Hi, I have a question about engine cleaning.

A beginner's book called "Auto Upkeep" says to clean the engine like
this:

"Open the hood. Wet a shop rag with a multipurpose cleaner and wipe
grime, dirt, and dust from the engine compartment. Close the hood."

What kind of multipurpose cleaner would work--Ammonia-based spray?

Also, do I have to worry about accidentally cleaning off
intentionally
lubricated surfaces inside the engine compartment?

On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:50:56 -0700, Built_Well wrote:

> Hi, I have a question about engine cleaning.
>
> A beginner's book called "Auto Upkeep" says to clean the engine like
> this:
>
> "Open the hood. Wet a shop rag with a multipurpose cleaner and wipe
> grime, dirt, and dust from the engine compartment. Close the hood."

That is only good advice if your engine and engine bay is already pretty
clean. If you have some oil leaks and operate in a dusty environment then
your engine bay might be filthy.

> What kind of multipurpose cleaner would work--Ammonia-based spray?

Kerosene cleans really good. Wash it off with detergent water. Really
tough stuff can be attacked with steam cleaner, high pressure sheep urine
etc.

> Also, do I have to worry about accidentally cleaning off intentionally
> lubricated surfaces inside the engine compartment?

Not unless you deliberately fill the sump with detergent.

"Built_Well" <Built_Well_Toyota@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ce3f4006-e31a-4b71-aaf0-c1a0e2a15716@r66g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>
> Hi, I have a question about engine cleaning.
>
> A beginner's book called "Auto Upkeep" says to clean the engine like
> this:
>
> "Open the hood.

wow, that must indeed be a book for beginners.
It's like instructions for taking a bath saying
"First remove your clothing, shoes and socks, and your wristwatch. If
you're going to shampoo your hair, remove your hat."
Duh!
Seriously, the only thing to worry about is getting the rinse water on or
near electrical parts, so covering those parts with saran wrap is a worthy
idea. Don't soak the engine with a full-force garden hose or you likely
won't get the engine started when you're finished.

Built_Well wrote:
> Hi, I have a question about engine cleaning.
>
> A beginner's book called "Auto Upkeep" says to clean the engine like
> this:
>
> "Open the hood. Wet a shop rag with a multipurpose cleaner and wipe
> grime, dirt, and dust from the engine compartment. Close the hood."
>
> What kind of multipurpose cleaner would work--Ammonia-based spray?
>
> Also, do I have to worry about accidentally cleaning off
> intentionally
> lubricated surfaces inside the engine compartment?

Do not use cleaners or solvents on ANY decals or stickers, dry rag only.

> Hi, I have a question about engine cleaning.
>
> A beginner's book called "Auto Upkeep" says to clean the engine like
> this:
>
> "Open the hood. Wet a shop rag with a multipurpose cleaner and wipe
> grime, dirt, and dust from the engine compartment. Close the hood."
>
> What kind of multipurpose cleaner would work--Ammonia-based spray?
>
> Also, do I have to worry about accidentally cleaning off
> intentionally
> lubricated surfaces inside the engine compartment?


Honestly? Just leave it alone...

When you start cleaning an engine you knock things loose accidentally,
water gets places it can't normally get.. brittle plastic parts get
snapped off. I've never seen a car cease to run because the engine
wasn't cleaned. I've seen tons of cars that don't run anymore after
the engine is cleaned.

If you really want to have it done have a professional steam clean the
engine.

Steve B.

On 2008-07-01, Steve B <none@none.com> wrote:

> When you start cleaning an engine you knock things loose accidentally,
> water gets places it can't normally get.. brittle plastic parts get
> snapped off.

Not if you show just a little bit of care.

> I've never seen a car cease to run because the engine wasn't cleaned.

But a clean engine compartment and engine is so much nicer to work with.

> I've seen tons of cars that don't run anymore after the engine is
> cleaned.

A little bit of care prevents that. And the condition should only be
temporary and self-correcting unless they were VERY stupid.

On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:06:50 -0400, Hachiroku ???? <Trueno@e86.GTS>
wrote:


>
>I cleaned hundreds of cars with a grease cutter like Simple Green.
>
>Unfortunately, the only one that wouldn't run afterwards was my Supra...
>
That sucks that the Supra wouldn't start! The one I see most often
is the mid 90s Lincolns that grampaw washes. Water gets in those deep
spark plug wells and the car runs like crap. Being around used cars /
trade time I see a lot of "first time washers" and the destruction
they inflict.

Steve B.

What I do, and have done for a long time, is when I take the rig to a
"do-it-yourself" carwash I LIGHTLY spray under hood with the soap spray,
ease hood down and wash car - then when I rinse, I rinse under the hood
again fairly lightly - but then I do it several times a year so don't need
the pressure. Need I say Toyotas stay fairly clean w/o oil leaks?

Ron in Ca



"Built_Well" <Built_Well_Toyota@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ce3f4006-e31a-4b71-aaf0-c1a0e2a15716@r66g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>
> Hi, I have a question about engine cleaning.
>
> A beginner's book called "Auto Upkeep" says to clean the engine like
> this:
>
> "Open the hood. Wet a shop rag with a multipurpose cleaner and wipe
> grime, dirt, and dust from the engine compartment. Close the hood."
>
> What kind of multipurpose cleaner would work--Ammonia-based spray?
>
> Also, do I have to worry about accidentally cleaning off
> intentionally
> lubricated surfaces inside the engine compartment?

"Steve B." <none@none.com> wrote in message
>
> Honestly? Just leave it alone...
>
> When you start cleaning an engine you knock things loose accidentally,
> water gets places it can't normally get.. brittle plastic parts get
> snapped off. I've never seen a car cease to run because the engine
> wasn't cleaned. I've seen tons of cars that don't run anymore after
> the engine is cleaned.
>
> If you really want to have it done have a professional steam clean the
> engine.
>
> Steve B.

Double ditto this post.. If he doesnt know how to do it, he shouldnt.
You CAN cause a lot of problems with injudicious engine washing.
Leave this until a little later in the development of your automotive
hobbying.

On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:37:29 -0700, ron wrote:

> What I do, and have done for a long time, is when I take the rig to a
> "do-it-yourself" carwash I LIGHTLY spray under hood with the soap spray,
> ease hood down and wash car - then when I rinse, I rinse under the hood
> again fairly lightly - but then I do it several times a year so don't need
> the pressure. Need I say Toyotas stay fairly clean w/o oil leaks?


I WISH!!!! My last three have leaked like sieves!

One of them had the oil pan bolts working loose and the entire underside
of the car was oil undercoated.