cleaning engine bay help

[kikassboy]

can somebody take a picture of their engine bay...and use paint to circle teh areas i should cover up when i'm spraying my my engine bay to clean it up? as in the sensors and stuff that should not be wet.

[rpj1984]

No pictures needed. Just cover wires, battery, anything electrical.
Also dont clean on a really hot engine. More then anything else, if you have a question about cleaning something or not, you probably shouldnt be spray it.
Ryan

[rezzle]

Never clean a hot engine.

First wet the battery with a light spray then sprinkle baking soda all over it and around it. Let it sit for about 15 minutes then rinse it off by just pouring water over it. I pretty much go nuts on everything else except for the area around my intake. I find it a good way to catch a weakening plug wire or potential rainy day moisture troubles. Just have a dry rag or two handy and perhaps some silicone spray in case you do create a problem. I would also avoid spraying any radiators or coolign coils with high pressure water. Straightening fins is not a fun way to spend an afternoon.

[kikassboy]

spray the battery? are u trying to get my car destroyed? or are you serious? wat does baking soda do?

[BustaRice]

don't listen to that advice... common sense would tell you that water and electrical (battery) is a no no =)

[kikassboy]

haha...obviously...i'm not that dumb lolz

[rezzle]

Originally posted by BustaRice
don't listen to that advice... common sense would tell you that water and electrical (battery) is a no no =)

Common sense

I feel a need to explain further.

I never said to use a pressure washer I said a light spray.

Just get it wet. Pour water on it, I use a squirt bottle to spray water on it so I get a nice fine mist for the baking soda to adhere to. Others create a paste and use that. The baking soda neutralizes any acids that build up over time. Get the battery holder and the area underneath and around the battery as well.


There is a reason that cars are only run with 12Vdc. It isn't because running a 12 volt system is cheaper than something of higher voltage. Remember the smaller the voltage the larger the current you need to do the same job, wiresize is determined by the current flow so a low voltage system is more expensive. You need bigger alternators bigger starters on a low voltage system because of the size of the wires in the windings. This also adds weight. Car manufactures are not one's to design a system and use it because it is heavier.

12VDC is used because of safety.
You can immerse two 12vdc electrodes in tap water and unless they are extremely close together they will not conduct a significant amount of current. About all you can do with it is use it to measure the resistance between the elecrodes.

HOWEVER

A dirty battery eventually will wind up with enough acid that a small layer of water or moisture (morning dew, spray from driving in rain) could contain enough ions that the resistance of the water is reduced enough that there will be leakage across the terminals. Enough that it could drain the battery over a period of a couple nights. Common sense says this is bad. You want a nice clean battery.

There is an added bonus.

Ever notice how some cars have rotten battery holders etc? Cleaning it properly once every couple of months pretty much stops that.

http://www.csaa.com/global/articlede...7c1804,00.html

http://www.tipking.com/Tips/publish/tip_325.shtml

http://doityourself.com/auto/cleancarbattery.htm

http://www.automotivemileposts.com/carcare.html

http://www.batterydirectory.com/faq.php3#car

http://www.4unique.com/battery/battery_tutorial.htm