How to clean my engine?

[icehead]

I have a 1999 Tahoe that i would like to clean the engine. I have done a search here, but cannot seem to find a sticky or any detailed info. Anyone who can help me please locate a step by step on what to do? Thanks.

[3-lot]

lather, rinse, repeat.

---------- Post added at 07:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:46 PM ----------

no seriously, get a can of foamy engine cleaner (any brand will work from any parts store). soak engine down with it and let stand for a bout 15 minutes, then take a pressure washer and hose er off (carefull around distributor and alternator). repeat in places that are worse.
once your done, its up to you how far detail you want to go. get some brake clean or parts cleaner and a rag and have at it, getting into all the nooks and crannies you want and scrub away tilly uor happy.
also, then get armor all or equivelant and clean all the plastics and anything elase you might want (they do make plastic cleaners too)
its really all up to you how clean you want it and how much effort you want to put into it.
a little scotch bright or steel wool will brighten up and clean any aluminum or steel as well.

[mikeykey]

This is actually a really good thread!!! I'd like to here from some of the pro's like Whippled, Twintt and Haks on this. I've seen some REALLY clean engine bays on this forum.

["350Vortec"]

Heres what i do for a clean engine.

Materials-

-Engine Brite Spray, any auto store has.
-The Works Cleaner-Can be found at grocery stores, kmart, big lots, etc etc
-Small wire brush or hard bristle tooth brush.
-Rags
-Pressure washer/strong hose
-Black Magic Tire shine
- Meguiars Hot rims Rim Spray.
-Sponge

1. Soak your engine in the Engine Brite Foam. Let sit for twenty minutes or so.
2.Spray the engine down with pressure washer. Be sure to get all the foam off.
3. Left over residue can be taken off the Works cleaner, I empty mine into a spray bottle. Much easier to use that way. Spray it onto tough areas and lit it sit for ten minutes.

4. Come back to them with your wire brush and gently brush away grime, scaling,etc. Do this to any metal parts you see built up with scum. This can take a long time depending on how bad your engine is, But take your time and it will come out beautiful.

5.Now spray your engine down once more to rid of the scum left over from brushing.

6.Take your tire shine and soak the plastic parts in it, Allow to sit for five minutes.

7. While your waiting, soak your metal parts you just brushed down with the Rim Cleaner/Polish.

8.Come back to them with just a rough sponge and use some elbow grease and buff the chemicals into the plastic and metal, Wipe away any excess with rags.

Admire your beautiful engine.

Mine comes out great every time. Just my way though.

[ndavis0001]

nice. easiest way i do it is leave the engine running, spray with degreaser, let sit, spray off with a gentle tip on pressure washer or thumb your hose, then either leave it or shine it. i douse it with wd40

[txhoescrapin]

wd40 and air compreesor

[DaRosa218]

I use "CASTROL SUPER CLEAN CLEANER DEGREASER." It can be found at Autozone in a 32oz spray bottle. I simply spray it on, let sit for 20 min then pressure wash it off. Repeat for really oily areas :)

http://images.buzzillions.com/images_products/09/17/castrol-super-clean-cleaner-degreaser-101780_4742195_175.jpg

[01tahoenjn]

I used some spray my father was holding on to for an older truck he wanted to clean up b4 selling.....he never ended up using it..MY gain not sure the name unfortunately but its a blue, yellow, and orange can and is a foam spray...I applied it ALL OVER the inside of the engine well let it sit for about 8 minutes washed it off for 10 and ran it for 15 minutes and drove it for 10 hwy...four months later and it looks like it just left the factory...showed all my neighbors some things i wanted to fix under the hood one day and the first thing they asked was how old is this truck? lol

never mind found it..
http://www.amazon.com/Yankee-Warehouse-Feb-1-Engine-Cleaner/dp/B001BPVBHE

[ezdaar]

I use simple green on a semi warm engine, let it soak the hose it off. repeat then hose it with old scholl armor all. let it soak, wipe up excess, drive for a day or 2, then repeat with simple green max. and armor all..

Looks bran new.

