Black Lightning
Member
What is a good way to clean the engine compartment and engine?
How to clean Engine
- Thread starter Black Lightning
- Start date
Brian Baskin
Rikutsu-poi
Here's how I do it:
I like Simple Green and Gunk engine foam. First thing in the morning, crank the truck for until the engine gets warm to the touch, then shut it off. Use plastic bags and cover your alternator and distributer cap at least. Others like to cover their spark plug boots, and take the serpentine belt off.
Very liberally spray the engine down with whatever cleaner you have (don't let it get on your paint), let it sit for 15-20 minutes and work it's magic. Go back with a spray hose and lightly spray it down, and clean out the puddles of moisture. Then get a detailing toothbrush
and start scrubbing where it's stubborn. If it won't come off, spray it with more cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub on it before you spray it off.
When you're done, take a spray hose and spray it off good, medium pressure. Take a rag and try to collect up any pools of water/etc that collect everywhere. Take the bags off your alternator/distributer. I douse a toothbrush in hot water, then put cleaning spray on it, then scrub away at the alternator, make sure not to spill anything into it (at least not a large amount)
When done cleaning, let it sit for at least 30 minutes with the hood up, let it dry out some. Remove whatever plastic covers you have left, put the belt back on if you took it off, then crank her up. Drive it around for 20 minutes, come back, and look for more places to spot-clean.
Of course, that's a long process, and you can take shortcuts. I did a very quick hour clean this last weekend:
http://w3.cablespeed.com/~baskin/Lightning/020602/
But I don't have the luxury of a spray hose at this apartment, so I poured buckets of water on it Yes, I did.
I know a few guys that swear by using gasoline, I personally wouldn't ever
I like Simple Green and Gunk engine foam. First thing in the morning, crank the truck for until the engine gets warm to the touch, then shut it off. Use plastic bags and cover your alternator and distributer cap at least. Others like to cover their spark plug boots, and take the serpentine belt off.
Very liberally spray the engine down with whatever cleaner you have (don't let it get on your paint), let it sit for 15-20 minutes and work it's magic. Go back with a spray hose and lightly spray it down, and clean out the puddles of moisture. Then get a detailing toothbrush
and start scrubbing where it's stubborn. If it won't come off, spray it with more cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub on it before you spray it off.When you're done, take a spray hose and spray it off good, medium pressure. Take a rag and try to collect up any pools of water/etc that collect everywhere. Take the bags off your alternator/distributer. I douse a toothbrush in hot water, then put cleaning spray on it, then scrub away at the alternator, make sure not to spill anything into it (at least not a large amount
)When done cleaning, let it sit for at least 30 minutes with the hood up, let it dry out some. Remove whatever plastic covers you have left, put the belt back on if you took it off, then crank her up. Drive it around for 20 minutes, come back, and look for more places to spot-clean.
Of course, that's a long process, and you can take shortcuts. I did a very quick hour clean this last weekend:
http://w3.cablespeed.com/~baskin/Lightning/020602/
But I don't have the luxury of a spray hose at this apartment, so I poured buckets of water on it
Yes, I did.I know a few guys that swear by using gasoline, I personally wouldn't ever
blue02/blk93
Member
Gotcha' beat. No-Touch tire foam for the plastic and rubber, and Honda Pro Spray Cleaner Polish, available from your neihborhood Honda motorcycle dealer, for the painted stuff. My '93 with 211,000 miles still had the original hoses and plug wires on it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! 
I use Brian's method with Simple Green, engine cold...with this variation:
After rinsing off the SG and it's all STILL WET, spray EVERYTHING (this is why it's good to take the belt off) liberally with good ol' Armour All. Let it air dry, with a little towel help for the big spots and puddles. I promise, you'll not be disappointed!
After rinsing off the SG and it's all STILL WET, spray EVERYTHING (this is why it's good to take the belt off) liberally with good ol' Armour All. Let it air dry, with a little towel help for the big spots and puddles. I promise, you'll not be disappointed!
Last edited:
Nick Wilson
Factoryblue Engineering
DO NOT CLEAN THE ENGINE WHILE ITS WARM!!! I used foamy egine bright and it took the powder coat off of my intake. I perfer the use of an engine cleaning wand and follow that with some tire shine. Befor a show I remove everything from under the hood I can, and great it realy clean. A toothbrush and some Grease Lightning does the trick if you don't have an air sytem.
Heavy_Metal
Active member
All input is right on target IMHO. Especially the tire foam after everything is clean. Do not under estimate the power of tire foam for a show quality look! All I can add is the use of the STP brand of engine cleaner. It has all the cleaning ability, without the “offensive” odor.
I hate driving around for 2 days with the Gunk cleaner smell. I do agree that if your motor is one big ball of grease, oil, and mud, Gunk would clean a little better. However, I just can not believe a Lightning owner would let their pride and joy get to that point.
Heavy_Metal
I hate driving around for 2 days with the Gunk cleaner smell. I do agree that if your motor is one big ball of grease, oil, and mud, Gunk would clean a little better. However, I just can not believe a Lightning owner would let their pride and joy get to that point.
Heavy_Metal
94OSULightning
New member
When I wash my engine I always leave it running and just rinse it off with using low pressure water. I usually do this every time I go to the car wash and it keeps it pretty clean. Just make sure it's not hot. Also the tire foam is a great idea.. can take a while, but it looks great when you're done.
blue02/blk93
Member
The best 'trick' is to not let it get to the 'ball of grease' stage in the first place. A clean motor is a happy motor. Besides, if you develope any kind of leak, you can determine its origin much easier. And if you ever need it serviced, the technician working on it will take better care of it. Trust me on that one!
95Lightning2
Member
And for Gods sake don't hose down the speed control servo. Cruise control is nice to have on long trips and won't work if shorted out.
