washing the engine

Hi
I have Honda Civic 2001. I take care of my car. When I open the hood, the
engine look not clean, some oil, dust, dirt etc. Is it good idea to clean
the engine (whatever inside the hood)?? if yes with what I should clean it?
water and ?? thanks

 

Pick up a can of engine degreaser. And when rinsing it down, be very
careful not to drench a fuse box/computer/anything electronic.
Covering these items with plastic would be a good idea. For parts
like alternators that may be dirty but you don't want to "drench", try
some brake-kleen as it evaporates quickly and it melts grease away
effectively.

__________________
Note: To reply, replace the word 'spam' embedded in return address with 'mail'.
N38.6 W121.4

 

Pick up a can of engine degreaser. And when rinsing it down, be very
careful not to drench a fuse box/computer/anything electronic.
Covering these items with plastic would be a good idea. For parts
like alternators that may be dirty but you don't want to "drench", try
some brake-kleen as it evaporates quickly and it melts grease away
effectively.

__________________
Note: To reply, replace the word 'spam' embedded in return address with 'mail'.
N38.6 W121.4

 

Pick up a can of engine degreaser. And when rinsing it down, be very
careful not to drench a fuse box/computer/anything electronic.
Covering these items with plastic would be a good idea. For parts
like alternators that may be dirty but you don't want to "drench", try
some brake-kleen as it evaporates quickly and it melts grease away
effectively.

__________________
Note: To reply, replace the word 'spam' embedded in return address with 'mail'.
N38.6 W121.4

 

Thanks a lot for the help and th epicture, I appreciate it very much.. but
what is the "green"? from where I can buy it?
and also what is "armor"? are these products available in Canada? thanks

 

Thanks a lot for the help and th epicture, I appreciate it very much.. but
what is the "green"? from where I can buy it?
and also what is "armor"? are these products available in Canada? thanks

 

Thanks a lot for the help and th epicture, I appreciate it very much.. but
what is the "green"? from where I can buy it?
and also what is "armor"? are these products available in Canada? thanks

 

"lastnn30" <> decided to join the conversation on 31
Jul 2003 with message @news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com:

http://www.simplegreen.com/
http://www.armorall.com/

I'm not sure where you would buy it, or even if you could buy it in
Canada. If it's sold outside the US, I'm sure you can find it at any
major auto store.

Simple Green can be found at Wal-Mart (or the Canadian eqiuvalent) and on
their website there's a list of dealers, including a few internet sites.

HTH,

--
-Chris

http://www.ChrisGarcia.com <- My Homepage
http://starwars.chrisgarcia.com <- Centerpoint Station, the "ghost-town"
of the Star Wars Universe!

 

"lastnn30" <> decided to join the conversation on 31
Jul 2003 with message @news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com:

http://www.simplegreen.com/
http://www.armorall.com/

I'm not sure where you would buy it, or even if you could buy it in
Canada. If it's sold outside the US, I'm sure you can find it at any
major auto store.

Simple Green can be found at Wal-Mart (or the Canadian eqiuvalent) and on
their website there's a list of dealers, including a few internet sites.

HTH,

--
-Chris

http://www.ChrisGarcia.com <- My Homepage
http://starwars.chrisgarcia.com <- Centerpoint Station, the "ghost-town"
of the Star Wars Universe!

 

"lastnn30" <> decided to join the conversation on 31
Jul 2003 with message @news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com:

http://www.simplegreen.com/
http://www.armorall.com/

I'm not sure where you would buy it, or even if you could buy it in
Canada. If it's sold outside the US, I'm sure you can find it at any
major auto store.

Simple Green can be found at Wal-Mart (or the Canadian eqiuvalent) and on
their website there's a list of dealers, including a few internet sites.

HTH,

--
-Chris

http://www.ChrisGarcia.com <- My Homepage
http://starwars.chrisgarcia.com <- Centerpoint Station, the "ghost-town"
of the Star Wars Universe!

 

Just spray it with a hose. Do it a few times a year. You need to use chemical
when the engine leak a lot of oil.

I spray the engine bay more than I wash the car.

