What do y’all do to clean your engine bay?

[davidg4781]

I noticed mine is pretty dusty. Do you just rinse it with a garden hose? Clean water from the car wash?

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[KidWiff]

I noticed mine is pretty dusty. Do you just rinse it with a garden hose? Clean water from the car wash?

Great question, wondering the same myself. Do people stop take their cars in to a detailer to have their engine bays steam cleaned? I never did that and heard mixed opinions on that process… “back in the day”.

 

[davidg4781]

I opened the hood during the washing process (I've been going to a coin operated, self serve, pressure washer type car wash but using my own soap, sponges, etc.) and saw it was pretty dirty around the bottom edge.

I washed it on very low pressure around the edges, just to get the dust off.

With my old Escort ZX2, I would just spray it down with some engine degreaser and then hose it off at home. Same with my Accord but I could never get clean the caked on mud that was deep in there.

 

[Mark S.]

S100 motorcycle cleaner. You spray it on, let it soak, then rinse. Works well for me.

 

[Mark S.]

side topic.. do you know if S100 is a degreaser? And any opinion if safe to use on a bicycle on the chain, front sprocket and rear gears?

https://www.s100.com/portfolio/s100-total-cycle-cleaner/

 

[KidWiff]

I noticed mine is pretty dusty. Do you just rinse it with a garden hose? Clean water from the car wash?

Great question, wondering the same myself. Gone are the days when our fathers took their cars down to have their engine bays steam cleaned!

 

[wireman]

I bought my 2021 Badlands used in January. The dealer did an ok job of cleaning the engine bay.

I did my own detailing when I got it home. I guess I'm more particular than most owners when it comes to keeping my vehicles cleaned and detailed. It helps to be in this climate with minimal rain and no winter conditions.

I hose the engine bay with low pressure water after hand washing with soap and water in a bucket.

Then I use low pressure air from my air compressor to blow off all the residual water from the engine bay, under the cover and area's that I can't reach.

I use my Griot's detailer on all the plastic and the engine cover to keep it looking new.

I use a small California duster on occasion to get the dust off and every few months just hose it down and repeat the process above.

 

[kshaw]

The S100 looks like a good product to try. I was thinking of using the Muck Off cleaner that I use on the chain of my bicycle. It is biodegradable and you just hose off. Airplane mechanics are required to clean an aircraft engine as part of the annual inspection. I have seen some use mineral spirits and spray on with an engine wand. That does a good job as well. I made the mistake of using Gunk engine degreaser once and it removed the engine paint, so avoid that..

 

[Flash]

I'm probably the only one but in all the years I've owned cars and driven them, I've never cleaned an engine or engine compartment.

 

[rocks]

Dust off where I can and follow up with Protectant 303 on hoses and plastic/vinyl parts.

 

[Meanderthal]

I'm probably the only one but in all the years I've owned cars and driven them, I've never cleaned an engine or engine compartment.

Your mechanics love you for it!

 

[Escape2Bronco]

I'm probably the only one but in all the years I've owned cars and driven them, I've never cleaned an engine or engine compartment.

I’m completely with you. But then, I rarely clean the outside minus the rain. They are so well protected from underneath, they rarely get dirty. I’m also not one that hits every mud puddle because I have a 4 x 4. I gave my 16 year old Escape to my stepson. The engine compartment looked like a 16 year old engine compartment. No more, no less. I guess I need less hobbies.

 

[TCBSport]

I bought my 2021 Badlands used in January. The dealer did an ok job of cleaning the engine bay.

I did my own detailing when I got it home. I guess I'm more particular than most owners when it comes to keeping my vehicles cleaned and detailed. It helps to be in this climate with minimal rain and no winter conditions.

I hose the engine bay with low pressure water after hand washing with soap and water in a bucket.

Then I use low pressure air from my air compressor to blow off all the residual water from the engine bay, under the cover and area's that I can't reach.

I use my Griot's detailer on all the plastic and the engine cover to keep it looking new.

I use a small California duster on occasion to get the dust off and every few months just hose it down and repeat the process above.

+++on Griots I use their products for all my cleaning, polishing, and waxing needs.

 

[mrdale14424]

I noticed mine is pretty dusty. Do you just rinse it with a garden hose? Clean water from the car wash?

With a Warm, not hot engine, I spray "Simple Green" on the entire engine compartment, wait a few minutes after brushing with a soft long handled brush and rinse with low pressure garden hose. Blow off with shop vac exhaust flow, finish spots with a towel and go for a drive.

Esay-peasy.

 

[wireman]

The S100 looks like a good product to try. I was thinking of using the Muck Off cleaner that I use on the chain of my bicycle. It is biodegradable and you just hose off. Airplane mechanics are required to clean an aircraft engine as part of the annual inspection. I have seen some use mineral spirits and spray on with an engine wand. That does a good job as well. I made the mistake of using Gunk engine degreaser once and it removed the engine paint, so avoid that..

Unless your engine bay is a mess, I see no reason why just soap & water wouldn't work.

Dust off where I can and follow up with Protectant 303 on hoses and plastic/vinyl parts.

303 is good stuff. Great for tires also.

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