Engine compartment cleaning

[faramifcog]

My engine compartment is really dirty and the engine has oil all over it so i want to clean it. I already tried the degreaser but it didn't help much. I was thinking that I would take each part out and clean it thoroughly. I don't have any equipment or expertise to take the engine out and was wondering what the best way to clean it piece by piece?

[mattswabb]

try simple green, works great.

matt

[Guest]

Simple green works, but pulling pieces off 1 by 1 may involve replacing gaskets..

If you are going to high pressure degrease it (eg. the car wash), make sure you put a plastic bag over the distributor. I can't tell you how many people at the car wash I've helped with a can of wd-40 because they didn't bag their disty..

[aithanmier]

yeah i second that. you'll wanna bag the alternator too though....those car wash owners tend to get pissed when your siting in the stall for 40 min waiting for an alternator to dry off lol.

[Gro Harlem]

Plastic tooth brush + Simpe green + water hose to rinse off =


Before:



After:

[Whittey]

Damn, Wil, that's a hell of a job.


-=Whittey=-

[nattyphysicist]

bag the air intake as well.

[rotinaj13]

make this a sticky please!!!!!! Helpful thread High 5 to the poster!

[Festi FreaKKK]

wow u did a nice job how long about did that take you to do? did you take off parts of work around them??

[aithanmier]

um why is this a sticky anyway? i mean thats a great before and after pic but still...the instructions were:

Plastic tooth brush + Simpe green + water hose to rinse off =

this isn't rocket science or particularly helpful...

[gomer]

Just thought I'd add my $0.02 here ...

The biggest secret that auto detailers have is "One Touch" ,,, it's meant for tires but they use it underhood too... it combines a degreaser , cleaner and shine in one product , just spray and forget... it's usually about $4 at most auto parts stores... This is how they really get the engine pieces bright shiny and glossy... it's not the greatest degreaser but it'll turn a moderately dusty/dirty "just from the auto auction" motor into a work of art....

[MTpilgrim]

Simple green is great for hand cleaning the engine compartment, a big thank you to mattswabb and Gro Harlem. A toothbrush and lots of paper towels, I did not think it could look that good. Best part of it is that I know what needs repaired/ replaced and where the whatchamacallits are located....a definate first thing to do for anybody new to festiva's

1988 festiva L 125,000 miles
1990 festiva GL 56,000 miles

[Tycho]

He missed a spot. :lol:

[Champ 98]

Another thing that looks awesome is a good soaking with WD40 after the engine bay has had time to air dry, there is a funky smell for about a half hour when driven but the access will burn off quickly from the hot parts,

The result is an engine bay with a new motor.

[WBBulldogs]

I guess I'll buy some Simple Green tomorrow.