Cleaning & Washing Engine

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Mar 30, 2004 | 12:39 PM

Nightrain

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Joined: Sep 2003

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From: Dixie - Tennessee

Cleaning & Washing Engine

My 2.3L in my '92 Ranger is pretty dusty and there's some old grease and oil on the lower block.I really want to clean it up the best I can.Local auto-cleaners want $60+ to do it,but I'm not willing to hand out that kind of cash for something that can be done at home.I have access to a pressure washer,which has a pressure-limiter valve to decrese the pressure.It's not something that you want to blow wide-open on delicate electronics.So,I can turn it back to a 'set' amount.

The main thing that I need to know is what to cover up when performing this procedure.I figure that the coil packs and the altenator will need to be covered.Anything else?Also,what works well for removing grease and baked-on oil?

Thanks in advance.

Nightrain

Mar 30, 2004 | 01:27 PM

marcusg

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From: ontario

B4 you go ahead and start spraying water inside a qwik suggestion would be to go to your local canadian tire store or if u r in the u.s. your hardware store and see about the cleaning solution in a can i have used it in the past on a previous vehicle i once had and it was AMAZING i am talking about an engine that was FULL of dust debris and oil and muck (u get the picture) and on the back of the can it states exactly what to cover up. Even if u dont use the solution it states what to cover up..... Hint hint

Mar 30, 2004 | 05:17 PM

Lone_Ranger01

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From: St. Louis region

Cover the alt, dist., coil, dipsticks, and take it easy around them. I've learned from experience, I powerwashed my old mazda and had to have my dad pull me home. The truck sat out in the driveway for over a week before it started. I'd recommend trying the cans of foaming engine degreaser first to see if that works, I think Gunk makes some. Use the pressure washer as a last resort and cover the electronics well.

Mar 30, 2004 | 05:19 PM

marcusg

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From: ontario

thats the stuff i was mentioning "GUNK"

Mar 30, 2004 | 08:46 PM

99 ranger bob

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From: formerly Brooklyn NY now

ive always used gunk and never been unhappy with the outcome

Mar 31, 2004 | 06:55 AM

NorthPac

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From: Chico Ca

Pro pressure washing is my biz and what I would recommend is D'limonene, common name for it is Orange cleaner, Citrus Solvent. D'limonene is great stuff to clean an engine.
Go down to a janitorial place and ask for a concentrated D'limonene about 70 to 90% the kind that can be deluded with water, cost about $20.00 well worth it. Itâ€™s a degreaser. Cleans rubber real nice such as rad. hoses, tires and that leaves rubber nice and black and also acts as an aluminum brightener.
Get a garden sprayer, get the engine nice and hot, spray it on let it soak for a while, wash off, spray again brush with a long gentle bristle brush and let soak again.

Void harsh cleaners such as superclean, the harsh cleaners will dull painted surfaces and effect aluminum and other metals.
Also on the concentrated D'limonene you can put it on straight.

Mar 31, 2004 | 07:41 AM

TotallyRoosted

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Joined: Mar 2004

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From: santa clarita california

maybe im wrong

but im pretty sure you dont want your engine "HOT" and then spray cold water on it..... pretty sure you might/could warp/crack metals in the engine compartment (exhaust manifold) by dumping cold water on it freshly hot... just a thought

JOe