 

In my view, the best cleaning idea is to get a device, not a really
particular solvent (although water IS a solvent): I'm talking about
one of those small steam cleaners available nowadays. Not only do they
clean, but leave no residue and you aren't dealing with more
solvents/chemicals on top of the oils/dirt/grease on your engine that
washes off onto the ground/parking lot.

There's one I've seen advertised on TV, the stainless-steel and
apparently pretty powerful one for about $200 (I think you can find it
somehwere else for less), just don't get one that's too "wimpy" in its
steam output.

Otherwise, I take my time...a small paintbrush, some liquid
dishwashing soap solution, and a 1-gallon pump-up garden sprayer. If
the car is done regularly, this is all you need, often meerely a
rinsing-off with a mild soap solution on the gallon sprayer. If it's
really crudded up -- as most people's engines are -- you need a
serious cleaning with chemicals first, or steam.

But the small steamers are best.

John D.

 

In my view, the best cleaning idea is to get a device, not a really
particular solvent (although water IS a solvent): I'm talking about
one of those small steam cleaners available nowadays. Not only do they
clean, but leave no residue and you aren't dealing with more
solvents/chemicals on top of the oils/dirt/grease on your engine that
washes off onto the ground/parking lot.

There's one I've seen advertised on TV, the stainless-steel and
apparently pretty powerful one for about $200 (I think you can find it
somehwere else for less), just don't get one that's too "wimpy" in its
steam output.

Otherwise, I take my time...a small paintbrush, some liquid
dishwashing soap solution, and a 1-gallon pump-up garden sprayer. If
the car is done regularly, this is all you need, often meerely a
rinsing-off with a mild soap solution on the gallon sprayer. If it's
really crudded up -- as most people's engines are -- you need a
serious cleaning with chemicals first, or steam.

But the small steamers are best.

John D.

 

In my view, the best cleaning idea is to get a device, not a really
particular solvent (although water IS a solvent): I'm talking about
one of those small steam cleaners available nowadays. Not only do they
clean, but leave no residue and you aren't dealing with more
solvents/chemicals on top of the oils/dirt/grease on your engine that
washes off onto the ground/parking lot.

There's one I've seen advertised on TV, the stainless-steel and
apparently pretty powerful one for about $200 (I think you can find it
somehwere else for less), just don't get one that's too "wimpy" in its
steam output.

Otherwise, I take my time...a small paintbrush, some liquid
dishwashing soap solution, and a 1-gallon pump-up garden sprayer. If
the car is done regularly, this is all you need, often meerely a
rinsing-off with a mild soap solution on the gallon sprayer. If it's
really crudded up -- as most people's engines are -- you need a
serious cleaning with chemicals first, or steam.

But the small steamers are best.

John D.

 

I usually just spray with a hose being carefull not spray the alternator and
electic components for no reason.
Done that on my past 5 cars and never had a problem. You shouldn't need any
special stuff unless you had some serious oil leaks.

 

I usually just spray with a hose being carefull not spray the alternator and
electic components for no reason.
Done that on my past 5 cars and never had a problem. You shouldn't need any
special stuff unless you had some serious oil leaks.

 

I usually just spray with a hose being carefull not spray the alternator and
electic components for no reason.
Done that on my past 5 cars and never had a problem. You shouldn't need any
special stuff unless you had some serious oil leaks.

 

If you don't want to do it yourself, call some of the repair shops
mentioned in the local phone book. Some of them will offer (for a fee) to
steam clean your engine. They cover up the elec. parts with plastic before
they spray the engine. You may not know this but many used car
salesmen--including Honda Dealers--steam clean engines on used cars to
make the potential buyers think that the past owners actually kept the
engines really clean.

 

If you don't want to do it yourself, call some of the repair shops
mentioned in the local phone book. Some of them will offer (for a fee) to
steam clean your engine. They cover up the elec. parts with plastic before
they spray the engine. You may not know this but many used car
salesmen--including Honda Dealers--steam clean engines on used cars to
make the potential buyers think that the past owners actually kept the
engines really clean.

 

If you don't want to do it yourself, call some of the repair shops
mentioned in the local phone book. Some of them will offer (for a fee) to
steam clean your engine. They cover up the elec. parts with plastic before
they spray the engine. You may not know this but many used car
salesmen--including Honda Dealers--steam clean engines on used cars to
make the potential buyers think that the past owners actually kept the
engines really clean.