What's the best way to detail under the hood.

[starla3366]

Let me ask everyone this question.

You know how you get a new car and under the hood the damn thing is spotless. How do you get it to be like that. I know you can buy some foam spray, but I don't know if I'd really trust that stuff. Conductivity may fry the comp. and do other damage, I don't know.

Anyone got any reccomendations on Auto Underhood detailing?

[Skeeter6755]

You could go get it pressure-washed

[Mikado14]

I personnally use Gunk and a water hose on high pressure.

I just repaired a Ford Stupid Duty er.... Super Duty that the owner decided to go to a car wash and clean under the hood. He had codes up the gazoo. After a good drying out, all the codes vanished, after clearing but the engine had a miss and would fall flat on it's face when trying a hard acceleration. After installation of the SnapOn Modis, I found that the MAP was not quite reading correct. Removed the plug and the high pressure washer had pushed all the dirt into the plug. A good cleaning and the Stupid Duty was back at work.

Your choice. Your truck.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by Skeeter6755

You could go get it pressure-washed

Holy jesus, NEVER EVER PRESSURE WASH AN ENGINE!

Cover the alternator, the computer, the coil and the ditributor.

Simple green engine degreaser on a warm engine and hose pressure will work fine. Won't be spotless, but it will be better than before.

Never point the hose directly at the electrical connections.

Let me repeat, don't ever pressure wash an engine.

[annguyen1981]

BLAZERLT-

I always pressure wash my engine (of course I NEVER use too high of a pressure) but it can be done.

Just make sure that your engine is RUNNING AND WARMED UP when you do this... That prevents water from entering where it's not supposed to.

[BlazerLT]

No offense intended but just because you do something stupid like that does not mean it is right.

You wait and force water into your computer and you will know what I am talking about.

[JParrott]

Just my 2 cents, but has anyone ever heard of spraying cold water on some hot exhaust manifolds and cracking them? I personally agree that some good engine degreaser, a cool or cold engine, and a regular hose with an attachment on the end should do as much as you need to that way. I also agree with covering everything electronic that you can. Beyond that, alot of rags/towels, some heavy duty household oven cleaner and some elbow grease.

[annguyen1981]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

No offense intended but just because you do something stupid like that does not mean it is right.

You wait and force water into your computer and you will know what I am talking about.

I'm sorry for the confusion. I posted thinking that people will have some common sense and NOT get any electrical parts wet (Alternator, distributor, computer, etc...)

While we're on this, DON'T get water near the air filter either.

[annguyen1981]

Originally Posted by JParrott

Just my 2 cents, but has anyone ever heard of spraying cold water on some hot exhaust manifolds and cracking them? I personally agree that some good engine degreaser, a cool or cold engine, and a regular hose with an attachment on the end should do as much as you need to that way. I also agree with covering everything electronic that you can. Beyond that, alot of rags/towels, some heavy duty household oven cleaner and some elbow grease.

I guess I didn't make this clear on my first post. Yes, you need to have the engine running and warmed up, but when I say "warmed up", I don't mean drive the car for a long period.

Yes cracking will occur if you spray cold water on a HOT engine block.

When you pressure wash an engine, make sure the temp is pretty low, then start her up. Let the car run only for a couple of minutes. THEN you can go about your business.

If you want some help because you're still not convinced, contact a local powerwasher in your area, and ask them how they so it?

[BlazerLT]

annguyen1981,

I will still stress that you DON'T need a pressure washer for proper engine washing. Our vehicles are completely computer controlled with electrical sensors, wiring and plugs spread all over the engine compartment. Forcing water into any of these will lead to severe engine problems. Hose pressure is fine.

Ok, here, I will post my guide to problem free engine bay washing:

What you will need:

- Simple Green Degreaser
- Garden Hose
- Small scrub brush

Preparation:

- Warm truck up for 10 minutes at idle then shut it off. (10 minutes)
- Wrap plastic bags around the alternator, coil or coil pack and the distributor cap along with the computer in the engine bay. (2 minutes)
- Spay down anything and everywhere in the engine compartment with the degreaser. Avoid the exhaust manifold seeing the will be hot and make the degreaser smoke and it is tough to breathe it in. (5 Minutes)
- Let it soak for 5 minutes and then spray the whole engine bay down again with degreaser and use the scrub brush on any other place that needs agitation for cleaning. (5 minutes)
- Let soak for two minutes and take a normal garden hose with your thumb over the end to make a nice fan spray and rinse down your engine. Keep rinsing until the engine bay has no soap in it at all. DON'T GO WITH A HIGH PRESSURE GARDEN HOSE END.(10 minutes)
- REpeat everything is you want again.

- Then start the engine and let it idle for 30 minutes with the hood open so it can COMPLETELY dry itself. Do NOT just walk away now and not let it run itself dry. (30 minutes)

That is all. One hour is all that is needed to be clean.

[starla3366]

Excellent step by step procedures by BlazerLT!

[BlazerLT]

Thanks guys, I just witnessed my friend pressure wash his engine bay 6 months ago and he killed three sensors and the computer in one sitting and he had everything electrical covered.

Don't want to see you guys go through the US$700 repair bill he had.

[Trail Blazin96]

I used to work for a mobile auto wash and steam service and we steamed the engine let it run for about 20 mins after you wash

[BlazerLT]

Yea, steam is not as bad seeing the sheer volume of water used in steam cleaning is usually low.

[Trail Blazin96]

but you would still have to spray everything down with degreaser. When we did it, we got everything wet, no problems but never say never