Anyone have any tips on methods and products for cleaning the engine compartment?

 

Step by Step Guide to Engine Detailing

ABSOLUTELY REMEMBER THIS TIP!!!!!
Do not wash the engine unless it is cool.

Preparation

Cover/wrap any electrical component that might get wet while washing with a plastic bag (grocery bag) or saran wrap. Parts to cover include the distributor, alternator, fuse box (optional) and any exposed wiring connectors.

Rinsing
In My opinion, a pressure washer is not needed and will only cause you grief. Using the garden hose, rinse the engine bay using low pressure. Just give a quick rinse of the engine bay, not blasting it, and keeping away from the areas of concern you previously covered. Go over each area of the engine and do not let the water run over the same spot for an extended amount of time. The goal is to just wet the area, and rinse any lose debris off.

Cleaning
Use a good all purpose cleaner such as Duragloss APC or Meguiars APC. Simple Green can be used, but it has been reported to etch aluminum....I haven’t seen this happen myself, but others have reported it so be careful.

Spray your favourite APC throughout the engine bay. Let the APC dwell for a few minutes and it will start to break down the oil & grease on its own. Next, grab some various brushes and sponges, (detail brushes, Daytona wheel brushes, tooth brushes etc.) and give the engine a good scrub. Easily accessible areas can be cleaned with the sponge. (underside of the hood, valve cover, exposed paint, etc.) The harder to reach and dirtier areas are what the brush is for. It's fine to spray on a little more APC on areas that you need to while scrubbing.

Rinsing
After you have finished scrubbing and the engine is degreased, rinse the engine bay, using low pressure and let the water run over the engine. You can do more scrubbing with the brushes, and even add a bit more APC to areas that you've missed or need a bit more work. Rinse thoroughly.

Drying
Do not air dry the engine. Using some old MF towels, hand dry each part of the engine bay you can reach. Also some compressed air works good here. Just be mindful not blow the water into unwanted electrical areas. . Unwrap the electrical components and use one of the more damp towels to wipe them down. Then dry them with another dry towel.

Plastic & Hose Detail
To dress and protect the engine and hoses and other under-the-hood plastic , look to use Sonus Trim and Motor Kote, or another top quality product such as Meguiar's vinyl & rubber dressing or 303 aerospace protectant. I personally like the Sonus product because it has never attracted any dust or dirt.

If working with any product except the sonus product, spray the dressing directly onto the towel and then wipe down the hoses and other plastic. The sonus product works a bit differently.

Let the dressing dry before driving, and I suggest leaving the hood open in the driveway in the sun for a couple of hours to ensure it is dry.

Here are a couple pics of the last engine i did with some products listed above.

 

No big disagreement with the list posted, except that Ford is absolutely adamant that you not use a pressure washer. Ford seems to sort of encourage a washing now and then, otherwise.

I too heard the thing about simple green (after I used the purple colored heavy duty stuff). I inspected the 3.7L pretty hard and didn't see any sign of pitting.

I'm a little leery about putting all that gunk on my driveway. I sprayed the Simple Green on and then drove to the do it yourself carwash for the rest. Stood far back from the engine with the wand, because of the pressure washing admonition.

I'm not going to knock myself out washing the engine, but it looked pretty nice for awhile after I was done.

 

I spray mine down with a all purpose cleaner (sometimes pine Sol mixed with water) and use my 2700 psi pressure washer immediately followed by drying with a leaf blower (shop vac) followed by Stoner trim shine.

I've done that countess times with many different engines. Total time spent on a engine bay is 5 min at most. Results identical to the pics posted above.

No offence but doing it the posted way is a PITA and takes too long. Though the end result is still great.

 

Uh yeah what this guy says... wtf are you saying??

 

I have always sprayed the engine with simple green really well and rinsed with musing water and then sprayed with armor all. I have never had any issues doing it like that.