Cleaning the engine

[crazyfist]

SO I went in the woods / mud / muddy water last week - whats the best way to clean the engine? My buddy who used to detail cars told me i could spray off the engine as long as i left it running. Anyone got good ideas?

[TampaTundra]

After a big off road adventure a while back when I had my 4runner the entore engine bay and motor was coated in mud and it dried and I was running warm. Had to have it detailed at a carwash because I kinda got 3 inches of swamp water inside but they also whent and pressure washed and cleaned it out. So you could just go get them to give a quote on just a wash and motor cleaning. They, at respectable car washes, know what they are doing.

[Mickey]

Originally Posted by crazyfist

SO I went in the woods / mud / muddy water last week - whats the best way to clean the engine? My buddy who used to detail cars told me i could spray off the engine as long as i left it running. Anyone got good ideas?

Pesonally I use Gunk along with my pressure washer. After I get the leaf blower to blow out the standing water. Wipe dry. No problem with starting up.

[Codiac]

Just hose it off at the local car wash if you don't have a high pressure washer of your own. Just be careful not to spray into the air intake or up close to caps, electrical componets, etc. etc. You don't have to leave it running either. Engine cleaner like "GUNK" works good but you really don't need it for just mud and dirt.

[minezmine]

Originally Posted by TampaTundra

After a big off road adventure a while back when I had my 4runner the entore engine bay and motor was coated in mud and it dried and I was running warm. Had to have it detailed at a carwash because I kinda got 3 inches of swamp water inside but they also whent and pressure washed and cleaned it out. So you could just go get them to give a quote on just a wash and motor cleaning. They, at respectable car washes, know what they are doing.

I have to disagree. Most of those centers employ high school ppl if that. Just b/c they do this don't mean they know what they are doing. I doubt they have your best interest at heart, or care about cracking your aluminum engine block from the quick temp changes from spraying the hot engine.

I personally will have a SHORT drive to the car wash bay, (to keep the engine temp down) drive there, wait aprox 20 min for engine to cool down some more. (I'm washing the truck at this time) and then I would lightly wash the engine bay by gently misting the engine until the engine temp slowly cools down. ONLY then would I do the pressure wash on the engine. Caution DO NOT use the clean tire (green solution) on the engine bay. I did that over my engine cover and it WASHED OFF the gray-silver paint over the engine cover. I guess I have to find some guy to air-brush some fancy artwork on them now. (perhaps have them paint it to look like a SC---or even better yet, get an SC to replace it!). Think about it, would these car wash places have insurance coverage for damaged like crack engine block? And how could you PROVE it that it happened RIGHT THEN?

Of course you can always wash it at home with a hose and a toothbrush, which is prob BEST.

My $0.02. Just be careful with the paint on the engine cover.

I can supply a pic if there's enough interest. But I'm not trying to bash Toyota for this or the countless other problems. Still love my truck.

[jtruck618]

I have done what Mickey and Codiac suggest. I have also used stuff like wd40or an all purpose cleaner you might use in the house. It does well for small amounts of dirt. I have sprayed water with the engine running and turned off with no problems.