How do you 'clean' a car engine??

insdav3

Senior member
Jan 21, 2002
293
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My engine is pretty dirty with dust and oil in some spots.... i noticed on the 'do it yourself' carwash they have a "engine cleaner" option. Wtf is that? you spray it on your engine?
 

trmiv

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
14,670
18
81
Go get yourself a few cans of Gunk, spray the engine down, wait, then rinse. Gunk works great.
 

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
22
81


<< Go get yourself a few cans of Gunk, spray the engine down, wait, then rinse. Gunk works great. >>


It sure does. Just a note: Try not to get your spark plugs wet.
 

Calcio

Senior member
Sep 28, 2001
253
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0


<< Go get yourself a few cans of Gunk, spray the engine down, wait, then rinse. Gunk works great. >>



That stuff does work really well. You could also get is steam cleaned, but that is $$$$$$$$$$$
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
cover up anything/everything electrical

then you should wipe it off if you're careful ^_^
 

DaLeroy

Golden Member
Dec 4, 2000
1,406
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Whenever I clean my engine, I used a high pressure water cleaner, with concentrated degreaser. Works like a charm! Just make sure that you don't aim directly at your electricals: sparkplugs, dizzy etc. because otherwise you will have to wait for them to dry out before you can start your car. Oh, and don't put ya hand in the way of the water, high pressure cleaners can take ya finger nails off! :)
 

brxndxn

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2001
8,475
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76
I heard you should dump a 2liter bottle of Coca Cola on it and the acid in it will get all the crap off the engine parts...
 

Jerboy

Banned
Oct 27, 2001
5,190
0
0
Take care not to spray water into air intake. One time my car stalled in middle of the road following an engine wash. The engine ran fine after washing, but when I drove it later that day it stalled. The problem mysteriously gone away and haven't happened since though.
 

Balthazar

Golden Member
Apr 16, 2000
1,834
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<< I heard you should dump a 2liter bottle of Coca Cola on it and the acid in it will get all the crap off the engine parts... >>



Thats certainly one way of doing it, but if you chose to do so I am afraid you must do in in your briefs and nothing else with a sign that says "kickme im crazy" taped to your back....
 

DieselUV

Senior member
Dec 9, 1999
363
0
0
Ok, first find CD2 Engine cleaner & detailer. You can get it for under $5 at Target. It's a two spray can kit. It works like magic! It'll have your engine looking like it was brand new or better. First you spray the cleaner, wait like 10-15 min, spray lightly with a hose, let it dry, spray the detailer and bingo you're done. I linked a pic of my engine after I used it the first time.

My engine after CD2.
 

thawolfman

Lifer
Dec 9, 2001
11,107
0
76


<< Ok, first find CD2 Engine cleaner & detailer. You can get it for under $5 at Target. It's a two spray can kit. It works like magic! It'll have your engine looking like it was brand new or better. First you spray the cleaner, wait like 10-15 min, spray lightly with a hose, let it dry, spray the detailer and bingo you're done. I linked a pic of my engine after I used it the first time.

My engine after CD2.
>>



DAMN! Looks like I'm gonna have to pick some of that up!

Lookin good :D
 

insdav3

Senior member
Jan 21, 2002
293
0
0


<< Ok, first find CD2 Engine cleaner & detailer. You can get it for under $5 at Target. It's a two spray can kit. It works like magic! It'll have your engine looking like it was brand new or better. First you spray the cleaner, wait like 10-15 min, spray lightly with a hose, let it dry, spray the detailer and bingo you're done. I linked a pic of my engine after I used it the first time.

My engine after CD2.
>>




Nice.... I think i'll pick some of that up and have a day of it. lol. My engine seems like it hasn't been cleaned since 91' =\ ..... *goes to target*

thanks
 

yakko

Lifer
Apr 18, 2000
25,455
2
0
ZEP I.D. RED

This stuff works great and is pretty harmless. We used to use it when I was a mechanic. I have gotten it in my mouth and eyes before and it is no big deal. Make sure you let it all evaporate before you start your car or there may be a fire.
 

Jfrag Teh Foul

Diamond Member
Jul 18, 2001
3,146
0
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Grab a gallon jug of undiluted white wall cleaner... pour it into a squirt bottle... spray on engine (careful not to get it on the exterior paint on the car..might dull it) Rinse with hose after about 3 minutes... take some vinyl dressing spray on engine after it dries... if your car doesn't have electronic ignition (the old distributor cap type) leave engine running while cleaning... if you have electronic ignition its safe to turn off. BINGO! Engine looks brand new!
 

psteng19

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2000
5,953
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wait a sec... am I reading this right?

you can aim a garden hose at your car, spray water out of it, into the engine compartment, with the hood open, directed mainly at the engine and it's components and this is perfectly safe?

(except into the airbox/air intake)
is there any other places I should avoid getting wet other than the electrical parts (spark plugs)?
 

amdskip

Lifer
Jan 6, 2001
22,530
13
81
If it is a Ford, leave it dirty and they have electrical water related problems and you wouldn't want to start them.
 

trmiv

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
14,670
18
81


<< wait a sec... am I reading this right?

you can aim a garden hose at your car, spray water out of it, into the engine compartment, with the hood open, directed mainly at the engine and it's components and this is perfectly safe?
>>



Yes, for the most part that is true. Just don't aim pressure directly at the ignition, or intake. Street cars are meant to be driven in the rain, so getting some water on the engine is not a problem. As long as you aren't forcing water into any of the electrical areas, you are fine. I used to work at a used car lot, and we had to clean engines on the time. Just spray it down with some good cleaner, and hose it off, being careful to not spray right at electrical areas.

 

Jfrag Teh Foul

Diamond Member
Jul 18, 2001
3,146
0
0



<< wait a sec... am I reading this right? >>





<< you can aim a garden hose at your car, spray water out of it, into the engine compartment, with the hood open, directed mainly at the engine and it's components and this is perfectly safe? >>



Yeah, its perfectly safe... but like I said if your car is an older one with the old ignition systems (unsealed distributor cap type) the car might not start back up for about 10 or 20 minutes without missing reeeeal bad. The way to keep that from happening is just to leave the car running the whole time (and letting it run for 5 or 10 minutes after the washing helps to dry everything out so you won't have to worry about it).
 

toant103

Lifer
Jul 21, 2001
10,514
1
0
make sure you cover your air intake and alternator with trash bad so you won't get water in them. Last time i clean my engine, i didnt do that so the water got into my engine. It won't start. :(

SO i have to wait for the water to dry to start again
 

SagaLore

Elite Member
Dec 18, 2001
24,036
21
81
Open your gas tank and oil lid, insert hose, and fill to brim. After a few miles of driving, your engine will be clean as a whistle.
 

insdav3

Senior member
Jan 21, 2002
293
0
0
I just got done cleaning my engine with 'simple-green'

looks A LOT better than it did... maybe even a little faster actually ;) heh

u should give it a try