hosing my engine bay down

[KaBar6]

I have a 2006 Nissan Altima, and ever since I bought my car from the stealership, my engine bay has been really dirty, almost as if the previous owner took it off roading. Nothing was well maintained, one part was the air filter. I pulled that out only to find that it was OEM, caked in grease, and surounded by twigs. That worries me. Now my engine bay is really dirty, and the stealership said they would clean it up. They lied, all they cleaned off was the engine cover and some parts on top. When I go to change my oil and such, I notice a lot more gunk and dirt.

So, my question is, can I hose my engine bay down at the car wash? It's not so much grease in the engine bay, so a degreaser wouldn't be necessary. I hosed my older Maxima engine bay down once, I didn't cover anything, and that worked out pretty well except that it wouldn't start for a few minutes. So would it be safe to go to the car wash and hose out my engine bay?

[retrofinisher]

Re: hosing my engine bay down

There is a write up on this in detail under engine detailing.

look at the most current postings.

Not that hard...protect water from spark plug cables and ignition area.

Spray a engine detail cleaner or Simple Green.

I recommend water hose pressure, when finished use a spray lube such as WD40 or other lube to help displace water.

Wipe excessive water off and if possible use a air supply line pressure and nozzle at low pressure to get excessive water from linkages.

Keep the hood open for drying out.

[Krzemienr]

Re: hosing my engine bay down

you can always use a leaf blower or pressurized air (low setting) to dry it...

[3Fitty]

Re: hosing my engine bay down

Lazy man's engine detail. I don't cover anything although some opt to cover the alternator, fuse box and plugs with foil or a plastic bag. Make sure engine is cool or cold.

1. Hose engine down with garden hose (never a pressure washer on a high setting).

2. Spray LIBERALLY with APC+. Let sit for a few minutes.

3. Get an arsenal of three or four specific brushes for light agitation (I use three, wheel well brush, spoke brush and a brush for tight areas). LIGHTLY agitate those areas that are heavily gunked up.

4. Rinse.

5. Spray entire engine compartment with Hyperdressing. Close hood, leave and let it marinade.

6. After about 15 minutes, wipe up any areas of standing water or HD.

7. Drink lots of beer.



#7 is a must because the entire detail will take you 20-30 minutes and the results will look like you spent 3-4 hours on your engine (which would warrant at leas 8 beers). So, I try to get all 8 in me within that same 20-30 minutes!

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: hosing my engine bay down

7. Drink lots of beer.

#7 is a must because the entire detail will take you 20-30 minutes and the results will look like you spent 3-4 hours on your engine (which would warrant at leas 8 beers). So, I try to get all 8 in me within that same 20-30 minutes!

You're a god. Shouldn't every process on MOL end with this step? Including Megs' 5 stage cycle? (I guess that would have to be amended to 6 stages)

[3Fitty]

Re: hosing my engine bay down

You're a god. Shouldn't every process on MOL end with this step? Including Megs' 5 stage cycle? (I guess that would have to be amended to 6 stages)

Yes, but when I do a full on detail, it takes me about 8 hours, so I have to adjust my consumption to a very modest 2 beers per hour!

[Maikki]

Re: hosing my engine bay down

To get from this:


to this:


- hose down warm ( NOT hot) engine
- spray APC. I used Wurth Pineline
- Use paint brush to agitate all gunk
- rinse
- drive engine hot so it will dry
- use #40 for plastic

[redhotchevy2000]

Re: hosing my engine bay down

when i do motor bays i warm the engine up to about 1/4 temp
turn it off, let it cool down for 5 minutes
cover the distributor (or related electrical device)
cover intake (if open air in engine bay)
cover alternator

soak the motor with APC OR Degreaser- i found degreaser works best.
let sit for one - one and a half minutes
spray off with pressure washer, avoiding covered items and spending more time where theres more grime.

remove covers.
close hood,
turn car on, let it warm up to operating temps.
turn car off, ppen hood, spray 2:1 diluted Hyper dressing over entire engine bay
close hood, wash car, open hood and smile. :

[AnthonyCorbo]

Re: hosing my engine bay down

What i've been tought is to whenever you soak and engine that had been previously turned on ,then you should keep it on instead of shutting it off.
It reduces the chance of cracking the block, because when your drastically cool an engine it will shrink and crack.

as for cleaning i'd use spray nine for the most of the real dirty spots and just car soap and water on the rest of the motor.

Just my 0.02 Cents

[Ultraman]

Re: hosing my engine bay down

About twice a year, I get an engine wash. I make it a point to cover the computer box, spark plug socket, and distributor assembly. Then I have it dried with compressed air and top off the hood's underside with wax.

[NAMEL355]

Re: hosing my engine bay down

I have an 05 Altima. I usually just cover the air filter (I have aftermarket intake). Then I just take a steps back in spray with the "fan" setting. When I'm done with the scrubbing and spray engine bay down one last time. I cost the hood and start the engine to help with drying.

[stump]

Re: hosing my engine bay down

i use and recomend a wheel spoke brush for help cleaning the engine, its very usefull to clean those tight spots.

[akimel]

Re: hosing my engine bay down

The advantage of warming up the engine a bit is that it ostensibly makes it easier to degrease the engine bay. The disadvantage, however, is that a warm engine prematurely dries out the APC or whatever you are using as a degreaser, which I noticed when I detailed my engine a month ago. Next time I am starting off with a cold engine. Also, a cold engine provides an additional safety margin. Check out Karl Schultz's engine detailing method.

[Barry N]

Re: hosing my engine bay down

Hey 3Fitty.... When say drink lots of beer, you are referring to Canadian beer aren't you ?

[3Fitty]

Re: hosing my engine bay down

Hey 3Fitty.... When say drink lots of beer, you are referring to Canadian beer aren't you ?

But of course... I'm a Sleeman's kind of guy... LOL