If you've seen many of my posts, you will realize I'm a rookie.
Can I get my engine wet when cleaning it? What products would you recommend for cleaning the engine area?
Thanks for your opinions.
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If you've seen many of my posts, you will realize I'm a rookie.
Can I get my engine wet when cleaning it? What products would you recommend for cleaning the engine area?
Thanks for your opinions.
Can I get my engine wet when cleaning it? What products would you recommend for cleaning the engine area?
Thanks for your opinions.
Thomas,
I suggest any engine cleaning should be performed when the engine is not HOT! You DON"T WANT to spray liquids on a HOT ENGINE.
Unless your engine is a "Lump of Grease"; you shoudn't have to do much cleaning.
Anyway; "Engine Gunk" or any other water soluable degreaser would do the job.
Just keep any Liquids away from the air cleaners, distributor & ignition coil.
Once you have the engine degreased/cleaned routine "wiping down" usually does the trick.
If you decide to "Gunk" the Engine and after washing the engine down and it doesn't start you may consider the following:
Pull the distributor cap and if there is moisture inside the distributor cap, if so - wipe the cap dry. This usually does the trick.
As for cleaning the carbs, either protect the air cleaners or keep the water from the air cleaners. You can cover them with shop rags or plastic bags or just control the water when spraying off the engine.
I usually use spray carb cleaner, let the carb set a little while and then spray them clean with compressed air/wipe them off.
If you keep the car & engine lean; clean-up is minimal when you feel its time to do it.
Jack
I suggest any engine cleaning should be performed when the engine is not HOT! You DON"T WANT to spray liquids on a HOT ENGINE.
Unless your engine is a "Lump of Grease"; you shoudn't have to do much cleaning.
Anyway; "Engine Gunk" or any other water soluable degreaser would do the job.
Just keep any Liquids away from the air cleaners, distributor & ignition coil.
Once you have the engine degreased/cleaned routine "wiping down" usually does the trick.
If you decide to "Gunk" the Engine and after washing the engine down and it doesn't start you may consider the following:
Pull the distributor cap and if there is moisture inside the distributor cap, if so - wipe the cap dry. This usually does the trick.
As for cleaning the carbs, either protect the air cleaners or keep the water from the air cleaners. You can cover them with shop rags or plastic bags or just control the water when spraying off the engine.
I usually use spray carb cleaner, let the carb set a little while and then spray them clean with compressed air/wipe them off.
If you keep the car & engine lean; clean-up is minimal when you feel its time to do it.
Jack
I'd like to add to Jack's comment that the cleaner you keep your engine the better it dissipates heat. Caked on grease is a great insulator.
Simple Green works great on cleaning an engine. Biodegradeable as well.
Over here we have a cleaner/degreaser that's biodegradable, has carnauba wax and smells like lemon. It's called Doctor Mec
Thanks!
And if you want to clean what is UNDER the cooling tin: get a small pull-trigger type spray bottle. Fill with a mix of Dawn dish washing liquid and water. Shake well. Start engine. Spray the mixture directly into the cooling fan (now you see the neeed for a small container). Watch your fingers. Do this frequently and do this often if you have a problem. If you do this BEFORE you take a drive, it all flushes out and drys off nicely. If it is really dirty, you can actually see the dirt floating out under the tin.
I've also done this on warm engines with no ill effect, due no doubt to the small amount of water you are actually injecting with each trigger pull. It's total fin-flush baby!
I've also done this on warm engines with no ill effect, due no doubt to the small amount of water you are actually injecting with each trigger pull. It's total fin-flush baby!