How to: Deataling the engine bay

Honestly, this is so simple and straight forward that it doesn't even need a write up, but I'm off work today so I have too much free time. Therefore, I'm doing this write up anyways.

Here's what you'll need if you go the direction I did:
• Gunk brand engine degreaser
• A powerwasher

I don't own a powerwasher, so I drove 5 minutes down the road from my house to one of those car wash stations with powerwashers and vaccums. Great place to go if you have a dirty truck and some quarters laying around. The Gunk can be picked up at autozone for pretty cheap.

TIP: be smarter than me and remove your engine cover while doing this to get everything under it. I didn't think of that while doing this, but will next time

So on to the cleaning. If you have a cold air intake (CAI), cover the filter some how. Get creative. Then, go crazy with that spray can of Gunk. Gouge the engine bay of the odd-smelling magic in a can you bought. Then give it about 10 minutes or so to soak. If your engine is hot, don't spray a lot on your manifolds. If a little drips on hem that's perfectly OK but don't put a lot on them.

Once soaked for 10 or so minutes, dump your qaurters and hose down EVERYTHING with the powerwasher. Don't be scared. Everything in there can handle the blast and the battery won't explode or anything like that. You're going to have some extra time on the clock if you went to a DIY car wash, so use that extra time you paid for and spray the whole truck down. Make those wheels shine once again. Drive around a little bit afterwards to heat dry everything and then high five yourself. You just turned that dusty, nasty engine bay that hurts to look at into a mechanic's porn.

The can o' Gunk

Before the wash:

After the wash: (Still wet)


The stuff on my fuse box is anti-sieze. I didn't give that particular spot enough soaking time, but everything else came out great

 

Kind of an odd poll for the detailing forum isn't it?

 

Very. But i just felt like adding a poll and that was the first topic on my mind

 

Thought that too.

 

When mine isn't too dirty, i spray whatever brand tire foam cleaner stuff in there.

Then hose it off after 20 min.

Makes all the ruber stay black for a whilt

 

I always thought you had to cover the alternator. Is Gunk sago on all engine components except fro the CAI like you mentioned?

 

Safe*

 

Good question. I've used it on plenty of vehicles. Never seen it dissolve any parts.

Im sure someone will say that it can dry out rubber parts. It is a solvent.

 

When I was growing up my dad always used Gunk to clean the engines of our cars & he never covered anything except he always said to not spray it directly on certain stuff. Same when you rinse it off.

 

I avoided heavy contact with exhaust manifolds since they were super hot. Other than that, I went nuts with the stuff and nothing has corroded. Just be sure to spray thuroughly (I am aware i probably butchered that word) with the pressurised water

 

Anyone ever hand wash your engine bay? I'm talking about vehicles that are mall crawlers and don't go off road? I live in South Florida and my engine bay was pretty spotless when I bought my truck from the original owner. All I use is a damp cloth to wipe down all the dirt then use some vinylex or rubber treatment on the engine cover and hoses. Works great!

 

I usually just hose down my engine bay with indirect hose spray. I cover up the battery, alternator and MAF sensor because I'm paranoid like that. I've heard it's fine to not cover anything, just don't blast it all with the spray on full blast.

 

I just had a shop do some work and they replaced a corroded battery terminal I was going to get to but they ended up covering my entire drive side engine bay with that corrosion looks like they sprayed it off. I'm fucking anal when it comes to detailing and I prided myself in my clean engine bay. I gave it a quick wipe down before work but I been sitting here all day fuming over how they got they shit everywhere. I use 409, windex on a rag and just wipe parts down piece by piece.

 

I have a mall crawler. 14 year old truck and I will eat off the engine. (Actually I won't because it will make the engine dirty)
I also use the Gunk products that OP has used.

 

Is that a aftermarket replacement master cylinder?

 

Beautiful

 

S100 Total Cycle Cleaner is what i prefer!

 

I use S100 wax. I'll have to look for the Cleaner.

 

It's a fantastic product!Been using it on my motorcycle engines and vehicle engines for 20+yr's!

 

Just had my truck into the shop for the first time since I owned it for emergency brake work I cannot do and they made a mess of my engine bay cleaning off one of my bad battery terminals and got the blue corrosive acid everywhere. I got most of it off with water and a damp cloth. I'm so pissed my engine bay is still clean but not up to the standards I like and have seen here lol