what is the safest way to clean my engine on my 2003 mustang gt? What can I use to get in the crevices and cracks. I used to go to a local 1/4 mile track that had a dirtbike track right next to it, so things got a bit messy with all that dust flying around. Can I use a powerwasher?

 

Use a pressure washer with a degreaser. be carefull not to drown your fuse box and alternator so cover them up with something.

 

Warning, my days of hosing down the engine are over after the car spent two weeks being down and $300 for repairs the last time.

I have washed motors many times before w/o any problems.

 

that is what I was worried about. I think I might stick to cleaning the engine by hand. It's kind of scary to wet the whole engine.

 

A guy at a car show recently said that all he does is let the engine warm up a bit and he sprays Armour All over the entire engine bay and then lets the engine run and the heat dries up the spray.His engine looked damn good by the way and I'm going to try it at some point.

 

you dont happen to live in colorado do you??? PMI??

 

No, I live in California. It was an old track called carlsbad raceway which was around for many years. The tree was still hanging from a wire. It was a pretty good track though. Too bad they sold it and it got demolished

 

Thats a common thing for tracks out here. LACR has a dirtbike track and a quarry right next to it.

 

there's a guy i know that used some wd-40 (i think), whatever it was it smelled!

 

I used Armor All as well.......To be honest it needs to be free of dirt and dust or the Armor All will just make it stick and hard to remove. But looks awesome when it is clean. Real clean look and so simple to do.

 

I have worked in several collision repair shops and currently in a Chevrolet Dealership and I will never take a hose or pressure washer to the engine compartment. It may not hurt anything right away but eventually you are gonna have some problems. The best bet is to use a solution of simple green diluted with warm water and a cotton rag to clean. For problem areas use goo gone to get rid of the sticky crap. The first time you do this it may take 1-3 hours depending on how dirty the compartment is. After cleaning don't spray anything shiny down in there! This just makes it easier for dirt to stick and harder for you to work on because everything is slick. After the initial cleaning just pop your hood after washing your car and wipe it out. So fresh and so clean

 

I dont see how it eventually creates a problem. What will happen after washing it with a hose? I have always cleaned my engines pretty often. Like as much as I wash the car. I always just spray some degreaser down first while its dry, wait about 5 minutes, spray it down good with the hose, then I take it down the street to dry it off, then I come back and Armor All the plastic parts by hand. Ive done this about every 1 or 2 weeks since I was 16. So Ive been cleaning them like that for 5 years with no problems.

 

I didn't say that every engine will explode if you spray water on it. I'm just saying that I've seen many vehicles needing to go into the shop after the engine has been sprayed. If your way works for you kudos. I feel its better safe than sorry.

 

what if i used my mom steam vac thing woudl that do a good job i wonder

 

I did mine on Thanksgiving.. I was skeptical and scared. I avoided cleaning my engine for a long time beacuse of the horror stories I've heard. And it went fine.

I used plastic wrap to cover the alternator, fuse box, and battery terminals. Then I sprayed STP degreaser all over the place. I used a rag to wipe some areas down, my intake manifold somehow had leaves on it! After letting the stuff soak for about 5 minutes, I lightly misted the engine with a hose, and then wiped dry what I could.

It looks pretty damn good. Not perfect and shiny, but clean nonetheless.

 

yea.. the leather cleaner.. thats it....