Engine bay cleaning without cover.

[Alastor]

Has anyone cleaned it without covering anything? I don't have access to low pressure water, I have to go to a sink and the pressure is quite high.

I know what they recommend to cover, fuse box, alternator and battery, but has anyone washed without covering anything?

Thank you

[DarkPira7e]

I've never bothered covering anything, just don't get water in the intake. Let it dry out for a while before running it, or hit it with air from a compressor or at least a leaf blower

[Alastor]

Thanks dude.

More people clean without cover?

[RToyo86]

A hose, all purpose cleaner, rags, a brush is all you really need. Apply cleaner and let it dwell, rince off. Apply more cleaner then use the brush to agitate dirt and rinse off.

I cover the ecu and alternator with a rag while I spray everything down. Tap water is considered low pressure by the way. You'll be fine

[Desertnate]

Originally Posted by RToyo86

A hose, all purpose cleaner, rags, a brush is all you really need. Apply cleaner and let it dwell, rince off. Apply more cleaner then use the brush to agitate dirt and rinse off.

I cover the ecu and alternator with a rag while I spray everything down. Tap water is considered low pressure by the way. You'll be fine

This is similar to what I do.

I give the bay a quick rinse with just the hose and one of the lower power spray patterns on my nozzel (i.e. NOT the high pressure jet) to knock off the surface dirt. From there I'll spray everything down with APC, let it dwell, and then gently scrub what I can with my wheel brushes. The last step is a rinse in which I really just let the water run over every thing to rinse off the APC rather than spraying. I'll let it dry for a while with the hood open.

Once everything is dry, I'll hit the plastics and rubber bits with a trim dressing like Carpro Perl.

[Alastor]

Thank you very much to all.



I think it was misunderstood, because of the low pressure hose, the problem is that I don't have a low pressure hose since I take it to a washing box with its pressurized water, but I could fill buckets of water and drop it simply through it engine bay.



The conditioner I use is the Carpro Perl is one of the best.

[Teseo]

For dressing the engine bay, Meguairs Hyper Dressing. Spray on, walkway

[spcmafia]

You can always go to your local store and ask for plastic bags, or cover the ECU, Battery, Alternator with plastic wrap.

I've cleaned my bay about 3 times and used either Gunk 3 step products, or Simple Green diluted with water. No issues.



As long as you dont take a 5000psi hose to the bay, you're good. Garden hose is about 8psi or a little more at best. So its more than enough. Or you can use a spray bottle, fill it with water, rinse and wipe as you go. Takes more time but it is an option.

[Desertnate]

If a coin-op wash bay is your only choice, just don't shove the wand in the engine bay and blast. Stand back a distance to where the water is just showering the engine compartment and not splashing all over the place. You also have to be more careful with covering important bits like the fuse box and the ECU.

The spray bottle suggestion made me thing of something else. There are pump sprayers of various sizes you could use too. Some are hand held and available at a detailing sites, or your could try a 1~2 gallon garden pump sprayer too. Fill them with water for rinsing.

[e_lunatic]

Originally Posted by Desertnate

If a coin-op wash bay is your only choice, just don't shove the wand in the engine bay and blast. Stand back a distance to where the water is just showering the engine compartment and not splashing all over the place. You also have to be more careful with covering important bits like the fuse box and the ECU.

The spray bottle suggestion made me thing of something else. There are pump sprayers of various sizes you could use too. Some are hand held and available at a detailing sites, or your could try a 1~2 gallon garden pump sprayer too. Fill them with water for rinsing.

This.
I've had my detail guy clean my engine bay for years and i just tell them not to get up close and personal with the pressure washer. zero issues

[Alastor]

And than how to clean this covered parts? Only with a dry brush? I can't to clean with APC on this components?

[Desertnate]

You can get those areas wet, just don't blast them with a hose or power washer.

The problem isn't the outside of those cases/boxes getting wet, the issue is water getting inside them.

I'd spray them gentry with APC and then brush them or wet a towel with APC and wipe them until clean. Follow up with another towel wetted with your plastic trim product of choice.

[Alastor]

Originally Posted by Desertnate

You can get those areas wet, just don't blast them with a hose or power washer.

The problem isn't the outside of those cases/boxes getting wet, the issue is water getting inside them.

I'd spray them gentry with APC and then brush them or wet a towel with APC and wipe them until clean. Follow up with another towel wetted with your plastic trim product of choice.

Thanks!

[Matt93SE]

Cars are designed to get wet- the engine bay is open to the elements and can take splashing/ sprayed water. Just don't hit any of the computers, connectors, fuse box seams, or air filter up close with a power sprayer.

When I'm cleaning mine, I just stick a plastic bag over the air filter and then go to town with engine cleaner chemical. let it soak for a bit, then rinse off with a water hose or power sprayer from a couple feet.

When I'm done washing, I use compressed air / leaf blower to blow water out of the little holes and valleys on top of the block.

Once I'm done with that, I start the car and let it run with the A/C on high until the engine is up to operating temp. The A/C on causes the rad fans to run, which blows a ton of heat around the engine bay and dries stuff out pretty quick.