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      04-15-2014, 11:53 PM   #1
rsutoratosu
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Tips on degreasing engine compartment ?

Mine is really dirty.. didnt help with the neighbors re-pointed their bricks.. they grind off all the motars and it pretty much blew everywhere.

Safe to spray degreaser and rinse off ? any area to avoid ? or cover up ?
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      04-16-2014, 12:31 AM   #2
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      04-16-2014, 12:33 AM   #3
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^WHS
Simple Green "Motorsports", which I think is essentially watered down Dawn.

Come to think of it, watered down Dawn may work even better.
It's what they use to degrease ducks after an oil spill.
Mild yet effective.
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      04-16-2014, 07:37 AM   #4
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You can get foaming degreaser at an autoparts store. It comes in an aerosol can like carpet cleaner.

Cover your alternator and cabin air intake (left side of windshield tray)
rinse everything lightly with the hose
spray everything with degreaser
let it set for 2 or 3 minutes
agitate lightly with a brush
rinse off
blow dry with air compressor or wide dry
start engine and leave it running for half an hour to dry everything

You'll be amazed how easy it is and how much better your engine compartment looks. Its terrifying the first time you clean an engine bay, but on a modern car like this its really hard to mess anything up. I wouldn't touch an older car with carborators and and a distributor cap though.
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      04-16-2014, 09:06 AM   #5
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^ WHS

The type of degreaser isnt really that important. The most important thing is using Right type of brush.

I use 4~5 different type of round paint brush cut short to get into different spots and also use EZ wheel brush to get into deep inside the bay.
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      04-28-2014, 12:00 PM   #6
rsutoratosu
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thanks for all the tips.. ill pick up some brushes
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      04-28-2014, 12:57 PM   #7
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"Terrifying" is certainly how I feel about it. I very much want to do this as well (have read/viewed that Dow "scrubbing bubbles" bathroom cleaner is also a good mild one to use) but my engine compartment isn't really that dirty and I just don't want to risk the headache and possible $$ out the window to fix problems caused. What a wuss.
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      04-28-2014, 05:56 PM   #8
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Hope there was no lime in that mortar
Any dust on your car that comes in to contact with water can possibly burn your finish

Quote:
Originally Posted by rsutoratosu View Post
Mine is really dirty.. didnt help with the neighbors re-pointed their bricks.. they grind off all the motars and it pretty much blew everywhere.

Safe to spray degreaser and rinse off ? any area to avoid ? or cover up ?
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      04-28-2014, 06:28 PM   #9
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Cover the electronics with plastic bags.... Use degreaser of your choice and then wash off with spray from the hose along with not deliberately spraying any electronics. Start car immediately afterwards and let run for 5 min... Been doing this for 40 years with or without plastic and I've yet to have an issue with any of my cars.... Z included... Just spray the car engine compartment down when it's cold/just warming up if you are worried about water on the engine block...
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