Cleaning/Degreasing the engine bay?

[alexb]

What's the best/safest way to go about cleaning and degreasing the engine bay? I bought a can of some engine degreaser spray at autozone last week and sprayed it down and rinsed everything with the hose carefully (made sure to cover intake and not directly spray any electriconics). It worked OK, but didn't get the really heavy build up and gunk.

Then I went wheeling this week and just about everything under the hood is covered in mud. Is it safe to use the degreasers at the hand held car wash places? Or what are some other methods and products everyone uses?

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Soak it with degreaser, let the degreaser sit for about 10-15 minutes and then use the pressure washer at the hand held car wash. Just be careful around the electronics, plugs, etc.

 

[Hatteras-surfer]

What's the best/safest way to go about cleaning and degreasing the engine bay? I bought a can of some engine degreaser spray at autozone last week and sprayed it down and rinsed everything with the hose carefully (made sure to cover intake and not directly spray any electriconics). It worked OK, but didn't get the really heavy build up and gunk.

Then I went wheeling this week and just about everything under the hood is covered in mud. Is it safe to use the degreasers at the hand held car wash places? Or what are some other methods and products everyone uses?

You want some of this - Walmart.com: SuperClean Tough Task Cleaner-Degreaser, 2.5 gal: Household Essentials
At my local Walmart it sells for 7 bucs.
Apply some to engine let stand for 10 - 15 min then home garden hose clean beware of coil packs

 

[RunninInGA]

And obvious things like battery, alternator, etc.

 

[Hatteras-surfer]

And obvious things like battery, alternator, etc.

yeah all that good stuff too.

Coil packs got my attention in my last clean session.
I sprayed a little to hard in that area lots of water got into spark plug cylinders causing all kinds of chaos.