Hi everyone. My engine area is getting dusty/dirty and want to keep it looking clean/new as much as possible. What do the dealers use to shine it up a bit. Probably a stupid thing to ask but I want to take care of my truck.

 

First off, i wouldn't directly wash the engine with a hose like we did in the old days. Something is bound to get fried. I'd use a damp to wet towel and simple green.

 

I've seen dealers clean them with hot water and a pressure washer.

Which is what I did on my work truck. Just hold it back a ways so you hit it with the fan part of the spray.

Our wash bay has enough pressure to remove paint and no harm was done.

You do have to be smart about it, though.

 

+1

Sealing and corrosion is a real struggle with electrical connectors, electronics, and harnesses, especially in the engine bay where there is a lot of petroleum products and temperature cycling. I know it looks good after dealer cleans but you really shouldn't pressure wash or use harsh cleaning chemicals.

 

I pressure wash all my engines and have my entire life... don't intentionally aim at connectors or into the alternator. All connections are weatherpack sealed. People always tried telling me I would ruin my truck doing this and I always just laughed. Take my old 05 Sierra... after 10 years and 150000 miles I finally got a rear knock sensor code most guys get in half that time and mileage. When I swapped them the rear was a bit rusty but the front was still as new... they sit in a well on the valley cover between the heads and always collect moisture. Funny how any friends i had that never washed their engines all got them in less years and miles.... the point is me washing made no difference. I have always washed that trucks engine plus the dozens i have owned otherwise and it's fine but just don't be stupid about it. Trust me... the dealers make them look new by adding that shine.. after they pressure wash off the years of slime and neglect.

 

Yep -- I wash my warm (but not hot!) engines periodically, and have done so for years. Never had an electrical problem that I know of that was a result of this. As has been said, be smart about it. I wet it with the hose without any nozzle to rinse off all the loose stuff, spray it down with Simple Green (after removing the cover), let soak for a bit, then use the hose again to rinse. I then drive it until it reaches normal operating temp to make sure any water is blown/evaporated off.

 

I still use a garden hose and simple green. Then let it air dry.

 

There are a couple of products available at your local parts store where you spray it on and rinse it off with a garden hose. It looks good.
I disconnect my negative battery terminal just to be safe.

 

Hum... I've been spraying mine down every 3 months or so at the carwash. It sounds like that may be a poor idea tho (after reading some posts in this thread). I try not to spray at the electrical components. Not sure if I should continue that now...

 

• garden hose on low flow.
• mixture of water and DAWN dish soap in a spray bottle.
• mineral spirits in a spray bottle for subborn, build-ups.
• an assortment of various sized paint brushes.
• rinse with a garden hose on low flow.
• blow-dry with compressed air.

I know several people use it and it's been mentioned a couple of times in this thread, however, I would NEVER use Simple Green to clean the engine bay. REASON: A lot of aluminum components in the engine bay.

Excerpted from the Simple Green web site FAQ ...

 

There is a few formulas of the Simple Green that are Aluminum safe. This is what I use for engines:

Extreme Simple Green Motorsports Cleaner & Deg

 

S100 Total Cycle cleaner and a hose. Spray cool dry engine with cleaner, let stand a few minutes and hose off till the bubbles stop forming. Stubborn stains get wiped with a rag or a soft brush. Compressed air and towel dry.

And Ford should be ashamed of themselves for not installing proper splash guards in the 5.0 engine bay....