Cleaning the Engine and Bay

[FiatJB]

Ok folks, so tell me your tricks for cleaning the engine and bay without removing the engine
I have an industrial steam cleaner, in the past I have used simple green, and gumout but I really want it to sparkle

so please share tips, tools, chemicals, elbow grease stories that might help

Thanks in advance

[AriK]

Hi J.B.
The first thing you gotta think about is whether you have the patience for this bcs you may invest alot of time depending how far you go. Degreaser in a spray can and/or simple green combined with some scrubbing and water will be the first step. You may want to remove some parts and sand, clean & repaint them, for example the fan shroud assembly, throttle linkages, air cleaner cover if you have one. You can always proceed to the cam covers, FI cover, you can send them to get powdercoated or you can spend several days sanding,polishing, resanding, repolishing them such as i did (lots of patience for this step, your wife and your neighbors will think you're going insane). You can decide to quit here or it can snowball from here and move on to other tiny parts in the engine bay. Caution: you may develop OCD

[majicwrench]

Oven cleaner. Will remove paint if left on very long, so I try to stay away from the paint. For painted areas you wish to save something like simple green and a brush.

[FiatJB]

I forgot about the Easyoff oven cleaner. Gosh used that was years ago, but your right it worked great too. Thanks

[81SPIDERMATT]

my biggest tip would be to break down areas of the engine bay left side right side firewall then same for the engine top left right front underneath .... by breaking it down into sections (for me) it became less overwhelming and I was able to be more detailed in my little area than if I was trying to clean the whole thing .... I spread it out over several days ... and not consecutive days either .... few hours each time and I was very happy how it came out

[MrJD]

Man, if I had a steam cleaner, I'd be ALL OVER AND UNDER my car for hours.

[wizard124]

Simple Green and an assortment of brushes and scrub pads. Cleaned up surprisingly well! I would try that steam cleaner first, then see if removal of components is still required.