What do you guys use to clean the motor compartment? I've only had my car for a month and I want to keep it clean. Water might get into the electrical...

 

soap and water. just keep it off the intake. blow dry with leaf blower if you have one. use a small brush to agitate areas with heavy build up.

 

I had a Honda CRX with an integra 1.8 ls motor transplant back in the day.

I put a bag over the air filter and hosed it off LIGHTLY with some stuff I got from pep boys.

It never ran the same after that. I think water got in where it shouldn't have.

That's what freaks me out. Funny thing is I went by the stealership last week and I saw them just spraying water right in there lol.

 

1) I use two spray bottles and fill one with soap and water the other with only water.

2) I wait until the engine is completely cold and gently spray water over the entire bay while trying to keep water off some of the electronic equipment.

3) I then follow up with the spray bottle with soap and try to let it sit for 10 minutes or so to soak in. Use a microfiber towel to gently remove some of the tougher accumulations of dirt

4) I spray it again with the water bottle filled with water only and make sure that all the soap is gone.

5) Dry the engine bay with a clean microfiber towel and enjoy your results:

 

A man did I see you at the Cerritos meet last time hahaha

 

Nah, I was getting some service done on the Z and had to flake on my own meet LOL!!

See you next Saturday if you can make it.

 

go to a self serve car wash bay they have a setting for the engine bay which is less pressure like they said cover intake and any open electrical you might have.

 

Isn't there a degreaser solution you can use also? Forgot what it was called.

 

^^Simple Green. It's great.

 

This is my method. I do not necessarily recommend that anyone use this method:

1. Rinse engine bay and underside of hood with a fine spray of water.


2. Prepare a spray bottle of 50 Mr. Clean/50 water.

3. Spray underside of hood and engine bay. Let sit for 10 minutes.






4. Agitate dirty areas with a assortment of brushes.






5. Rinse with fine water mist.



6. Dry with leaf blower.


7. Apply dressing to damp cloth, then wipe plastic engine bay parts.




Photos below at 41,000 miles.

 

+1 on the Simple Green. Cool engine, spray on the simple green, agitate built up areas like others have said, rinse. I use the tire black stuff as dressing on the plastic.

 

Check out our engine care section of our detailing guide for step by step instructions on how to properly clean the engine bay.

Greg @ DI

 

+1 DI. Just added you to my favorites!

 

Thank you for checking out the site. Our detailing guide and our Ask A Pro section provide tons of great detailing information. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask!

Greg @ DI