engine cleaning question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 582
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale Florida
engine cleaning question
I park in a dusty environment , and never cleaned under the hood since I got the car july last year.
It is dirty in the engine bay,but I am a little worried I might short something ,or get water on the air filter.
Can some of my vette brothers here give me some cleanig advice,and what product to use? Thanx.
It is dirty in the engine bay,but I am a little worried I might short something ,or get water on the air filter.
Can some of my vette brothers here give me some cleanig advice,and what product to use? Thanx.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 32,921
Likes: 2
From: Coppin' a tan from the Messiah's aura
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Check out these threads in General Corvette/Car Care Products ...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/sear...archid=4714428
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/sear...archid=4714428
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 582
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale Florida
Check out these threads in General Corvette/Car Care Products ...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/sear...archid=4714428
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/sear...archid=4714428
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,762
Likes: 2
Here's a pretty decent instructional video. Hope it helps.
http://www.adamspolishes.com/t-video...ing_motor.aspx
http://www.adamspolishes.com/t-video...ing_motor.aspx
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 283
Likes: 0
From: McHenry IL
I just went to the local pay and spray wash place. What I did was cover the alternator and battery with rags, then I got the sprayer on the rinse setting NOT pulling the trigger so it was more like a highpowered mist and I hit the spots that were dirty on mine. I dont advise using the trigger to get the fast spray or doing it for a long time. Most detail shops use steam to wash the engine bays because you are not spraying water on the motor, but my way worked good. I then rushed home and dried as much of the engine compartment as I could and then I got out the armorall wipes and hit as much as I could. Mine sparkles now and it still runs fine. Give it a try, just remember to avoid/cover the battery, alternator and fuse box under the hood and use LOW pressure spray or steam if possible. One of my local places that closed this winter actually had a setting for engine cleaning/degreasing. You may get lucky, but they are hard to find at those quarter wash places... Goodluck.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
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Tech Contributor
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
The LSx generation of engines are not fond of high pressure water spray or frequent water intrusion. The LS1 actually has a knock sensor TSB brought about by frequent water intrusion corroding the rear knock sensor. If you have a lot of dust to start with try using a leaf blower to take the bulk dust off then warm the engine up. Mist the bay down (spray bottle) with a 50/50 diluted solution of simple green and water. Let it sit for a few minutes. Take a clean rag and wipe it down. Spray a little more on hard to clean areas. Next I like to take some of the armor all cleaning wipes and just go over the plastic parts. Last, I take an armor all wipe and go over all the plastic parts again. The car will look good as new. It will be easier to keep clean if you keep on top of it, and you will never need to worry about sparying water in there. I just wipe everything down every couply of washes. It only takes a few extra minutes but keeps it looking great.
Paul
Paul
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 32,921
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From: Coppin' a tan from the Messiah's aura
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Sorry ... I checked it again after posting ... 
I used "engine cleaning" as search terms; don't know specifically your underhood condition and what you want to achieve ... but there were a number of good threads on some very specific aspects.
I used "engine cleaning" as search terms; don't know specifically your underhood condition and what you want to achieve ... but there were a number of good threads on some very specific aspects.
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 35
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From: Lake Villa Illinois
The LSx generation of engines are not fond of high pressure water spray or frequent water intrusion. The LS1 actually has a knock sensor TSB brought about by frequent water intrusion corroding the rear knock sensor. If you have a lot of dust to start with try using a leaf blower to take the bulk dust off then warm the engine up. Mist the bay down (spray bottle) with a 50/50 diluted solution of simple green and water. Let it sit for a few minutes. Take a clean rag and wipe it down. Spray a little more on hard to clean areas. Next I like to take some of the armor all cleaning wipes and just go over the plastic parts. Last, I take an armor all wipe and go over all the plastic parts again. The car will look good as new. It will be easier to keep clean if you keep on top of it, and you will never need to worry about sparying water in there. I just wipe everything down every couply of washes. It only takes a few extra minutes but keeps it looking great.
Paul
Paul
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 5
From: Northwest, AR
I have used manual car washes for many years to wash engines with no problems. HOWEVER..... I would not do it on the Vette. Don't ask me why. It just gives me the ******* to think about it. The main thing is to NOT let it get real cruddy to start with. I use simple green to take off grease and armor all to make black things shine. I use Zaino spray detailer on the painted fuel rail covers. I use soft artist paint brushes to sweep away sand and dirt from hard to reach places, and I use tongue depressers/ popsicle sticks to wrap towels around to wipe hard to reach places.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Ponte Vedra Beach / London State: Dazed and confused
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
