What's the best way to clean engine & bay?

[Slyder]

Where i work we have this degreaser its quite strong.i think ill try that, if that doesnt work ill go pick up some simple green.

[wrestler3025]

Be careful with the brake cleaner though! You don't want to get it on ANY paint or rubber in the engine bay. The brake cleaner is BAD for the paint, and rubber.

[getnpsi]

I use simple green. Also $1.49 Brake cleaner w/red straw for the inaccessible places. Once that stuff is all loose, another hit with the simple green. Finish off with tire wet foam. The tire stuff leaves a silicone type residue that dirt and junk sticks to. As it piles up a quick hose off every few weeks is all you need.

[dacusville5]

One of the most thorough cleaners for an engine or a bay is rain. A hard , steady rain will clean grease & grime extreemly well. Of course there are hidden areas that will need attention if your in a hurry, but next time in a junk yard, look at a car that has had the hood removed and notice how clean the engine area is.

[MeeMo]

A brush and a power sprayer was all I used, worked fine. The engine bay of the wife's minivan (which we bought new) still looks new because I power spray it monthly, and have for 5 years now. All my cars get the engine bay power was treatment.

Funny though, with the Festy, now that I've sprayed it twice I think I knocked off some well-placed sludge, because now it has an oil leak.

[jr.fester]

mopar makes a awesome one. i think they call it engine shampoo....strips off everything.

[REDNECK1]

the FORD degreasser I was refering to is avalible over the counter at any local dealer. IT actually say's MOTOCRAFT degreaser on it.......sorry for the later reply.......I lost track of where this thread was.........

I have used it for years the grease runs off.......hit it with a hotsy......and it will come out spotless,....

[ruppenduro]

my father used a tooth brush and orange patio furniture cleaner (because thats what he had at the house) and his cleaned up very well. looks better in person and the car is a 90 with 209k miles!

[stefan]

Simple green was the only chemical that I found would take varnish off inside my cyl head.




Also... I often pop my hood when im pressure washing my car at the car wash and when I still had my B3 it would often miss and want to stall on the way home after that treatment. Never found out what it was... Not the dist cap.. I had replaced that.

[Pu241]

Just a little time with the search function:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180&highlight=bay+cleaning

[turqfest]

I've always had great luck with Simple Green as well. I also use it to remove pesky brake dust and road grime from my wheels and tires with a good ol' scrub brush... It's the only thing I've found that will take the rubber back to black instead of that nasty red-brown tinge that you see on a lot of cars. Nothing more satifying watching the brown foam wash away to expose pristine rubber.
For what it's worth, it's also apparently biodegradable for those of us concerned with the size of our carbon footprint!

[jr.fester]

Simply... simple green:-) Get the gallon size industrial strength. Nylon bristle brushes work well in conjunction with the simple green.
Before



After

Trust me...I tried all the foams and other engine degreasers, but the simple green was the most effective and had the best bang for the buck. Here's my before and after pictures using the simple green.

got any pics of the airbox?

[elcamino1]

EFI.....I don't protect anything.....I just hose away.

I'm with you Joe ,I spray engine compartment with simple green or purple power let sit about 10 minutes hose off ,let dry in sun for awhile,if everything is good under your hood start and drive off.

[Justin]

I Know that On the Air Filter Box there is a Open Peice that swings around & Points right towards the engine. I think it goes straight to the Filter so you may not want to spray direct water there. Note this is on EFI Engines.

[Slyder]

ok. So i dont have to protect alternator. good to know. Thanks

steam? hmmm i may just need to try that.