Best way to clean mud caked engine

[SuperSpiker]

I've never had to clean an engine before so forgive my newbness.

I've heard that it's bad to just hose down the engine as there are some parts that shouldn't get wet. If this is true what should I cover before cleaning the engine?

Is it ok to go to a self-serve car wash and use the power washer hose to clean the engine?

Thanks for the help.

 

[hepcat87]

i know its illegal to spray down your engine bay in jersey i dont know about where you live. If your gonna do any sort of cleaning under the hood you should defiantly cover the coil packs on the passenger side under the intake manifold.

 

[shuly]

I have the guy that washes my truck at the office pressure wash it every couple of months...it's never perfect but it's good enough considering it's just going to get dirty again

If you pressure wash yourself, stay away from hoses, rubber parts, and the electric boxes. That stuff will be fine if you splash it a bit, but if you soak it or hit a hose directly with the pressure washer you may have to replace something! [Don't let this scare you into not pressure washing...it is perfectly fine as long as you use some common sense.]

Some people I have heard (but I haven't tried myself) like to spray simple green parts of the engine...let it sit and then wash everything. Some say it does a better job that just a regular wash. I suppose if you really want it clean...then you could always take a weekend and a toothbrush...

But isn't it just going to get dirty all over again? I know the first rain we have the truck just drives into the puddles w/o any help from the driver...I swear it isn't me splashing the little cars!

The best thing the truck likes to do (when it can be timed correctly so it's safe and doesn't mess hurt anyone...my truck has heart,)...there are three lanes proceeding through an intersection. You are in the middle one...approaching a red light that is about to turn green and there are two vehicles in either lane (no one can be behind them...that is important...don't want them to get hit). There is a nice big 1.5' deep puddle in the intersection...just wait for the right time, well the truck does that...NEVER the driver and GUN IT! Throwing water 5 feet in the air and dousing both vehicles...mUHAHAHA

That isn't that evil is it? Well maybe...but it sure is FUN!

 

[004Gunner]

i know its illegal to spray down your engine bay in jersey

Never heard of that. How do you know?

 

[hepcat87]

i have done it. And was handed a $250 ticket from the nice officer:lmao:

 

[DewRunner]

I used to detail cars at a dealership, we would use an all purpose cleaner and a degreaser we would spray on the tires and just drench the engine and bay... then pressure wash it and it takes the dirt out real good, and then we would dry it with an air house and then spray armor all over it makes it real purty. it attracts dirt so i wouldnt recommend that last step haha. but just wash and dont center in on those vulnerable points and you'll be fine

 

[004Gunner]

i have done it. And was handed a $250 ticket from the nice officer:lmao:

Ouch! Thanks for the heads up though. I wonder if the car washes post signs saying you can't wash the engine? I'm just imagining how nice of a detail you could have got for $250

 

[01t4rnr]

go to the dollar store or walmart and get some purple power and a spray bottle. let the engine cool and wet it real good then liberally spray some non diluted purple power and let it sit about 10 min .youll be surprised at how clean it turns out after you rinse it off. i use that stuff on my 4x4 quads after days of mudriding and it does the trick

 

[ericdg16]

engine cleaner

go to the dollar store or walmart and get some purple power and a spray bottle. let the engine cool and wet it real good then liberally spray some non diluted purple power and let it sit about 10 min .youll be surprised at how clean it turns out after you rinse it off.

This works really well.

And if that isn't clean enough go to Pizza Hut and see if you can talk them out of some of their oven cleaning solution (I used to have a roomate that worked there) Spray it on.....count to 5 and spray it off; it'll look like new; just don't spray it on the paint.

 

[01goldt4r]

i read this thread earlier today and i went and bought some Greased Lightning Degreaser and sprayed it on and then let it sit for like 5 minutes then power washed the engine, it looks a thousand times better especially on the black plastic

 

[DewRunner]

good to hear 01goldt4r

 

[Mitchc4216]

now will doing any of this effect the electronics such as battery or relays or fuse's etc.?

 

[DewRunner]

we were doing it at a dealership, on brand new cars. never posed a problem with them or else they wouldnt of made us do it. i just wouldnt recommend focusing in on those places if your worried, just a quick pass and you'll be fine

 

[01goldt4r]

i would recomend trying to avoid the alternator at all costs. a couple of months ago after a day of wheeling i went and power washed it and i focused on a spot near the alternator and basically fried it. so now i either cover it with a bag or avoid and the areas around it just in case but if you cover it you will not have a problem overall it set me back about 300 total but you could pick one up at a junk yard for about 70 and put it in yourself

 

[01t4rnr]

now will doing any of this effect the electronics such as battery or relays or fuse's etc.?

i personally wouldnt use a power washer , let the degreaser do the work and carefully spray off with water hose and youll be fine. Dont focus on one spot too long

 

[scheme56]

i spray super clean (usually 1 to 3-4 parts water), scrub, then use a regular water hose sprayer to rinse. be careful not to soak anything electrical... a little water is ok. cover up the any pathways leading to the air filter. you may want to dilute the solution more if using on paint.

another detail note to add what was said earlier about armor all- after you rinse but before you thoroughly dry the engine bay, spray armor all on all plastic and rubber parts (except the electrical and moving parts). The solution will be diluted enough w/ the remaining water to spread evenly. With the engine running at idle, you should be able to burn off the excess overspray on the engine and the black plastic moldings/rubber hose should end up with a nice dark gloss. i found out that this is easier than applying armor all after you dry your engine.

 

[riverrat44]

Best way to clean mud caked engine

The best way to keep your motor clean is to stay out of mudholes in the first place. A mudcaked 4runner is a sure sign of a testosterone poisoned teenager, or guy with with a small p*nis.

Seriously, I offer this feedback as a person who's owned 2 4runners and truly appreciates a capable vehicle and exploring the backcountry. But going out and rototilling in a mudhole is about the stupidest possible use of such a rig, and about the surest way to get roads closed to 4x4 use. This applies 10x if you are anywhere near a free flowing waterway.

If you are "mudding" on private land, that is OK I guess, although I doubt there are many private landowners that want their land abused that way. If you are on public land, you are a liability to all of us who appreciate continued access to such areas.

Just sayin...

 

[DewRunner]

i usually am up a national forest and puddles stay around up there on the main trail for days after a rain storm not to mention it can go above 10,000 feet and snow is pretty common even in july, snow melts, rain comes, and a portion of the trail the national forest crew diverts you up a river bed, usually dry during the summer tho but i have seen it be 2 feet deep

 

[01t4rnr]

The best way to keep your motor clean is to stay out of mudholes in the first place. A mudcaked 4runner is a sure sign of a testosterone poisoned teenager, or guy with with a small p*nis.

Seriously, I offer this feedback as a person who's owned 2 4runners and truly appreciates a capable vehicle and exploring the backcountry. But going out and rototilling in a mudhole is about the stupidest possible use of such a rig, and about the surest way to get roads closed to 4x4 use. This applies 10x if you are anywhere near a free flowing waterway.

If you are "mudding" on private land, that is OK I guess, although I doubt there are many private landowners that want their land abused that way. If you are on public land, you are a liability to all of us who appreciate continued access to such areas.

Just sayin...

very informative :runaway: