Cleaning the engine.

Hello!

I just finished blacking out my front Chevrolet Bowtie on my 2004 Aveo 5. While I had the hood open to get the grille off, I decided to re-paint some of the black plastic covers on the engine. Mainly the splash guard over the spark plugs, and the cover over all of the.... drawing a blank now, the circuits and what not on the right side. Anyway. It looks nice and clean on those 2 parts now, but the rest of the engine bay has a bit of grease and usual 'engine dirt' in it. Any thought as to what product I could use to clean the engine? I know I should cover any electrical components so that I do not get water on them too much. But what should I use to get the rest of the engine looking like new? Thanks!

Most of the detail shop around use steam cleaners. No soaps that I am aware of?

Finding something like that might be hard or difficult though but I guess it works the best ?

I just went to the local Do It Yourself carwash and used the TIRE/ENGINE degreaser on it. Let it sit a minute while I hit the rest of the tires, and then sprayed it off WITH LOW PRESSURE and it looks new again.

I just sprayed my motor down with Simple Green and hit it with a garden hose. Nice and clean. No muss, no fuss.

And the engine was fine getting water in it like that? I'm guessing I just put bags or whatever around electrical stuff first?

purple power works good, just have the car on after you hose it off, never had a problem myself, if you get water on the belt though it my make some noise for a little while

the electrical connection are made to witstand wetness i.e. rain and snow

I never had any problems either with using a garden hose. All of the connections for the most part are "weatherpack" connections. I didnt sit there with the nozzle and spray the crap out of it. A light hosing worked fine.

Hi all!

I've been cleaning the engine by following the informative video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VXIY...feature=fvwrel

I haven't been covering any part in the last couple of times I've engine washed... No problems so far. Lately, however, a friend, who owns a car workshop, took a look and suggested that the air cleaner be brushed with some cleaning agent (I use Simple Green) but NOT washed. The air cleaner in my '07 Aveo 1.4 LT Sedan is different to the one in the manual; 1st owner must have changed the original... Something like this and not secured in a box as in the manual:

http://www.diytrade.com/china/4/prod...tml#normal_imghttp://www.diytrade.com/china/4/prod...tml#normal_imghttp://img.diytrade.com/cdimg/443518...ir_Cleaner.jpg

So:
1)To cover or not to cover?
2)If so, how to properly clean the air cleaner?
3)Is there any real need to cover up any part in the engine bay?

Cheerz! :D

if its a paper element filter. like pictured, replace it. if its a screen, sponge, fiber, cloth etc filter google search what you have and look for instructions to that particular material. Simple green is water based, so not as good of an idea. but better than nothing if you are getting all the dirt out.

are you saying there is no airbox? like the previous owner made a short ram intake of sorts? it will be ok, but extending that into the wheel well would improve performance.

i would cover the alternator, intake and battery/fuse blocks.. those are areas i wouldnt ant soaked with water.

Cheerz petrified.rabbit for the quick reply!

Yup no airbox... My first car, owning it for a while now so quite noobish hehe... Forgive my ignorance but could you kindly indicate where the alternator would be... Is it the small metallic part to the right of the engine in this pic?

Attachment 3970

Final thing: how would the covered parts be properly cleaned and how often would an engine wash be required?

Peaceage

i've never washed my engine...

alternator is a belt driven accessory its beside the engine block on the left if you are facing your car. (you do have a different engine than me)..

those parts could be wiped clean, with a damp rag, or with cleaner. you just dont want them soaked. as a layer of water will create a circuit and potentially cause problems or in the case of the fuse it could fill up with water if you run pressure on it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NYChevoo

I just sprayed my motor down with Simple Green and hit it with a garden hose. Nice and clean. No muss, no fuss.

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When I clean my engine, that's what I do. My dad will do that with his as well. I thought that me & him were the only ones to do such a thing...