what is good product for cleaning engine, compartment, decklid underside

last time i used foam spray, rinse with water, what a disaster even though i tried to cover dizzy with saran wrap.

I would think a good detailing spray and shop towels, assuming it's not too nasty in there. That's how I do it, but my engine compartment is not a showplace.

Ziploc bags on the air cleaners, and bag the dizzy if you have one. Then wet it down a little with a mist of water. Use your favorite degreaser, whether it be Gunk, Simple Green, or in my case MCS cleaner. We have this at work and it works well. Let it soak about 15 minutes. Use a nylon brush to get the heavy gunk off, if needed. Lightly mist/rinse it off. You get in trouble if you use a strong, direct spray.

Start it up IMMEDIATELY, and get it warm enough that the water evaporates off everything. Remove the bags first dummy! Then remove any water spots and polish anything you want real shiny. Done.

What Danny said. Simple Green (if you're out of MCS like me),lots of rags and an old tooth brush or two. Patience and NO powerwasher.

Bob, after you get it cleaned up you can maintain it by just using the disposable wet wipes you wipe your arse with. They work great. Do it every 2-3 weeks and it will sparkle. My engine always looked great and it smelled nice too!

Griot's Engine Cleaner. Great stuff!

for what its worth i did a search of simple green and they have a product just for automotive:
http://www.simplegreen.com/products_extreme_motor.php

Marty, I forgot about that! I used to use them on my mountain bike all the time: Baby wipes rule!

You wipe your arse with wet wipes? Huh?

For kids when they were little, but now we use them to wipe stuff down; there are very effective.

The baby's arse, Mike! Hey Al, I'll try to make you up a care package of Ma Bell the next time I hit the Cape...

Something else for the Baby's arse :) My brother has an 18 mos old and I was ROFL when he said something about using Boudreaux's Butt Paste for diaper rash. I could just see a couple of cajuns mixing up some catfish stink bait, and one of them looks at the by-products and says "Boudreaux, that looks like butt paste right there" A new product is born! Might put a nice shine on the rubber parts :) http://www.buttpaste.com/BLButtPaste.php

i used this product when i was into motorcycles, might even work on those hot days sitting on vinyl in speedie..
http://www.antimonkeybutt.com/

Why not go all the way...
http://www.bagbalm.com/saying.htm

what a small world. i use this stuff on my heels to keep them soft since i go barefoot most of time and my heels get leathery.
couldnt find it in drug stores but all the feed stores have it, great product. good for those cuts/cracks u get in winter on ur hands that never heal.