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6.0L Power Stroke Diesel 2003 - 2007 F250, F350 pickup and F350+ Cab Chassis, 2003 - 2005 Excursion and 2003 - 2009 van

Engine cleaning.

Old Feb 6, 2015 | 09:15 AM
  #1  
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Engine cleaning.

So I am getting ready to wipe things down under the hood. What do you all do or recommend? I doubt I am going to flow any water on it. But wanted to see how the group did it.
 
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Old Feb 6, 2015 | 10:03 AM
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I wash mine in the warmer months so I lay my black hose in the sun to get some free hot water.
Then I cover the FICM and alternator with plastic shopping bags.
Then I spray simple green or Gunk engine degreaser everywhere and let it sit.

Then spray down with the warm water using a household spray attachment on the hose but I don't blast anything.

Then remove the bags and run the engine to dry it.

I've never had a problem doing this for years on a few vehicles.

Member "Nice Work Truck" has one of the best kept engine bays I've ever seen. Maybe he will chime in.
 
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Old Feb 6, 2015 | 12:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Piolet
I wash mine in the warmer months so I lay my black hose in the sun to get some free hot water.
Then I cover the FICM and alternator with plastic shopping bags.
Then I spray simple green or Gunk engine degreaser everywhere and let it sit.

Then spray down with the warm water using a household spray attachment on the hose but I don't blast anything.

Then remove the bags and run the engine to dry it.

I've never had a problem doing this for years on a few vehicles.

Member "Nice Work Truck" has one of the best kept engine bays I've ever seen. Maybe he will chime in.
That's basically how I do it too.

Except I don't cover the FICM, maybe I should do that

Simple green works awesome as long as you use the full concentrace and let it sit. Speaking of engine cleaning, I'm long overdue, my engine is getting a little dirty for my tastes.
 
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Old Feb 6, 2015 | 01:25 PM
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Love this topic, I use to do my V10 with gunk and water hose. I've never had any issues, but I'm prettified of doing the 6.0...
 
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Old Feb 6, 2015 | 06:37 PM
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Originally Posted by LivingLarge
Love this topic, I use to do my V10 with gunk and water hose. I've never had any issues, but I'm prettified of doing the 6.0...
I'm sure those folks at the car wash you go to wouldn't mind cleaning it for you.
 
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Old Feb 6, 2015 | 06:53 PM
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Most of the time Wd40 and lots of wiping. Maybe once a year or longer, Gunk or similar. If it gets real muddy or dirty I will spray the front suspension and crossmember areas and the underside of the hood with the power washer (medium nozzle). I used to use it on the whole engine and just avoid the alternator and areas with a lot of wiring, but I did get some water in a connector or two so I quit doing that.
 
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Old Feb 6, 2015 | 07:17 PM
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Off topic - why do you guys have a silver and gold 'Club FTE" image up by your user name?
 
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Old Feb 6, 2015 | 07:26 PM
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We're not allowed to say.




JK, I have no idea why there are two.
 
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Old Feb 6, 2015 | 08:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Toreador_Diesel
I'm sure those folks at the car wash you go to wouldn't mind cleaning it for you.
They won't touch it, plus I would feel better doing that job myself.
 
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Old Feb 6, 2015 | 08:41 PM
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I power wash the 6.0 engines no worries. Do it with the engine running and avoid aiming at the FICM.

I use furniture polish to really brighten up the "black" work; hoses, wiring, plastics, etc.

Josh
 
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Old Feb 6, 2015 | 09:51 PM
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Originally Posted by LivingLarge
They won't touch it, plus I would feel better doing that job myself.
Yeah me too....

I once took the '01 to a car wash to have it detailed and forgot one of the rear quarter panels open. They couldn't figure out how to close it so they started pressing on the glass with their hand. I saw what was going on, ran over, and closed the window before they broke it.
 
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Old Feb 6, 2015 | 09:56 PM
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I spray mine with Simple Green Concentrate and use the garden hose spray nozzle without covering anything. I do this at every wash without any problems on my 6.0 and my Ranger 3.0. The other 3.0 engines with recessed plugs and individual coil packs are a different animal.
 
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Old Feb 7, 2015 | 05:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Piolet
Off topic - why do you guys have a silver and gold 'Club FTE" image up by your user name?
Paid subscriptions, 1yr is supporter and 3 yr is club fte. :-)
Lifetime membership to become a moderator. Hehehehe
 
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Old Feb 7, 2015 | 07:41 AM
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Originally Posted by Misky6.0
Paid subscriptions, 1yr is supporter and 3 yr is club fte. :-)
Lifetime membership to become a moderator. Hehehehe
Yeah I got the 3yr subscription but my user page says I can identify myself as a silver member?
 
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Old Feb 7, 2015 | 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Piolet
I wash mine in the warmer months so I lay my black hose in the sun to get some free hot water.
Then I cover the FICM and alternator with plastic shopping bags.
Then I spray simple green or Gunk engine degreaser everywhere and let it sit.

Then spray down with the warm water using a household spray attachment on the hose but I don't blast anything.

Then remove the bags and run the engine to dry it.

I've never had a problem doing this for years on a few vehicles.

Member "Nice Work Truck" has one of the best kept engine bays I've ever seen. Maybe he will chime in.

Thanks Piolet

I cover the alt and air filter.
I just spray it down with simple green, hose it down with low pressure hose and then drive her till dry.
When it is dry I spray it with a 50/50mix of Adams Polishes VRT and water.



Not bad for almost 100k on it.
 
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