cleaning engine bay methods?

[PoR2GeEzCamry]

My 1989 camry has 210,000 miles on it and the engine has never been cleaned, and i hate working with a dirty engine so i decided to look up on how to go ahead and clean the engine myself. I found a great write up on how to do it only the only thing they didnt explain is what they used to cover up all the electric parts such as teh alternator and the battery terminals. What do i use to cover up these parts, and what other parts should i cover just to be safe? thanks

[project trueno]

use aluminum foil to ensure a nice tight wrap, cover the intake, any areas that will collect water (i.e. my sparkplug well), and if possible wrap all the electrical connections, and electrical components. Spend more time prepping it, so the degreaser and water won't cause any damage

*rememebr to completely hose off the engine degrease chemical!

[tater_tot]

heh at the carlot i used to work at we had to pressure wash the engine bay. all we did wass spray degreaser on the the grimy crap and pressure washed it. the only thing you really haveto worry about is getting water down where the spark plugs go

[BLUEMEANIE]

By its nature aluminum foil will not make a "tight seal"
A plastic shopping bag will work. ...and the only thing I've ever covered is the alternator. Your spark plugs should be sealed by their rubber boots just dry them out with a rag.

...AND NEVER PRESSURE WASH AN ENGINE. Thats how water gets forced past those existing seals. A bottle of simple green on a warm motor and a regular hose with your thumb over the end will work fine. A little scrubbing is to be expected.

[edit]
I just pull the battery out and clean it on its own that way you avoid shorting anything out.
...and yeah cover the intake if you have an expoesd filter

[PoR2GeEzCamry]

thanks for teh info. Now another question i have is do i have to cover the spark plug wires or is it good the way it is with the little boot that makes nice seal over it?

[tightcamry129]

Originally posted by PoR2GeEzCamry
thanks for teh info. Now another question i have is do i have to cover the spark plug wires or is it good the way it is with the little boot that makes nice seal over it?

by the way that the spark plug and the rubber boot is designed (like a house with a roof) you don't need to worry about it so much. the rubber boot is a square that has a bigger area that the spark plug well with a circle. Just take the rubber boot off and see for yourself...

[tater_tot]

well sometimes the seal can be a little loose depnding on the age of the plug wires. had to take the air compressor and blow the water out of the plug wells. but id go with what BLUEMEANIE said about using tht simple green stuff, probably more efficient.