[changsw]

any good tips? my engine bay is filthy.

 

[Rodge]

any good tips? my engine bay is filthy.

I go to the DIY car wash down the road from my house. They have a pressure washer. However, it's gentle enough to do the engine bay without fear of screwing anything up. I've done this countless times and my truck has always started up after doing it.

Just make sure the engine's not super hot when you do it.

 

[HoosierTacoma08]

A friend of mine has a detail shop he uses some kind of high pressure steamer, works great.

 

[wonger]

take it to a do it yourself car was with high pressure washers.. steam it up and try not to spray in one area for too long.. once your all done.. start her up and drive around till it drys

 

[6shooter]

i usually leave mine running and hit it with the pressure washer.

 

[NOhara24]

Degreaser and the thumb over the garden hose works out well too.

 

[changsw]

well i've tried just spraying it down with water, but without scrubbing, the mud just dries up and it's there again. I think i'll have to scrub it with a toothbrush and mild detergent and put some elbow grease into it. degreaser might be nice too just to get the grease off.

 

[Pb]

diluted Simple Green and a long bristle brush.

Then its a good idea to spray some electrical cleaner through the fins of the alternator to get any excess dirt and water out.

Kerosene in a spray bottle is a good degreaser. Most degreasers are made of kerosene. A gallon of kerosene is much cheaper though.

 

[Sony]

Just wash it out with a hose if your cheap like me. You'll get pretty much all of the mud out as it is just loose dirt. Just try to keep as much water as you can away from the fuse box, battery and alternator and you will be fine, even if you get them a little wet it's fine as they are sealed and meant to get water splashed on them while driving in the rain. You don't really need degreaser unless you are trying to get your engine compartment totally spotless which in your care you're prolly just going to get it dirty again mudding

 

[MrGrimm]

like others have said, simple green and a hose

 

[DrifterFreak210]

I had a thread about 2 weeks ago on this, and from what i got as replies and what i tried, engine degreeser does not work on mud, self power washer FTW, and if you have a picture of a battery on your gauge (the result the last time i went mudding and cause for my thread).. your pretty much screwed.. but as long as you foloow those steps, you should be good.



Oh and try doing what PB said, because: mud + alternater = trip to dealership for warrenty and alot of praying..

 

[El Loco VG]

Dont directly spray your alternater I killed the alternater in my 92 celica back in the day doing that.

 

[chilidogrc]

i power washed the crap out of my alternator. i thought it was making a grinding noise, but it was actually my idler pulley on the same side. alternator still works great.

x2 on the simple green. and if you want something a little stronger, mix in a little pine sol.