Steam Cleaning Engine
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 597
From: Question Government
It's not really that bad for any paints inside the engine bay. Yes, it's harsh on exterior paints if you do this a lot. Doing this once or twice to the engine bay in the lifetime of the car wouldn't hurt anything, especially if one could find a rubbing alcohol with a 60% or lower content...IMO.
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 489
From: Denver, NC
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 597
From: Question Government
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 40,995
Likes: 9,759
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
If you took the car to a dealer the mechanic would spray the underside of the engine with a degreaser solution and then dry it off. Then they might spray a white chalky substance on the engine and tell you to drive the car for a couple days to see if oil leaves any tracks in the stuff they sprayed on. That is how they checked for a transmission fluid leak on my C7.
As for cleaning the engine compartment I start with a cold engine and spray on a 50/50 mix of Simple Green and Water. I cover the complete engine compartment so the solution is dripping from everything. Then I let it sit for about 10 minutes and use a garden hose with the spray set on gentle to rinse off the engine. Once everything is rinsed off I start the engine, close the hood and let the car idle until the engine and hood liner get dry. This has worked on every car I have owned since the mid 80s without a single issue.
Bill
As for cleaning the engine compartment I start with a cold engine and spray on a 50/50 mix of Simple Green and Water. I cover the complete engine compartment so the solution is dripping from everything. Then I let it sit for about 10 minutes and use a garden hose with the spray set on gentle to rinse off the engine. Once everything is rinsed off I start the engine, close the hood and let the car idle until the engine and hood liner get dry. This has worked on every car I have owned since the mid 80s without a single issue.
Bill
