Cleaning the engine compartment...best way?

[Canyon Carver]

Hey all - I'm curious what the best method is to clean my engine compartment. It's a pretty new car (2011), but it's starting to get a small bit of road grime and I'd like to keep it as clean as possible.

Just plain soap and water? Any special properties I should know about?

Thanks in advance...

[int2str]

There is a chapter about it in the free detailing handbook PDF:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207811

[vanbmw]

I use P21S total auto wash with a ez-detail brush on my engine. I give it a light rinse with water and then spray the engine with the P21s. I get in there with my brush and give it a light scrub. I do it 3 or 4 times a year so it really doesn't need a heavy scrub. I usually take it for a drive to warm up the engine and dry it off. Later, once the engine is cool, I give it a good spray with Chemical guys Black on Black spray. It is good on everything under the hood. I am very happy with my results.

[kamilS]

-First thing i would start with is taking a couple grocery bags and covering the alternator, air filter (if exposed) and any other electrical components that should not see excesive amounts of water.
-Gently spray down the engine bay, and by gently i mean just run a small stream of water, do not use a power washer.
Use any car soap of your choice and on some areas which you have trouble with just soap use a dilluted solution of degreeser and water, anything like Simple Green or Purple Power will work. I prefer Meguiar's All Purpose Cleaner or Optimium Power Clean. With this step you want to use various brushes, you'll learn that they are much better to work with than a sponge.
-Rinse again and either let the engine bay air dry or use compressed air/ leaf blower method. You can even run the engine for a few minutes which should speed up the drying process
-Dress the engine bay with a product like 303, Hyper Dressing or Meguiar's #40
-Give it some time to dry and wipe away any excess dressing.


As Vanbmw mentioned, if you clean your engine bay more frequently, you could even skip the washing process and use a Quick Detailer of your choice followed by a Dressing Product.

[Canyon Carver]

Great info...thanks, all. Much appreciated...

[TOGWT]

There is some info here on what you may want to cover while cleaning the engine bay - “Engine Bay Detailing” - http://<u>http://www.autopia.org/for...ost1448628</u>

[crbalch]

fixed your link...

http://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia...ml#post1448628

Originally Posted by TOGWT

There is some info here on what you may want to cover while cleaning the engine bay - “Engine Bay Detailing” - http://<u>http://www.autopia.org/for...ost1448628</u>

[TOGWT]

Originally Posted by crbalch

fixed your link...

http://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia...ml#post1448628

Thank you...

[tracer bullet]

Originally Posted by kamilS

covering the alternator

Agreed! Learned the hard way on my last car, alternator worked great for 10 years, but the day after I cleaned the engine bay (just prior to selling the car) it squealed like a banshee.

I assume cleaner got in there and killed the lube in the bearings.