Cleaning engine bay

[Marcus2000monster]

I want My truck to look new inside and out and under the hood. I would like to clean up under the hood from when that VP44 fitting broke and sprayed a ton of fuel all over the engine bay. Question is is it ok to poowerwash under the hood? What needs to be removed or protected before hand? What do you guys use for a degreaser? 

[Mopar1973Man]

50 minutes ago, Marcus2000monster said:

Question is is it ok to poowerwash under the hood?

 

Yes. I do it every chance I can.

 

50 minutes ago, Marcus2000monster said:

What needs to be removed or protected before hand?

 

Quadzilla and BHAF. Got to protect both of them from water. All electrical connections should have dielectric grease.

 

51 minutes ago, Marcus2000monster said:

What do you guys use for a degreaser?

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-128-oz-Industrial-Purple-Degreaser-ZU0856128/100047759

 

For ugly engines, I use this full strength just remember its an acid based cleaner so don't leave it on aluminum it will blacken aluminum fast. Works great on removing brake dust and wheel grime. 

[IBMobile]

I just did mine yesterday.  Took it to the local self car wash.  They are set up to clean and recycle the water there.  

 

Take your time and let the exhaust cool off. This is so no steam gets into electrical connections and no thermal shock on exhaust manifold and turbo. 

 

.If you have a BHAF take it off and cover the turbo intake opening.  I used a plastic shopping bag held in place with zip ties. 

 

I spray everything with Greased Lightning.    Be carful of the cleaner you use because some of them will etch aluminum.     If there is a heavy buildup use a stiff brush, one made for cleaning parts, and work the area to loosen the grease/dirt.  I start at the top and work down this way the cleaner can drip down on other parts.  

 

If your at a car wash set the spray selector to rinse, put the money in and start spraying.  I do the bottom of the engine first so there  water dripping down and I'm not laying in a puddle of dirty water,  You can use a large peace of cardboard to lay on if the ground is wet.   Be sure to spray front to back and back to front hitting all surfaces

 

 

 

 

 

[Mopar1973Man]

Another passing thought it doesn't really do much good if you have oil leaks that slobber all down the side of the engine and everything else. Yeah, it makes locating the oil leaks easier when the engine is clean. Still not fixing the oil leaks doesn't do much good. In a short time the small oil leak can make a huge mess and your back to where you started again. Like I've got 2 current oil leaks. I've got a power steering input shaft seal weeping. Then the gear case just below the VP44 is weeping. No, it's not the vacuum pump it's totally dry and spotless. The is where the gearcase mates to the block. 

 

So after you wash it all down inspect and wash suspected leaks down good and then take it for short drive and monitor your leaks. Take not of how fast and where they are located. So now you can resolve the leak and clean up one last time and have that spotless engine.

[Marcus2000monster]

3 minutes ago, Mopar1973Man said:

Another passing thought it doesn't really do much good if you have oil leaks that slobber all down the side of the engine and everything else. Yeah, it makes locating the oil leaks easier when the engine is clean. Still not fixing the oil leaks doesn't do much good. In a short time the small oil leak can make a huge mess and your back to where you started again. Like I've got 2 current oil leaks. I've got a power steering input shaft seal weeping. Then the gear case just below the VP44 is weeping. No, it's not the vacuum pump it's totally dry and spotless. The is where the gearcase mates to the block. 

 

So after you wash it all down inspect and wash suspected leaks down good and then take it for short drive and monitor your leaks. Take not of how fast and where they are located. So now you can resolve the leak and clean up one last time and have that spotless engine.

Thanks for that! So far as I can tell I only have one very tin y leak and I believe it’s becuase fhe puke bottle needs emptied. 

[Mopar1973Man]

2 minutes ago, Marcus2000monster said:

I believe it’s becuase fhe puke bottle needs emptied

There is a fix for that...

 

[Marcus2000monster]

3 minutes ago, Mopar1973Man said:

There is a fix for that...

 

I have contemplated doing that modification. If that’s indeed where the leak is I’ll do it. 

[Hawkez]

Get rid of the puke bottle, that will only lead to overheating as it will plug up your radiator overtime.  If you still have the puke bottle, chances are your radiator needs to be removed and cleaned as well.

[Marcus2000monster]

6 minutes ago, Hawkez said:

Get rid of the puke bottle, that will only lead to overheating as it will plug up your radiator overtime.  If you still have the puke bottle, chances are your radiator needs to be removed and cleaned as well.

Will the radiator be all blacks and dirty? 

[notlimah]

Yup! The fan will blow everything that was caught in the puke bottle all over and it’s a PITA to get clean.

[Hawkez]

Look at the pictures in this article.

 

[dripley]

The easiest way I know to clean his take it out. Not hard to do and if a coolant change is in your future do it then. Only takes about 30 minutes to pull it out.

[Mopar1973Man]

Even after you do the crankcase vent mod you still have to pull the radiator every 5 years or so. Even mine fills up with caked mud and I can't seem to get enough water flow at the bottom. Just easier to pull and wash it properly.

Edited March 29, 2018 by Mopar1973Man

[Dieselfuture]

Ever since I put window screen on the front of my truck and did Mikes vent mod I haven't had any problems 

[IBMobile]

This is what my radiator looked like before cleaning

 

 

[GSP7]

On 3/29/2018 at 6:14 AM, Mopar1973Man said:

 

 

 

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-128-oz-Industrial-Purple-Degreaser-ZU0856128/100047759

 

For ugly engines, I use this full strength just remember its an acid based cleaner so don't leave it on aluminum it will blacken aluminum fast. Works great on removing brake dust and wheel grime. 

 

Do you put that stuff in a smaller pump spray bottle ?

 

I know a guy that swears by using industrial upholstery cleaner, He gets a 5 gal container. Puts it in a little gardeners spray bottle.  Says it works way better. I cant remember what kind it was or why upholstery cleaner works better. like $60 for 5 gal.

 

 

.

 

 

[notlimah]

30 minutes ago, GSP7 said:

 

Do you put that stuff in a smaller pump spray bottle ?

 

I know a guy that swears by using industrial upholstery cleaner, He gets a 5 gal container. Puts it in a little gardeners spray bottle.  Says it works way better. I cant remember what kind it was or why upholstery cleaner works better. like $60 for 5 gal.

 

 

.

 

 

 

Thats what I do with the zep

[Mopar1973Man]

23 hours ago, GSP7 said:

 

Do you put that stuff in a smaller pump spray bottle ?

 

I know a guy that swears by using industrial upholstery cleaner, He gets a 5 gal container. Puts it in a little gardeners spray bottle.  Says it works way better. I cant remember what kind it was or why upholstery cleaner works better. like $60 for 5 gal.

 

typically yes. I bought like 3 gallon yard sprayer and thought to mix up in that. Pump it up. Then spray the truck down. Little spray bottles work but the cleaner will eat the pump on little spray bottles.