Is it ok to wash the engine bay?
Seasoned Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 437
Likes: 4
From: Durango, CO
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: rebuilt straight 6
i dont know wat all the problems with pressure washers are, i use the lvl 4 nossle on my gas powered pressure washer at least once a month on my engine bay. im carefull not to hit anything like the alt or distrib with a lot of power but i have never had a problem.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 540
Likes: 0
From: SW Colorado
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 6cyl
Originally Posted by Coraphix
i dont know wat all the problems with pressure washers are, i use the lvl 4 nossle on my gas powered pressure washer at least once a month on my engine bay. im carefull not to hit anything like the alt or distrib with a lot of power but i have never had a problem.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,894
Likes: 4
From: Las Vegas
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Today I finally cleaned my extremely dirty engine bay. I know this isn't much of a mod but I figured you all might be interested in how to make an engine look brand new 
. Here are some pictures 20 min after everything dried:
Also cleaned the rest of it up for the first time in months:
Looks good if you ask me
.
A guy I know who details cars for a living told me the best products to use.
Here is a little "how-to" for anyone who has a nasty engine bay like mine used to be and wants to clean it.
1.Disconnect the (-) terminal and cover the intake and fuse box with towels
2. Spray the whole engine bay down down with a pressure washer.
3. Spray some Purple power or equivalent degreaser on everything and let sit.
4. Wash off with pressure washer.
5. Spray a can of this amazing stuff CD2 engine cleaner (could only find it at checkers) and let sit with the engine on for about 10-20 min-dont wash off.
. Here are some pictures 20 min after everything dried:Also cleaned the rest of it up for the first time in months:
Looks good if you ask me
.A guy I know who details cars for a living told me the best products to use.
Here is a little "how-to" for anyone who has a nasty engine bay like mine used to be and wants to clean it.
1.Disconnect the (-) terminal and cover the intake and fuse box with towels
2. Spray the whole engine bay down down with a pressure washer.
3. Spray some Purple power or equivalent degreaser on everything and let sit.
4. Wash off with pressure washer.
5. Spray a can of this amazing stuff CD2 engine cleaner (could only find it at checkers) and let sit with the engine on for about 10-20 min-dont wash off.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 948
Likes: 1
I just did mine this morning since we did a trail ride over the weekend. Baby fired right up afterwards. I don't see why some people have problems unless the Jeep is not maintenanced correctly. You drive through puddles, what's wrong with cleaning the engine?? Here's what I use.....
Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Ky
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Originally Posted by E-Rok
way too greasy IMO, and it just attracts dirt.
I usually use a water-based dressing, the same stuff I use on interiors and tires (car tires). I usually get meguiars hyper-dressing by the gallon and dillute it accordingly.
some people like to use tire shine, but again I think thats way too sticky and attracts everything to it.
But tire shine? On the engine? Way to caustic IMO. Too many electrical components in there to take chances for me. Any moisture can introduce rust and corrosion and that stuff is asking for it. It's not typically made for tht environment anyway, I am referring to the closed engine bay at 80mph. Im goin to the zone ill check out the meguiars and how friendly that would be to the ol engine bay. I want to make sure the products I use are made for the application at hand.
CF Veteran
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 4
From: Glen Burnie, MD
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 H.O. K&N, Borla headers, custom down pipe, magnaflow hi-flo cat, flowmaster to turn down tip
i use that purple power stuff too and i love it. it cleans very well. but if you use to much or don't dilute it enough then it will eat your paint
Seasoned Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: N.Y.
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L
Like many have said here, I have always washed my engine bay dawn with pressure. I usually go to the car wash though and use the tire/engine soap setting they have,although I'm sure it is not available at every car wash.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 517
Likes: 1
From: Apollo, PA
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Originally Posted by Spoonman
Like many have said here, I have always washed my engine bay dawn with pressure. I usually go to the car wash though and use the tire/engine soap setting they have,although I'm sure it is not available at every car wash.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 358
Likes: 3
From: Illinois
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I've used Simple Green or engine degreasers and hot water from the garden hose for years and never had problems. I sometimes spray the engine compartment down with Armorall to make it look good. I think the Armorall helps prevent corrosion. If nothing else, it makes it look nice.
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,144
Likes: 3
From: central PA
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
once your done degreasing and watching...douse it with WD-40....it works really good at preventing corrosion and keeps it clean. I do it on all vehicles and my boat motors to keep grease from building up and water from getting in the electrical parts..just cover the intake with a towel when your washing and spraying with a protectant
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Year: Bone stock 91
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
X2 on the Purple Power. It is one of the cheapest 2-butoxyethanol based cleaners you can buy. That same chemical degreaser gets sold under a lot of different names and fancy bottles, but why pay extra for a fancy bottle? Walmart sells it for less than $5 a gallon.
Fill up an old 32 ounce windex bottle for about $1.22 and you've got the same degreaser that's in that expensive spray can of Gunk Engine Brite that would cost you $4.00 for 15 ounces.
Look at the MSDS listings for most of those cleaners... 2-butyoxyethanol (Butyl Cellosolve) is the magic ingredient.
Fill up an old 32 ounce windex bottle for about $1.22 and you've got the same degreaser that's in that expensive spray can of Gunk Engine Brite that would cost you $4.00 for 15 ounces.
Look at the MSDS listings for most of those cleaners... 2-butyoxyethanol (Butyl Cellosolve) is the magic ingredient.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 7
Likes: 1
From: Lexington, MO
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
I HP wash it like I am trying to sabotage it and they start right up without a sputter. 2000 XJ
I also just use basic, tire foam after a good wash or two. Then, in a week or so I will wash it again and the plastic stays nice looking for 4-6 months with occasional high pressure rinses.
I also just use basic, tire foam after a good wash or two. Then, in a week or so I will wash it again and the plastic stays nice looking for 4-6 months with occasional high pressure rinses.
Last edited by Jerry Mael; Sep 23, 2017 at 12:20 AM. Reason: typos.. ^^