Hey I was just wondering how you guys keep your engine clean? as my L's engine is starting to get pretty dusty this time of year - is there anything I need to watch out for before I do and what products are the best to use on it?

 

A pressure washer on its highest setting is the only way to go, and the only proper way to clean the engine bay.



































Ok, ok...so I'm a kidder!

Don't use a pressure washer. Heck, you really shouldn't even use a garden hose, just a wet rag, but I've been known to be a "bad boy" and wash my engine bay from time to time with a small stream of water from my garden hose. But I'm reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel careful not to get it anywhere near the COP's, the alternator, or any part of the wiring harness where it connects to something. As you can see, that doesn't leave a lot of area's to really safely use a hose, hence the "don't pressure wash or use a garden hose" warning!

I like using CD-2 engine cleaner/degreaser and detailer, but they don't make it anymore. All they have now is the CD-2 detailer.

Some guys use Simple Green.

Using a wet rag and thoroughly wiping/washing the engine down, then using a good spray detailer like CD-2 Engine Detailer will do wonders for ya.

Stewart

 

DO NOT use a pressure washer. As mentioned before, bad idea.

If you have an open element air filter cover it up with an HEB bag.

I use simple green and a garden hose. I have use Gunk engine degreaser a few times over the years if its really dirty. You would be fine with simple green and the hose. I haven't seen what yours looks like it might clean up nice with just a light rinse. It works good is you have an adjustable hose "gun" attachment that will allow you to fan the spray then its not high pressure at all. Whatever you do, don't go to the car wash and do it unless your engine is given plenty of time to cool down. If you do this I wouldn't use the degreaser there it can hurt the paint on your fenders and bumper etc. Its not likely but I have seen it happen. You can go this route and just use the higher pressure rinse and hold the gun away from the engine not letting it get too close.

That CD2 detailer makes the engine bay look very nice, but everything is greasy or oily and hard to work on. I used it once, needless to say that I used simple green and rinsed it all off. Thats about all I have to say.

 

Simple green at oil change time, the engine on a street driven truck is usually not too dirty in the 3000-5000 mile interval ranges.

 

haha when i was 14 i worked weekends at a local car detailing shop. First thing we did before bringing the vehicle into the shop to clean the interior was wash the car outside. and while i was washing the exterior of the car the owner of the company would be cleaning the engine with a pressure washer...that was always on full blast. we never had a problem though...that i was aware of.

 

You can't use engine cleaning techniques for other engines (pressure washer, etc.) on modern Ford engines. The COPs can be very sensitive to water. Water directly on the COPs can cause them to fail and water in the spark plug holes can evaporate into the COPs either immediately or at a later date causing them to fail.