Has anyone here ever washed their engine?

[Ragnarok2]

I just bought some Black Magic de-greaser and shine for my Chrysler Cirrus, and I'm really scared the car won't turn on after the wash. It has 125K miles on it, so I hope the older parts like wires and all won't deteriorate.

Also, if you have washed your engine, what parts do you recommend wrapping and with what?

 

[AaronB]

What car/engine do you have?

 

[ManyBeers]

Originally posted by: Ragnarok2
I just bought some Black Magic de-greaser and shine for my Chrysler Cirrus, and I'm really scared the car won't turn on after the wash. It has 125K miles on it, so I hope the older parts like wires and all won't deteriorate.

Also, if you have washed your engine, what parts do you recommend wrapping and with what?

I wash my engine in my 93 Aerostar at the self wash about once a year and i leave the engine running. I don't wrap anything.

 

[EvilYoda]

With older cars, I would use water in the engine bay as little as possible, mostly using tower/paper-towels. On my 04 GTO, I just used some Simple Green and scrubbed the hell out of the engine before I sprayed it down...looked great, really easy too.

 

[zerocool84]

i've used it on my srt-4 and it worked really well. just dont spray electrical connections like the battery and fuses and wires not covered with something or just put a rag or something over them if you are scared. it made all mf my aluminum look really good with no scrubbing at all.

 

[Ragnarok2]

My Black Magic is Petroleum-based Im pretty sure cuz it says it contains petrleum distillates. Prolly illegal to let it run off into the sewer right?

It also says safe for all engine parts, no wrapping required. Still says don't spray on carburetorz(mine has fuel injection as like all newer cars so no problem there), exposed wiring, and intake.

What Im mostly worried about is the alternator and distributor. I think ill only cover the distributor with foil, just as a pre-caution.

 

[win32asmguy]

A pretty good policy would be to only spray the cleaner on the metal parts of the engine, and then when rinsing just stay away from the air intake area. Then again, its only water, so if the car can't start immediately, just give it some time for the water to evaporate and then try again!

 

[Compton]

I would recommend covering your alternator before you spray anything.

 

[Ragnarok2]

Originally posted by: Compton
I would recommend covering your alternator before you spray anything.

Yup I've decided I'm gonna use foil to cover the Alternator, Distributor, Fuse Box, and Air Intake. Thats good enough of a precaution.

 

[RedArmy]

Don't worry about it too much, I sprayed probably a gallon of de-greaser along with a variety of other very toxic chemicals on, in, and around my alternator when I had my engine apart and when it was put back together it started right up the first time. The only thing I would worry about is the electrical connections, but you already have that covered so you should be set. Also, just let it sit for a little while afterwards then just to be sure.

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

Yeah, i wash my engine all the time. Here in Alaska, it gets dirty very quick. A few pointers...

1) Always wash a cold engine. Warm engines can result in discoloration because the water evaporates out too fast, leaving the chemicals to do a number on the finish.

2) I wrap a terry towel inbetween all my spark plug connections, so as to avoid water getting into the spark plug wells and causing a short. (Happened once before).

3) I also spray the plug wires with WD40 beforehand. It repels water and prevents it from soaking into anything.

4. I don't usually cover anything; but areas such as the alternator and big switches only gets very scarce amounts of water. I spray the hell out of everything else.

5. Don't use anything full-strength, as it too can discolor certain engine components, even if they're cold. Simple green is one. Dilute it 1:1 and it makes a great cleaner; just don't let it sit too long.

6. When you're done, a little tire dressing can really make the hoses shine!

I get excellent results with those tips.

 

[Ragnarok2]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Yeah, i wash my engine all the time. Here in Alaska, it gets dirty very quick. A few pointers...

1) Always wash a cold engine. Warm engines can result in discoloration because the water evaporates out too fast, leaving the chemicals to do a number on the finish.

