Dirty engine, need to clean it
Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 745
Likes: 109
Start it up for a minute to loosen things up, open the hood, spray degreaser everywhere, let it sit for a minute, agitate with brush, and pressure wash it. Keep the wand moving and don’t aim it a specific spot for too long. A regular hose works too if it isn’t too dirty. I’ve been doing this for the last 3 years without issue. If you have an eco, remove the top cover and you’ll be surprised how much crap gets under there.
Old Fart
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,001
Likes: 1,264
From: Clinton TN
Scrubbing Bubbles Foaming Bathroom Cleaner, it even removes grease and oil and does not leave it looking like you just sprayed it down with kerosene. Slightly warm engine spray and rinse. Do not spray directly onto wire connectors or in to you alternator blow off with air compressor or shop vac in reverse.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,854
Likes: 2,559
From: Timbuk3, MI
IAJack - I like to use Simple Green Cleaner and it leaves it a bit dressed up.
Aluminum — Is it safe to use Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner on aluminum?
When used with caution and according to the instructions, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner has been safely and successfully used to clean aluminum. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner, Crystal Simple Green Industrial Cleaner & Degreaser, and Simple Green Pressure Washer Concentrates have been used on aircraft, automotive, industrial and consumer aluminum items for over 20 years. However, caution and common sense must be used: aluminum is a soft metal that easily corrodes with unprotected exposure to water. The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times for unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes. Large cleaning jobs should be conducted in smaller-area stages to achieve lower contact time. Rinsing after cleaning should always be extremely thorough - paying special attention to flush out cracks and crevices to remove all Simple Green product
residues.
Unfinished, uncoated or unpainted aluminum cleaned with Simple Green products should receive some sort of protectant after cleaning to prevent oxidation.
.When used with caution and according to the instructions, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner has been safely and successfully used to clean aluminum. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner, Crystal Simple Green Industrial Cleaner & Degreaser, and Simple Green Pressure Washer Concentrates have been used on aircraft, automotive, industrial and consumer aluminum items for over 20 years. However, caution and common sense must be used: aluminum is a soft metal that easily corrodes with unprotected exposure to water. The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times for unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes. Large cleaning jobs should be conducted in smaller-area stages to achieve lower contact time. Rinsing after cleaning should always be extremely thorough - paying special attention to flush out cracks and crevices to remove all Simple Green product
residues.
Unfinished, uncoated or unpainted aluminum cleaned with Simple Green products should receive some sort of protectant after cleaning to prevent oxidation.
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,854
Likes: 2,559
From: Timbuk3, MI
Solution of 
+ water in a spray bottle. Let soak. For subborn, build-ups, use various sized paint brushes to aggitate and loosen. Rinse with low stream of water and blow-dry with compressed air, shop-vac, or leaf blower.
To reduce, minimize engine bay inflitration consider - Installed: Front Wheel Well Splash Aprons ««« -click-
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+ water in a spray bottle. Let soak. For subborn, build-ups, use various sized paint brushes to aggitate and loosen. Rinse with low stream of water and blow-dry with compressed air, shop-vac, or leaf blower.To reduce, minimize engine bay inflitration consider - Installed: Front Wheel Well Splash Aprons ««« -click-
.
Old Fart
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,001
Likes: 1,264
From: Clinton TN
I did the Scrubbing Bubbles on my 03 and never had a problem in the 90,000 miles I put on it. All you need is a mist to rinse, and no matter which way you do it don't use pressure directly on Electric components.