How to clean engine?
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New User
Joined: Mar 2003
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How to clean engine?
Got a '93 F250 4X4, 7.5L. New to me -- just bought it used. Engine compartment is pretty clean but could use some sprucing up. What's conventional wisdom on this procedure these days? Steam-clean? Use a can of Gunk from auto-parts store and spray with garden hose or light pressure-washer? Leave it alone? Thanks!
*You mean there are other trucks besides Fords??*
*You mean there are other trucks besides Fords??*
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
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From: Bonita Springs FL
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I know it's tempting to clean it, but I've seen a lot of posts on here from guys who cleaned their engine compartments and now their truck won't start. You can get water in places it shouldn't get, you can knock electrical plugs loose, you can short things out and actually damage electronic components.
I'd just leave well enough alone.
I know it's tempting to clean it, but I've seen a lot of posts on here from guys who cleaned their engine compartments and now their truck won't start. You can get water in places it shouldn't get, you can knock electrical plugs loose, you can short things out and actually damage electronic components.
I'd just leave well enough alone.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,155
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From: Centerville, Iowa
Toothbrush, my friend. Or even better, wire brush. Or steel wool, or those little scratchies maybe...just something that you're going to be doing the scrubbing/work, not water that can damage stuff. Stick with cleaning the engine itself...and use like brake cleaner or carb or whatever your poison and just spray a little bit at a time - or else don't bother.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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I am puzzled at the caution of the above posts. I have owned about a dozen vehicles, including my current Ford F150, and have washed them all numerous times at the local car wash--first soap, then rinse. I always ensure the vehicle is at operating temperature, do the engine first, close the hood to let the heat evaporate most of the moisture while I wash the rest of the car. I try to avoid spraying directly onto the distributor, or on the oil/tranny dipstick, and hold the nozzle about two feet away )most times) to avoid dislodging anything. Only one of my dozen vehicles had any negative reaction, and that was a 1983 Ford LTD wagon that sometimes hesitated/ran rough for awhile, until everything dried out.
I think a clean engine is less likely to overheat (grime insulates) and tells the mechanic that you look after your vehicle, and he better do a good job as well.
I would not hesitate to wash the under hood stuff, using reasonable care. Just my opinion...
I think a clean engine is less likely to overheat (grime insulates) and tells the mechanic that you look after your vehicle, and he better do a good job as well.
I would not hesitate to wash the under hood stuff, using reasonable care. Just my opinion...
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 140
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From: DE
I go 4 wheeling alot with my Wrangler. I constantly power wash my engine comparment. I cover the air intake and throttle body sensor. If you have distrubutor cap, cover that too. Use Castrol cleaner or Simple Green to wet it down, and blast away. If some water get into the distributor cap, just take it out and dry with towel, and spray some WD40, you will be all set. Do not fear. 
HTH.
Later,
HTH.Later,
New User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: GA
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: 13th Colony
ditto.
Warm engine first, it will make the water dry quicker, even when it gets in the wrong place.
Warm engine first, it will make the water dry quicker, even when it gets in the wrong place.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Centerville, Iowa
I wouldn't want to be spraying water on a vehicle at operating temperature. Metal's expand and contract with temperature. Spraying a hot motor with water is goign to cause those metals to rapidly contract in some areas, and stay expanded in others. Microfractures can occur, and just overall weakening is possible. I sure hope none of you have ever tried watering an overheated engine, thats for sure.
New User
Joined: May 2003
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JUST CLEAN IT
HAVEN'T YOU HEARD"CLEANLINESS IS THE NEXT BEST THING TO GODLINESS" ? EVERYTHING WORKS BETTER WHEN ITS CLEAN. YOUR ENGINE GETS WET WHEN IT RAINS. AS LONG AS YOU DON'T SPRAY DIRECTLY ON THE DISTRIBUTOR, ECT. YOU SHOULD BE ALRIGHT. I'D RATHER WORK ON A CLEAN MOTOR THAN A DIRTY ONE. GUNK OR ANY OF THE OTHER NAME BRAND CLEANERS. JUST FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS. SOMETIMES I'M MORE HESITANT TO WORK ON MY OWN VEHICLES THAN I WOULD SOMEONE ELSES. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE DONE IT BEFORE. I USE THE GUNK AT THE CAR WASH. WORKS FINE.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: philly pa
i used the crc brand engine cleaner. i sprayed it on, let it soak in for about 10 min, then gently rinsed it off. to keep up with it enery car wash i just get the rag that i used to dry out the door jams and gas flap and i wipe the engine down.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Langhorne, PA
Do not spray:distributer, smog pump, or undercoating. Water in the distributer is bad because your truck won't start. Water in the smog pump is really bad, because it will seize up. I have taken undercoating off the chassis with gunk and high pressure water, I had to repaint and undercoat the bare metal.
Also, It is very difficult to get everything clean, I know, because I had my engine out of the truck and it was still hard to get the dirt and old oil off of harnesses, brackets and other components. My engine change took 50 hours to do: 40 hours hand cleaning parts and 10 hours assembling the engine and re-installing.
Gunk works fine, the engine should be slightly warm. Buy two or three cans, spray alot of it on quickly and let it sit for 10 minutes. Wash it off completely.
Also, It is very difficult to get everything clean, I know, because I had my engine out of the truck and it was still hard to get the dirt and old oil off of harnesses, brackets and other components. My engine change took 50 hours to do: 40 hours hand cleaning parts and 10 hours assembling the engine and re-installing.
Gunk works fine, the engine should be slightly warm. Buy two or three cans, spray alot of it on quickly and let it sit for 10 minutes. Wash it off completely.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 669
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From: Chino Valley
if your at all hesitant, do what I do to KEEP your engine clean, every time youre under the hood, take a rag, pick a spot and wipe it down. when you do this it keeps your engine in very good shape and it looks a heck of a lot more apealing to the eye.