How to clean the engine bay!
- Thread starter Lorenzo
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I would warm the motor first, then remove the spark plug wires and cover the distributor with a bag and tape it up to keep out moisture. Same goes for the carb...remove all the hoses and linkage and cover it well, spray it down with degreaser, let it sit for a while, then rinse it off once it has cooled down. As for the fender wells, Id use something like purple power to spray it down, let it soak, and rinse it off. Then I would spray WD40 on the plastic areas, hoses, etc. Just keep it off the belts.
Ok, so take the plug wires off the distributor itself or the spark plugs. With the carb can I just leave the air cleaner on or do I have to take it off and cover the carb with a bag as well. Are those the only 2 things I need to cover? Also I live in Canada and can't find any sort of purple power. Have any other suggestions?? Thanks !
I would remove the wires completely because its hard to cover the distributor with them still attached. label them and take a picture of the cap with the wires labeled so you wont have any issues putting them back on. You can leave the air cleaner on, but check it to make sure that any water didnt get inside it. You can stuff a clean, lint free rag into the carb just to soak up any water that might get that far. Simple green, Super Clean, or any good degreaser would work.Lorenzo said:
Ok sounds good. I have engine brite degreaser so I guess I can spray that over everything. Should I cover the alternator as well? And should I just use a hose or a pressure washer?
Covering the alternator would be tough with the belt on it, but you can try it. Maybe use a walmart bag and tape it up good. I would use a nozzle on a regular hose rather that a pressure washer, which would blast a lot of stuff everywhere. If the engine is really greasy, it may take a lot of degreaser to get it clean. You can use a plastic putty knife to scrap the really bad areas of the oil pan/valve covers...etc. The warmer the engine is, the easier the baked on stuff will come off. However, if the engine is really hot, the degreaser will evaporate too quickly to be effective.Lorenzo said:
Couple things Lorenzo...Purple Power is a Castrol product that is available at Canadian Tire last I checked....also, whatever products you DO use, be sure to read the label as it will usually alert you to areas or surfaces you should avoid with that product.
Really thick grease can be a b*tch to get off, keep at it and you'll get it. If you have a nozzle with a 'jet' setting on it, use that, just don't aim it directly at dist, carb or alt.
Good luck and post pics of your results 8)
Really thick grease can be a b*tch to get off, keep at it and you'll get it. If you have a nozzle with a 'jet' setting on it, use that, just don't aim it directly at dist, carb or alt.
Good luck and post pics of your results 8)
you can....but wires shouldnt be sprayed with degreaser. I would pull them off altogether. Draw a pic of a engine, label each cylinder, then label each wire before you remove it. Firing order is usually on the manifold if you get confused.Lorenzo said:
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