Cleaning engine compartment

[Storm Ranger]

After the pollen season here in the Carolines I rinse off my engine with water and a lite mixture of simple green and rinse again and use my electric blower to dry. Then take a short drive to finish drying. I do all my vehicles this way.

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[Little boy blue]

After the pollen season here in the Carolines I rinse off my engine with water and a lite mixture of simple green and rinse again and use my electric blower to dry. Then take a short drive to finish drying. I do all my vehicles this way.

Sounds simple and i like simple

 

[Chaseman17]

A pressure washer is the last thing I would use under the hood.

Meh. Modern engines are much better sealed than they used to be. Never hit the engine with full pressure. Basically I stand a few feet back and I am more or less "misting" the engine bay to make it easier to spread a degreaser around with brushes. It basically just makes the engine bay damp.

If you used compressed air or a leaf blower to knock off most of the water and then use Motorplast you will be fine. Motorplast actually displaces water and then cures into an elasticized film that adds protection to all the rubbers and plastics. It was originally developed for Mercedes Benz to use in their shops. I haven't had an issue yet and I have been using this method for years on multiple vehicles.

 

[ATXTACOS]

Just did a major surgery on my sons neglected 2006 Mustang GT. I didn't want to dig into a filthy engine bay, so I used degreaser and a brush on heavily soiled areas and rinsed with my power washer as described above. I then used foaming engine bright and a brush on the rest and rinsed with the power washer. I just let it dry as I wasn't really going for show quality. I had the intake off so I covered the throttle body and battery. I'd cover the filter if it wasn't removed.
The surgery was a success. I plan to use this technique going forward on cars I work on.

 

[Tbone289]

Meh. Modern engines are much better sealed than they used to be.

Electrical is the concern, not the engine. Electrical connectors are better sealed than they used to be as well, but there are many more than there used to be, and they're not waterproof.

Have you ever replaced a fuse block or spliced in a 20-30 pin connector in someone's vehicle due to corrosion from water intrusion? I have, and it's something to avoid. I've kept my engine bays clean for 35+ years without spraying them with a pressure washer or $30 bottles of Motorplast and will continue to do so.

 

[Waterick]

I've not seen the vacuum used here. I usually start with it to get any loose debris (usually leaves) from the fender and cowl areas and actually in the engine bay if they worked their way in there too. Sometimes blowing them just lodges them in deeper.

 

[Dad]

Use leaf blower for loose debris and dust, rinse with pressure washer (hold nozzle a few feet away to avoid too much pressure), soak with simple green for about a minute, use brushes to scrub lightly across the entire engine bay, rinse again thoroughly, use leaf blower to knock off most of the pooling water, cover entire engine bay with Koch Chemie Motorplast, close hood and walk away. Check hood after an hour and look in amazement that the Motorplast has cured and the engine bay looks brand new, no drying required.

The whole process takes me about 5 minutes, not including the dry time. I will usually wash my truck after I clean the engine bay so the Motorplast can do it's thing while I'm washing. The stuff is an absolute miracle in a bottle.

While I wouldn't use a pressure washer nor simple green on the hybrids, I did order the Motorplast product you recommended. Don't expect fast shipping on their products . . . two weeks away, but cleaning the engine bay isn't an urgent matter.
As far as cleaning, I ordered the Chemical Guys version.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ANA3UTK?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Thanks for sharing

 

[Bob zimmerman]

I will not use a pressure washer on the engine compartment either. Nothing is water-proof under the hood.
Bob

 

[ExpoGuy]

There are a number of people on YT using Armor All Tire Foam.
They spray it on then blow it off with compressed air or leaf blower.
No water used.

The Motorplast looks interesting.

 

[notfast]

Use leaf blower for loose debris and dust, rinse with pressure washer (hold nozzle a few feet away to avoid too much pressure), soak with simple green for about a minute, use brushes to scrub lightly across the entire engine bay, rinse again thoroughly, use leaf blower to knock off most of the pooling water, cover entire engine bay with Koch Chemie Motorplast, close hood and walk away. Check hood after an hour and look in amazement that the Motorplast has cured and the engine bay looks brand new, no drying required.

The whole process takes me about 5 minutes, not including the dry time. I will usually wash my truck after I clean the engine bay so the Motorplast can do it's thing while I'm washing. The stuff is an absolute miracle in a bottle.

I used to detail cars for a living and that's basically the service that I offered for those looking for an engine wash. I use the pressure washer on low pressure and low flow, held at least two feet or so from the engine. If the pressure is about as strong as a bathroom faucet, it's good. It's essentially just misting the engine.

As for cleaning products, I mist the engine, then spray the excessively dirty parts with Optimum Power Clean at full strength, give all the flat surfaces a scrub with a horsehair brush, then do the same mist-rinse, dry with a bench blower, spray a little tire/trim shine on a microfiber towel, and wipe down all the plastics with the towel.

I occasionally do something similar after an off-roading trip. I'll just go to a DIY car wash on the way back and use the "spot free rinse" function so it's low pressure/low flow.

 

[CurtisB]

I have used the coin/debit card operated car wash. Process is real simple. I set the spray cycle for "spotless rinse." In this cycle, the water comes out in a super fine mist. No high pressure! And at this setting, it does the job getting rid of dirt. I do it once every 2 months. Did it for 7 years on my 2015 Prius Hybrid. No issues.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

There are a number of people on YT using Armor All Tire Foam.
They spray it on then blow it off with compressed air or leaf blower.
No water used.

The Motorplast looks interesting.

Never use liquid products with silicone in the ingredients.
The spray silicone can actually get into the oxygen sensors and damage them or kill them. So you never use spray silicone under the hood of a car.
https://motorweek.org
Under the Hood Cleanup - MotorWeek

 

[ExpoGuy]

Never use liquid products with silicone in the ingredients.
The spray silicone can actually get into the oxygen sensors and damage them or kill them. So you never use spray silicone under the hood of a car.
https://motorweek.org
Under the Hood Cleanup - MotorWeek

Thanks for the update. I had no idea.

 

[Dad]

Wish I had this when I worked for a used car lot, the owner would have me spray the engine bay with lacquer spray paint.

Good grief! "Hmmm . . . wonder what we could do to increase the chances of an engine fire?"

 

[Dad]

Never use liquid products with silicone in the ingredients.
The spray silicone can actually get into the oxygen sensors and damage them or kill them. So you never use spray silicone under the hood of a car.
https://motorweek.org
Under the Hood Cleanup - MotorWeek

Thanks, Glen. Another post with you looking out for our members.

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