how do you clean mud off your engine?
 

just bought this cherokee real cheap it was wheeled and i hate having a dirty engine compartment. like i understand alittle dirty but this thing has mud everywhere...any ideas on cleaning it off without damaging anything?

i just use a steam/pressure washer on mine. it the engine is warm then u may have to keep it running while u spray it down. also i grabbed some degreaser from walmart and presoaked mine. also u can go to the dollar general store and get a cleaner called mean green, that stuff is great.

^^ this. But you gotta make sure not to get your distributor or air filter wet. So you wanna cover that with a plastic bag or something when you do the pressure wash.

I would just take it to a coin operated wash where you put in like 50 cents and get a few minutes with a pressure washer.

what about the alternator... a buddy of mine fried his during an engine degrease, to this day i haven't "washed" an engine.

If an alternator can take a dip in a deep water crossing and survive... a spray wash at the car wash should be fine.

Your buddies was probably on its way out already.

yeah that sounds about right but still i havnt done it in 12 years since

I just did mine last night. I have the luck of one at my work and the thing get so hot I have to wear gloves to hold the handle. Been using it with no problems for quite a while. U should be fine. But yes I did for get bout the dist cap. An I have a snorkel on mine so I don't have the filter to worry bout.

Yea, clean engine compartment is nice to have. Years ago when I owned a CJ7 that never had the engine cleaned, but finally needed the engine rebuilt, my uncle and I took it to the local carwash. He pulled out a spray bottle of Kerosene and proceeded to spray down the greasy engine. I was floored, I figured the engine would burst into flames. He said kerosene needs a flame to ignite not a hot engine. Well it worked, the engine was sparkling clean. I used this method for many years to clean various engines. I must be mellowed out, now I use engine degreaser from AutoZone and a garden hose. Think about this, if a garden hose is bad on an alternator, then WHAT happen when you drive in a THunder Storm at 70mph on the freeway. That water going through the radiator covers the whole engine compartment without any damage. Get the hose or pressure washer out and clean it.

Mine didn't survive when it took a dip... lol. But you're right it won't hurt to spray it down

This is worth reading.

GL

I wash my 98XJ engine compartment out with the wand at the local car wash every time I go.

Just did it this morning too. I try not to hit the block, head, or exhaust manifold if the engine is warmed up though. Cast iron & cast steel do not like sudden temperature changes.

Hmm this must be why everytime I see ppl out getting ready to cross water in jeeps they all have a habd full of plastic bags.... LOL! Sorry feelin like a smartass this morning, but if all that stuff under the hood can handle a puddle of water couldnt it handle a cleaning after?

its fine to clean the engine bay but not a good idea to directly soak the electrics

Things that hate water:

1. Distributor
2. Throttle position sensor
3. Alternators aren't too keen on it either

If you are going to spray down an engine compartment, you will be well served to protect the above. Why take a chance????

I've cleaned my engine bay with a pressure water many times and no problems have come from it.