Proper way to clean an engine?

I would NOT use a steamer in the engine bay for this reason.



Vaporized water molecules are MUCH smaller and will get into all kinds of stuff vs water droplets are larger and LESS likely to find their way into fine area.



Cheers,

GREG
 
Irkie500 said:
.. do you have any suggestions for a solid steamer for under $200?
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I had a little hand-held one from Bissell that worked OK for what it was, until it sprang a leak and scalded me but good.



I would NOT use a steamer in the engine bay for ..[reasons worth mentioning]...
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I guess my steaming might oughta be in the "don't try this at home, kids!" category.



Gotta know what you're doing all right, and there are plenty of cars I'd never try it on.
 
I don't have one handy but if you ever get a BMW in and it has the owners manual in it check out the section on how to properly clean the engine bay per BMW instructions. They are very strict (and in their wording about all the cladding in the correct that powerwashing a BMW engine is just not needed) about how to do it and what it voids warrenty wise is done improperly.



I tend to be a little over the top when it comes to cars I've had little experience with or have drastically changed since last I delt with them so if they have an oweners manual I tend to thumb through it looking for sections like that just in case.
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Thanks Jakerooni. It's my car so I'll break out the owner's manual. Never thought they'd have a section on that but I'll check it out. Thanks again.
 
I was worried about cleaning my engine too, so I asked the people at my body shop while my car was in for repair after getting rear ended. They freaked out at the idea of me cleaning it. They said with Nissans, there are a lot of electrical components and that it's almost impossible to do it safely, and the times they've done it they got error codes and had to get the engine fixed. They said to just wipe it down.

That has me worried, and I followed their advice about getting it wiped down. I hate using p21s' all purpose cleaner on it because when wiping it down rather than rinsing, it's impossible to get all of the soapy residue off. When I use SC grime destroyer, it works better and there is no soapy residue. Since it's a degreaser, it might have some residue, but at least it doesn't look like suds. Just my 2 cents.
 
you could also try to use a no rinse wash, get your brush or detailing wand/brush thing, whatever you use, wet with it, go and scrub down all the areas you can get to, then come back and dry it by hand.
 
Your method sounds fine, other than I never use a pressure washer. You can push water into places that might give you temporary problems (at least on an older car), and you generally don't need all that much force.
 
Its better to be over cautious than to not be cautious at all.



I still say stay away from the pressure washers. All the ASE guys chimed in. A rain storm may get your engine wet. Put its not pushing water on the engine compartment in gallons per minute flow. and at high psi.



I use a degreaser bristle brush, and spray bottle water to clean it off. Time consuming but better than replacing a sensor or module that could have been prevented.
 
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