I have heard that solvent degreasers are not good for rubber, plastics and paint. For many years I have been using S100 Total Cycle Cleaner on my bike and car engines. It has an almost unbelievable way of removing light greasiness and dirt and dust, without your touching anything. This makes it super for engine bay cleaning.
http://www.s100.com/s100_tcc.htm

"... When Total Cycle Cleaner reached America in 1990, it created a major revolution! For the first time, all parts of a filthy bike could be cleaned in minutes using just one product that didn't contain any petroleum solvents!"
http://hawg-wash.com/s100.html?gclid...FQ2PWAod0Ag-bQ

I wash engines cold, for several reasons. If washed hot, the cleaners dry on the engine before they can be rinsed. A hot engine cools as it is washed, sucking water and the cleaners into components, wiring, crevices, ets. After washing a cold engine, running it until warm will drive moisture out before it can linger and get into anything. So wash cold.

After washing an engine compartment, I blow off the water with a leaf blower, then blast the electrical, ignition and spark plug areas with compressed air. Then start the engine and run it until warm.

 

^^ Very good tips indeed!!!

 

This gizmo replaces the leaf blower and the air compressor:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...e+dryer#review

 

^^ well, for those of us with leaf blowers already, I think we're ok

Besides, does it match the 250 mph Craftsman beast in my garage?