is it ok just to hose off the engine and everything else under the hood, or is there a certain way to do it, or would i be better off just taking it to the dealership and see if they'll do it.

 

You can use some Simple Green and a garden hose to clean the engine. Just make sure the BLOCK IS COOL before you do it.

 

i just want to get everything under the hood shinny like it was when i bought it

 

Yeah i was curious about this too....i heard you need to cover a few things before you just start spraying simple green and hosing things off......just want to make sure i dont hurt anything ya know

 

moved...

 

I've always washed the engines of my cars. I use castrol degreaser (purple bottle) and then rinse it with the hose (gentle not spray...no pressure). I have never had a problem and you can eat off of my engine. I try not to get the degreaser on anything aluminum or chrome, so that I don't have to pull out the Blue Magic polish.

 

the purple bottle is great - but, over time it will 'eat' thru the paint - fender wells, and brackets start to get spotty. you can avoid this if you're careful about how much you use and how long you let it sit.
but, nothing beats simple green. spray everything down, mist w/ a hose and dry it off. then for the final touch - use WD40. that's right. spray a shop towel w/ WD40 (not too much) and wipe everything down - rubber, plastic, paint... if you don't go 'nuts' w/ it, it won't build up and attract dirt. it just gives the engine bay the 'just off the showroom' look.

 

problem is i don't have access to a hose because i live in a condo building. i would have to drive to the do it urself carwash place which is about 2min. away, would that cause the engine to heat up to much?

 

I thought its not good to "hose" under the hood. Can't the water get into places it shouldn't? Like the air filter, battery, pumps, gauges, wiring, engine cylinders, and oil fill?

 

yeah thats what i thought, i think the best thing for me to do is just take it to a dealership and have them detail my car, just clean everything up

 

1. Make sure engine is warm, but not hot. Cold engines are harder to remove grease and oil from.

** Check the directions on the engine cleaner/degreaser you are using, though. Some specifically say to clean the engine when cold only. **

2. Cover your distributor (if you do not know what or where it is, get a manual for your car), alternator and fuse box. Most electronics under your hood are adequately sealed for rain water splashing up on them, but high pressure water is another story.

3. Spray Greased Lightning's Orange Blast liberally all over your engine and engine bay. Let it sit for about 5 minutes. If your engine is really dirty, then after the 5 minutes, spray it down again and wait an additional 5 minutes.

4. Spray the engine and engine bay with high pressure rinse water - but even though your distributor may be covered, still use lower pressure around it to be on the safe side.

5. Any remaining grime, spray again with Orange Blast, and use a stiff brush if needed. Rinse again.

6. Remove the plastic coverings and start the engine. Let it run until it is dry. You will have to dry the painted surfaces in the engine bay and the underside of the hood with a towel.

7. Dress any hoses, etc. you want with rubber/vinyl dressing.

 

^^^Great write-up but....

Just so people don't spend hours looking for something that doesn't exist....the tC does not have a distributor. The coils reside on the spark plugs and uses a distributor-less system.

 

one time i washed my engine and it wouldnt start. i just left it on the driveway for a couple of hours and then it started right up

 

saved this thread...thanks guys...

 

This guy is right on the money. I have used this method for engines to dirtbikes for many years. Works well.

 

That is a negative on your concerns.

 

Ok I'm a Idiot, I sprayed a bottle of mislabled tire bleach in the engine bay & now I have all of these white spots that won't wipe off any ideas?