[stayedge]

wd40 or tire shine

[gdddup]

spray everything with a degreaser like purple power, spray 9, simple green,etc. scrub the real dirty spots with a brush or wrag. then blast with a hose. then pull out a air hose from the compressor or leaf blower to move some the water. final step is to spray everything with some glossy shine stuff like armorall black magic or stoner

[Dylan@Adams]

heres a little video I put together for our forum -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdHX_wPUKZI

JdHX_wPUKZI

[gdddup]

/\ great vid

[DTAILS]

If you have air a some decent water pressure:

Spray with degreaser
Let sit for a few minutes
Pressure wash (at your own discretionn)
Agitate with a medium bristled brush as needed
Rinse
Blow standing water off of surfaces
Spray with dressing (CG BareBones is my go-to)
Blow excess off of surfaces
Let set for about a half hour or so (time enough for hoses/plastic to soak up dressing)
Wipe up with MF towel for final touches

Old pics, but decent idea given following the process above:

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk46/mnkybiznes/Shade%20Tree%20Auto%20Detailing/2000%20Mercedes%20E320/DSC00267.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk46/mnkybiznes/Shade%20Tree%20Auto%20Detailing/2000%20Mercedes%20E320/DSC00275.jpg

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk46/mnkybiznes/Shade%20Tree%20Auto%20Detailing/DSC00678.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk46/mnkybiznes/Shade%20Tree%20Auto%20Detailing/DSC00689.jpg

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk46/mnkybiznes/Shade%20Tree%20Auto%20Detailing/IMG_0494.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk46/mnkybiznes/Shade%20Tree%20Auto%20Detailing/IMG_0513.jpg

[dwmmatt23]

+1 on the great vid :Handshake:

[stevek]

For the block, spray simple green. Sit for 30 minutes. Rinse with low pressure. Repeat once. Third time, spray the simple green and scrub any parts you can reach or that need to be cleaned. Works like a charm

[dwmmatt23]

Ok so my engine is super dirty and greased up, I was going to clean with some engine bright foaming spray and diluted simpled green with soft bristled brush, however after talking with several tahoe/suburban owners about water damaging knock sensors and getting into unwanted places on our engines im a little leary of spraying down my compartment. Im I just being paranoid?

[DTAILS]

Ok so my engine is super dirty and greased up, I was going to clean with some engine bright foaming spray and diluted simpled green with soft bristled brush, however after talking with several tahoe/suburban owners about water damaging knock sensors and getting into unwanted places on our engines im a little leary of spraying down my compartment. Im I just being paranoid?

Yes.

[dwmmatt23]

I was hoping so

[DaRosa218]

Ok so my engine is super dirty and greased up, I was going to clean with some engine bright foaming spray and diluted simpled green with soft bristled brush, however after talking with several tahoe/suburban owners about water damaging knock sensors and getting into unwanted places on our engines im a little leary of spraying down my compartment. Im I just being paranoid?

Mine was drenched in Clay and Mud from a little off-roading at LaGrange a while back ago. I decided to clean my engine with some Engine De-greaser and Water and now I have a constant CEL for my knock sensors. It's probably my dumb luck, but it happened to me.:imo: :Handshake:

A Little fun making the Engine Dirty :)

http://i706.photobucket.com/albums/ww65/mikekristine218/The%20Tahoe/IMG_0196.jpg

http://i706.photobucket.com/albums/ww65/mikekristine218/The%20Tahoe/IMG_0150.jpg

[01tahoenjn]

Ok so my engine is super dirty and greased up, I was going to clean with some engine bright foaming spray and diluted simpled green with soft bristled brush, however after talking with several tahoe/suburban owners about water damaging knock sensors and getting into unwanted places on our engines im a little leary of spraying down my compartment. Im I just being paranoid?

Do it! I did it in October after being tired of how shitty it looked under the hood.. Hit it with a whole can on everything hoses and all let it sit and used a shower setting on a garden hose worked very well. More than several people have asked me how does my engine well look better than there much newer cars I'll have a pic up tomorrow maybe.

[dwmmatt23]

Mine was drenched in Clay and Mud from a little off-roading at LaGrange a while back ago. I decided to clean my engine with some Engine De-greaser and Water and now I have a constant CEL for my knock sensors. It's probably my dumb luck, but it happened to me.:imo: :Handshake:

yea mike your one of the people I heard from that have had problems, did you use a pressure washer or spray alot of water on it?

Do it! I did it in October after being tired of how shitty it looked under the hood.. Hit it with a whole can on everything hoses and all let it sit and used a shower setting on a garden hose worked very well. More than several people have asked me how does my engine well look better than there much newer cars I'll have a pic up tomorrow maybe.

Did you brush it down at all before spraying or did you just let it soak?

One thing that also may make me worried is I know I have a small intake manifold leak that needs replacing, should I be worried about this?

[MrBalll]

Figured I would bump this instead of making a new thread.

Is it necessary to cover the alternator before hosing it down? I wouldn't think so since water can get splashed up into it if you hit a puddle just right, but wanted to check before doing this. Also, do I need to cover anything or just go to town with a water hose and my thumb?

[sick1166]

so u guys are saying on a 07 ls tahoe no beed to cover anything and start degreaseing and hose it down and thats it no worries?

[sick1166]

great tips thanks