Washing the engine

[Lancer]

How does everyone keep their engine compartment clean? And how do you get all the dead bug goo off of the radiator without damaging it?

[d_m_kolb]

I do one of 2 things when cleaning my engine compartment. To clean the engine I'll get a spray bottle and fill it with diesel fuel. Yes I said diesel fuel. Before you all freak out this is what we used to clean all the machinery on board the Coast Guard Cutter I was stationed on. It's also very good for the belts and hoses since it keeps them conditioned and from cracking. It's a excellent degreaser and it's very cheap. Spray it on and wipe off. Or spray it on and spray it off with water. You'll notice it displaces water just like WD40 does. It leaves everything clean and shiny.Please make sure the engine is cool to the touch. Don't be a fool and do this on a hot engine. You can also take your car to a high pressure car wash and clean the engine compartment that way but I never seem to get everything as clean as when I use the diesel. The manual car washes are great for blowing out anything that maybe stuck in your radiator.

[old man winter]

Wow.........never would have thought of that. Where do you clean your car?.If I did this on a lockstone drive some drips may stain or remove the sealer. What about a paved drive.....will the diesel eat it away. I just use car wash soap and water. For grease I use "spray 9" or something like that from Canadian Tire.

[DVDvibe]

Diesel is a great way to clean it, if you go get something like engine goo, if you look at what is in it, you will find that it is just diesel mainly. And you can really tell by the smell. I have used diesel for a while now and d_m_kolb is right, it is about the best thing out there to use.

[old man winter]

mmmmmm I like the smell of diesel, when I worked underground all the mine equipment uses diesel. The most common underground explosive used is fertilizer and diesel. booom.

[Flip-Side]

Diesel does clean good, but make sure you are in a private area when you clean your engine with any solvents. I use to use engine degreaser at the spray and wash and got fined for pollution from the run-off there was. Oh, and make sure you put plastic bags or even Plastic Wrap on all electrical stuff like alternator, battery, fuse boxes, and the like. Yeah, they are made to take some water abuse, but only minor splashes.

[d_m_kolb]

I haven't personally ever run into any problems blasting my engine area down with high pressure water either from a hose or from the coin wash. I never cover anything up if I do end up washing the engine this way.

[baltimore17]

After washing my present car (Vibe on order), I dry off the outside with terry towels. Then I have damp towels that do a pretty fair job wiping the dust and dirt off the stuff in the engine bay (and, earlier, the dashboard and door jams and hatch frame). I had an 82 Trans Am whose windshield wiper electrics would short out just from washing the outside of the car ("Daddy, why are that man's wipers running on a sunny day?"). So, I've never been enthusiastic about getting water under the hood. The diesel sounds like a good degreaser once the seals start to go and the oil starts leaking, but I'd worry about the residue picking up dust and making an oily film ten years before the engine does it for you.