2) I wrap a terry towel inbetween all my spark plug connections, so as to avoid water getting into the spark plug wells and causing a short. (Happened once before).

3) I also spray the plug wires with WD40 beforehand. It repels water and prevents it from soaking into anything.

4. I don't usually cover anything; but areas such as the alternator and big switches only gets very scarce amounts of water. I spray the hell out of everything else.

5. Don't use anything full-strength, as it too can discolor certain engine components, even if they're cold. Simple green is one. Dilute it 1:1 and it makes a great cleaner; just don't let it sit too long.

6. When you're done, a little tire dressing can really make the hoses shine!

I get excellent results with those tips.

Thanks for the pointers

 

[foghorn67]

I use CD2 engine detailing. It's a two part thingy. First can is the degreaser. The other is what makes it shiny.
For my 289, I cover the distributor cap and the carb.
WD-40 is excellent for degreasing. Clean with one towel, and wipe the excess with another. However, keep it away from bare metal. It will accelerate rust.

 

[Ragnarok2]

Originally posted by: foghorn67
I use CD2 engine detailing. It's a two part thingy. First can is the degreaser. The other is what makes it shiny.
For my 289, I cover the distributor cap and the carb.
WD-40 is excellent for degreasing. Clean with one towel, and wipe the excess with another. However, keep it away from bare metal. It will accelerate rust.

The Black Magic I bought is kinda the same thing. Says 2-in-1 de-greaser and shine. It was the most expensive at my AutoZone too at $5. Gunk was $3 and AutoZone brand was only $2 haha. I heard Gunk was good stuff, but I'll see how Black Magic works. I probabaly won't actually do it yet because this morning we found out that the radiator is leaking. Yay.

 

[loic2003]

use gunk.

Don't get electrics wet.

 

[SuperNaruto]

You guys ever done steam cleaning of engine bay ?

 

[Ragnarok2]

Originally posted by: SuperNaruto
You guys ever done steam cleaning of engine bay ?

A lot of people say thats it's pretty much the worst way to wash an engine. But car washes still do it, so it must work somewhat.

 

[SuperNaruto]

Originally posted by: Ragnarok2

Originally posted by: SuperNaruto
You guys ever done steam cleaning of engine bay ?

A lot of people say thats it's pretty much the worst way to wash an engine. But car washes still do it, so it must work somewhat.

I mean I know it can damage old cars, but I seen some car that done it and ti was really clean.. got all the gunk out.. but i never heard from people after.. like oh it cracked this tube or pipe.. so i wouldn't know.. any other damages from it ?

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
I heard that it's best to spray it with a 50/50 solution of bleach and amonia.

dude, that's not even funny....that could kill someone.

 

[Fritzo]

I always wash my engine in Tide.

Why?

Because it's too cold out-Tide.

(if you don't get it, read it out loud).

 

[Scarpozzi]

The 50/50 was a joke.....

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
The 50/50 was a joke.....

You mean chlorine gas isn't the most effective engine cleaning method?

 

[fbrdphreak]

Since my car is new, I just keep it clean with every wash by using very small amounts of water and a clotch to wipe off dirt. For more built-up dirt, lots of people will just take a sponge, dip it in the car soap bucket, squeeze out over the engine to get suds out, and then wash that way. Personally I would avoid chemicals, degreasers and stuff do just run-off which isn't good in general.

And to the person who put Simple Green on his 04 GTO, just FYI: technically Simple Green eats aluminum, I'm sure it is very slow and only over a very long time, but I have no desire to put an aluminum-dissolving chemical on my aluminum engine or wheels.

 

[sao123]

clean your piston heads real good....

i recommend dumping joy or palmolive solution right in the carbureator....


oh... and gas tanks get cleaned with salt & sugar.

 

[Kntx]

I detailed cars for a few years at a few different places. We'd just spray it down with some random chemical then giver a power wash. I never had a car not start afterwards. The cars ranged from brand new yuppie mobiles to old beaters.