How do you keep your engine bay clean ?
Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,702
Likes: 76
From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
Try this approach. Just be careful with hosing down the engine. Simple Green will really cut the grease where you should have to hose it down with a lot of pressure.
1. Use Simple Green...excellent de-greaser.
2. Cover the distributor and alternator with plastic bag.
3. If you're going to be using a lot of hose pressure also cover the throttle bodies and the top of the intake manifold.
4. Let the Simple Green setup for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Finally, lightly rinse and rub down with some rags.
1. Use Simple Green...excellent de-greaser.
2. Cover the distributor and alternator with plastic bag.
3. If you're going to be using a lot of hose pressure also cover the throttle bodies and the top of the intake manifold.
4. Let the Simple Green setup for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Finally, lightly rinse and rub down with some rags.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,049
Likes: 0
From: The second childhood is the best one of all.
Originally Posted by c5BlackBeauty
Try this approach. Just be careful with hosing down the engine. Simple Green will really cut the grease where you should have to hose it down with a lot of pressure.
1. Use Simple Green...excellent de-greaser.
2. Cover the distributor and alternator with plastic bag.
3. If you're going to be using a lot of hose pressure also cover the throttle bodies and the top of the intake manifold.
4. Let the Simple Green setup for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Finally, lightly rinse and rub down with some rags.
1. Use Simple Green...excellent de-greaser.
2. Cover the distributor and alternator with plastic bag.
3. If you're going to be using a lot of hose pressure also cover the throttle bodies and the top of the intake manifold.
4. Let the Simple Green setup for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Finally, lightly rinse and rub down with some rags.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
I dilute the simple green 3:1 with water and apply it to a cold engine... that prevents any discoloration or coprrosion of Aluminum parts.
I also cover the battery area with a plastic bag.
But otherwise ... as in the previous posts
I also cover the battery area with a plastic bag.
But otherwise ... as in the previous posts
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,561
Likes: 33
From: Clark NJ
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
Once it's clean you should maintain it. All it takes is about two or three extra minutes when you're finished washing your car. Just wipe off the engine compartment with a damp towel. Do this and it will always look new!!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 17,541
Likes: 2
From: Manhattan, KS Missing SoCal since 2005
Originally Posted by c5BlackBeauty
Try this approach. Just be careful with hosing down the engine. Simple Green will really cut the grease where you should have to hose it down with a lot of pressure.
1. Use Simple Green...excellent de-greaser.
2. Cover the distributor and alternator with plastic bag.
3. If you're going to be using a lot of hose pressure also cover the throttle bodies and the top of the intake manifold.
4. Let the Simple Green setup for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Finally, lightly rinse and rub down with some rags.
1. Use Simple Green...excellent de-greaser.
2. Cover the distributor and alternator with plastic bag.
3. If you're going to be using a lot of hose pressure also cover the throttle bodies and the top of the intake manifold.
4. Let the Simple Green setup for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Finally, lightly rinse and rub down with some rags.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,162
Likes: 0
From: Dubai
Great Tips. Thanks guys. Oh btw my engine isn't that filthy :P. I always keep the plastic parts clean. It looks like new till today. I just want to get to those hard to reach areas and the only way to do that would be by using water. So I wanted to know the correct method for doing so. 
Any other tips & tricks ?
Any other tips & tricks ?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 924
Likes: 161
From: Atwater CA
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I got a portable soft water tank off eBay. Once you have your engine clean, a gentle rinse with soft water will keep it clean. Then wipe down the big stuff. With softwater you don't have to worry about spots!
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Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,566
Likes: 52
From: Colorado Springs CO
Pepboys and Autozone carry this product (the name eludes me, I'm going to have to go look today) but it is a two bottle system. You spray the first bottle on and then lightly hose off, and then use the second bottle and leave it on. I think it's simply a cleaner in the first and then some Armor All-like product in the second....whatever it is, it works great and was less than $10.
I only do that once every 6 months, the rest of the time I just take a few minutes and wipe it down with a damp towel immediately after washing and it does just fine!
I only do that once every 6 months, the rest of the time I just take a few minutes and wipe it down with a damp towel immediately after washing and it does just fine!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,477
Likes: 63
From: = From Toronto = 9/11/01 FDNY 343 Never Forget
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'13-'14
Originally Posted by Zilla
My vette is a garage queen so I never drive it 
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
Likes: 894
From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
I never drive mine in the rain, so it's never really gotten very dirty. I use damp rags to wipe mine down. I have a variety of dowel rods that I put a rag on to get to those hard to reach places.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,495
Likes: 0
From: Paducah Ky
Guess I was lucky, when I got mine the engine compartment was very clean. Every time I wash it I just use an old chamois and wipe everything down real good. So far this is all that it's needed.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 19,105
Likes: 2
From: Paducah KY
Cruise-In VII Veteran
I initially used the Simple Green technique mentioned above to remove all the grease and grime.
Now, everytime I wash the car, I lightly mist the engine compartment with the garden hose, blow dry with leaf blower to get water out of all the crevices, and towel dry any remaining damp areas.
I always cover the alternator & battery/fuse block area with plastic or foil to keep the water out.
Now, everytime I wash the car, I lightly mist the engine compartment with the garden hose, blow dry with leaf blower to get water out of all the crevices, and towel dry any remaining damp areas.
I always cover the alternator & battery/fuse block area with plastic or foil to keep the water out.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 479
Likes: 0
From: Midland TX
Originally Posted by Z06-JIM
I initially used the Simple Green technique mentioned above to remove all the grease and grime.
Now, everytime I wash the car, I lightly mist the engine compartment with the garden hose, blow dry with leaf blower to get water out of all the crevices, and towel dry any remaining damp areas.
I always cover the alternator & battery/fuse block area with plastic or foil to keep the water out.
Now, everytime I wash the car, I lightly mist the engine compartment with the garden hose, blow dry with leaf blower to get water out of all the crevices, and towel dry any remaining damp areas.
I always cover the alternator & battery/fuse block area with plastic or foil to keep the water out.
Cool Flames Jim
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,133
Likes: 1
From: ~The DARKSIDE Group~
Originally Posted by Johnny_B_Good
Once it's clean you should maintain it. All it takes is about two or three extra minutes when you're finished washing your car. Just wipe off the engine compartment with a damp towel. Do this and it will always look new!!