Cleaning a filthy engine

max · 08-06-2006, 04:20 PM

My NA 3.9 MPFI engine is filthy and crusted up with oil, sludge (on the outside, I do keep oil/filter/coolant in good order).

I need to change the rocker cover gasket but would like to clean up before I pull the cover off. I am told that if I give it the steam-clean treatment, I might frig the coil, alternator, distributor and other computerised components. Is this a fact? Any suggestions from experience? Thanks.

dansedgli · 08-06-2006, 04:21 PM

Spray degreaser all over it and use a high pressure hose. Cover up the dizzy with a bag and it will be fine.

347_XR8 · 08-06-2006, 04:23 PM

By the sounds of it, i'd make it ALOT of degreaser

**Polyal** · 08-06-2006, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dansedgli

Spray degreaser all over it and use a high pressure hose. Cover up the dizzy with a bag and it will be fine.

yeap thats the best way...something car lovers is actually good for!

[Tonko] · 08-06-2006, 04:24 PM

dammit, you 3 beat me to it, :jab: i concur with what has been said

dansedgli · 08-06-2006, 04:25 PM

Get the stuff that isnt in an aerosol can, its heaps stronger.

They come in like a 4 litre bottle for $10 or so.

Pour it into a spray bottle and go nuts. Dont get it in your eyes.

Let it soak then hose it all off.

Fairlane · 08-06-2006, 04:59 PM

Degreaser, cloth/rag to give it a bit of soften up and then let fly with hose.

Then I usually wait for it to dry a little and detail it before you get weird white marks and spray the belts with some silicon spray to stop squeking.

*Done it many times to many cars and am yet to have a problem

PH47 · 08-06-2006, 05:01 PM

Anything apart from the dizzy need to be covered? I was always curious about how exactly to clean up the engine bay.

max · 08-06-2006, 05:02 PM

So this incredible amount of solvent followed by torrents of high pressure water won't stuff the electronics?

dansedgli · 08-06-2006, 05:04 PM

Nope. Keep the car running if your concerned but the only thing that may happen is the dizzy gets wets and you car runs crappy until it dries out.

Dont intentionally soak the electrics just in case but it should be okay.

I drown my 4wd all the time and other than the dizzy there is no issue with water.

ltd · 08-06-2006, 05:05 PM

good idea to cover up the alternator on the newer models too. Sometimes water can get in there and short out the rectifier. Had that happen on an AU2 after detailing, alt basically wouldn't charge after restart.

max · 08-06-2006, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltd

good idea to cover up the alternator on the newer models too. Sometimes water can get in there and short out the rectifier. Had that happen on an AU2 after detailing, alt basically wouldn't charge after restart.

No, well this is the old banger, my AU still doesn't require a clean (actually amazing how clean and oil leak-free it is) considering its clocked up the ol' 100K. OK folks I'll give it a go.....

gozza · 08-06-2006, 06:57 PM

i always worried about the dizzy but decided she should be sweet(on an eb)

went nuts with degreaser then hosed it off....let it dry for a good 3-4 hours and she started perfectly

Dezza · 08-06-2006, 07:19 PM

I've degreased my engine using the bag over the distributor method and it came up a treat. Started perfectly. I had it professionally steam cleaned last week though, just so they could trace my major oil leak (it ended up being the head gasket). Here's the improvement. Just ignore the paint peeling off the rocker cover. The colour of my air filter snorkel looks a bit weird too. Maybe I should get around to getting an XH one.

Scruba · 08-06-2006, 07:22 PM

out: Use Simple Green

16wantsI6 · 08-06-2006, 10:49 PM

i was looking at the first picture and thought that was the end result, but now i look at the one underneathe it came up a treat!

**Stav** · 08-06-2006, 10:52 PM

Just check if your brake booster is plastic first!!

If so put a big bag over it.The degreaser is highly likely to destroy your brake booster diaphram

Dezza · 08-06-2006, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16wantsI6

i was looking at the first picture and thought that was the end result, but now i look at the one underneathe it came up a treat!

That would have certainly been depressing if the end result was like that first pic! It was looking pretty bad. That second photo was taken last Saturday so the engine is looking awesome at the moment.

ronwest · 09-06-2006, 12:01 AM

I learned my engine cleaning lesson a few years ago.

A week or so after pressure cleaning the engine, the auto went into "limp home" mode. Took it around to the gearbox guy... "yep, needs major overhaul".

$2500 later, as good as gold.

On a trip to Sydney a month or so later the bloody thing went into "limp home" mode again.

Limped into Tamworth and finally found someone who would look at it on a Saturday arvo. I explained the situation re rebuild etc, and as luck would have it he noticed that the engine bay had been cleaned.

Then he started looking at electrical connectors. It was the second connector that he checked which had caused the prob. A bit of a scrape clean with a small screwdriver and a spray with contact cleaner and away we went.
He didn't charge us either...

I'm not certain that the guy who "rebuilt" the auto ripped me off but I sure don't like coincidences.

In any event, if I clean the engine bay, I always go over any electrical connectors with WD40 and then contact cleaner.

MRJUCY · 09-06-2006, 09:58 AM

Don't use degreaser it's highly caustic stuff, go for something like Auto Glym Engine & Machine Cleaner.
Most engines you'll be fine with a high pressure wash hose if you keep it moving & cover anything that may be a concern, if I'm really worried about something I use a pump sprayer with water in it just enough to wet the surface & clean it up with an old rag.

max · 09-06-2006, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ea_silver_ghia

I've degreased my engine using the bag over the distributor method and it came up a treat. Started perfectly. I had it professionally steam cleaned last week though, just so they could trace my major oil leak (it ended up being the head gasket). Here's the improvement. Just ignore the paint peeling off the rocker cover. The colour of my air filter snorkel looks a bit weird too. Maybe I should get around to getting an XH one.

Gee that came up good. I think I'll go to a pro. They know the ins and outs.
Surely won't cost more than $50-60.

gozza · 09-06-2006, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronwest

I learned my engine cleaning lesson a few years ago.

A week or so after pressure cleaning the engine, the auto went into "limp home" mode. Took it around to the gearbox guy... "yep, needs major overhaul".

$2500 later, as good as gold.

On a trip to Sydney a month or so later the bloody thing went into "limp home" mode again.

Limped into Tamworth and finally found someone who would look at it on a Saturday arvo. I explained the situation re rebuild etc, and as luck would have it he noticed that the engine bay had been cleaned.

Then he started looking at electrical connectors. It was the second connector that he checked which had caused the prob. A bit of a scrape clean with a small screwdriver and a spray with contact cleaner and away we went.
He didn't charge us either...

I'm not certain that the guy who "rebuilt" the auto ripped me off but I sure don't like coincidences.

In any event, if I clean the engine bay, I always go over any electrical connectors with WD40 and then contact cleaner.

yeah i forgot to add to my post...if your going to spray water on eveything get some water dispersant....wd40's good...i have some stuff in a green can.......spray it everywhere an it will dry with no residue