using either the Shower or Jet setting ... i use both ... and clean off all the Cleaner and dirt)


4) You'll know its working if you see this:


i let the car sit for at least 6 hrs, but overnight is preferred - if you start the car and you smell something burning or see a lil smoke, its usually the Engine Brite burning off ... and if the car seems weak, and is misfiring, then the distributor cap is still wet ... i drove mine for an hour once while it was doing this and it took an hour for it to burn off all the moisture

[midnightmach]

^looks good but i'd use the "jet" not shower...

EDIT: You mentioned it lol

[Venom_5]

yup

jet for tough dirt globs or whatever, shower for rinse