How do you clean your engine bay?

[super_namer]

Hey guys hows it goin,

quick question, how do you guys clean your engine bay?
Is it safe to just soap it up and spray my hose right into the engine bay? i know a few people that do that and am just wondering if it can damage anyting...

tips? tricks?

[Don E]

Well, I know of some people who do that too. Personally, I don't do. I hear its unsafe because if your engine is really hot and spray cold water, it can probably crack your block. If anything, wash/hose it down when the engine is cold or not driven for a day or so. I guess its really up to the person. I know people who do it with their engine running at the car wash in the middle of winter.

[corwyn]

I spray everything with some citrus degreaser when the engine is cold (or at least cool...I don't do it when hot), let it sit for half an hour or so, and then carefully rinse down from the hose. I don't use a lot of water pressure, to avoid getting water where it shouldn't be, but just enough to rinse the surfaces off. Then I wipe things down with a rag to keep spots from forming when everything dries off.

If I'm really looking to make things look good, then I drive around and get the engine warm (not hot), park the car, spray Armor-All over everything, then close the engine bay and leave it overnight. Next morning, wipe off the excess and everything will be nice and shiny.

Armor-all will cause various things to dry out and crack over time, so I don't do that step very often (maybe once a year at most).

[Aradaiel]

Thats definately good advice, I do what was posted above, but I cover my intake with a plastic bag. I have a BMP design intake with K&N cone filter, so I don't want that sucker to get wet. If it does get wet you have to wash and re-oil it.

[S3Series]

my intake is carbon fiber... i take it armor all is a no go on that?

[Aradaiel]

If it's CF then it should be glossy anyways, right?

by the way, I was refering to keeping the filter itself dry.

[S3Series]

yeah, it is, but if im spraying the bay with armor all i'll need to shield the intake, right?

[Aradaiel]

I would, just to be safe. Just spray it on a rag then rub it on.

[deafboy]

I use engine de-greaser...lol

and yeah, only when its cool.

[mtechnik]

try Simple Green or an aluminium cleaner/polisher

[mtechnik]

hey, Super_Namer you wanna post a pic of ur engine bay up then so that peeps can recommend accordingly....

[Dewey540i]

Instead of armorall I use WD-40. It will actually displace the water/moisture and will dry leaving the same nice shine. Do not get this on your belts obviously, and wipe down excess.

[mtechnik]

oh yeah i forgot all bout handy-dandy WD-40

[KC_MPWR]

simple green!

[CAP-E-TAN]

i never tried wd40....but it would also help with minor rust proofing to, i am a little worried using wd40 rubber(it can cause rubber to dry and crack sometimes), i might try a light teflon fortified spray oil (teflon does not harm rubber)