I really want to clean out /up my engine bay. I have seen all sorts of cans of spray degreaser and the lot. I see a used car guy right by my house always using a power washer (probably set to some low setting) cleaning them that way and boy do they sparkle after that.

I have a power washer but am so afraid even with the sprays set low of getting water into some electrical component and having issues up the yang.
My 2000 4.0 has been running so good the last couple of yrs mostly due to me catching up on all the maintenance ( these boards and others). I'd hate myself if it wouldn't start or have a miss.

Anyone have some good safe ideas--or has used a power washer before.

 

I usually use Simple Green and hot water from the garden hose, but I clean mine fairly often, so it's not real greasy. Make sure to do it on a cloudy cool day while the engine compartment is cool. Soak everything well with the Simple Green, wait a while and rinse with hot water. I hook the garden hose to my hot water faucet on my slop sink.

For really greasy engines, I've used the aerosol degreasers and the coin car wash. Don't worry too much about electrics, just don't spray directly on distributor or electrical connections.

After cleaning, I spray the whole engine compartment with Armor-all. It really looks good, and I think it helps prevent crud from accumulating again.

 

I always spray down my engine compartment at coin car washes before working in there to remove the mud. Ive always used the rule of thumb that you should keep the engine running while spraying it down, so standing water doesnt short out stuff upon start-up. Idk if it really matters much

 

I used to use Turtle Wax tire and wheel cleaner/brushes/rags and a garden hose on a mist setting (tip from a car dealer) till I fried my throttle position sensor. I now use mild brake cleaner (not Gumout)/brushes/rags and compressed air.

 

I found tha tthe cheap "purple Power" for $5 a gallon at Wally world is terrific! I bought a cheap spray bottle (as I didn't have an empty to "recycle") and use it half strength. Let it sit and then garden hose off the gook.

Despite feeding my latent PTSD, I have found that I am more likely to notice a leak developing and put a turn on the rocker cover in time.

After armorall-ing the inside, I use the damp cloth to do the plastic under the hood and give it that "detailed" look.

 

simple green is great. Also oven cleaner for the REALLY tough stuff.

This guy had some great points:
http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-P...ur-engine-bay/

 

I used Purple power degreaser and CD2 Engine cleaner and a pressure washed and mine looks like this. look at my build thread and I made a little instructional on how to do it as explained by my buddy who details cars professionally.

Before (from when I changed my injectors):


After:

 

damn dude that looks great

 

That's cleeeean fuuu....