cleaning under the hood?

[sixleggedinsect]

my car has been sitting around for a while, and before its recent break it was sitting aroudn in the desert and some enormous desert rat built a nest in there..

its grungy, dirty, and there is rat sh*t scattered around. i'd like to break out a hose and spray the whole thing down, along with some vigorous detergent brush scrubbing.

is there any reason i shouldnt just have at it with the hose? seems like it shouldnt hurt anything, but id love an expert opinion.

[GTP Dad]

NO as long as you don't steam clean it you should be alright. You may want to cover the coil assembly with a plastic bag but everything else should be just fine.

[scoatw]

I wash my engine all the time. Just do what GTP Dad said and cover the coil assembly (Thats where the spark plug wires go into). I buy a long handled semi-stiff brush and scrub away.

[Davescort97]

You might cover the alternator, also. I don't think it would be too good to get the windings in it wet.