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Pete
Dodge Dakota
12/07/2001
12:16:42
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 Subject: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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What IS the best way?
Are all the electronics sealed inside the engine bay? Could i just spray foamy bright on most items and then power wash it clean?
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Chris W
Dodge Dakota
12/07/2001
12:49:13
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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GOOD QUESTION, anybody out there??
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Clevite 77
Dodge Dakota
12/07/2001
13:24:45
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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With my old 99 s10 (so I guess this post doesn't count) From the get go when washing the truck at a do-it-yourselfer type of car wash I would put it on high pressure rinse and hosed down the whole thing (WITHOUT PULLING THE TRIGGER THOUGH) just let the mist wash away the dust, now on an older motor with a lot of grease and crud build up they have engine degreaser.
to answer your question about if the electronics are sealed, they better be, the sh!t gets wet when it rains,
But I would NOT power wash it the high pressure might screw something up
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intense99dak
Dodge Dakota
12/07/2001
13:26:47
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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You can spray it with Simple Green or an engine degreaser and wash it off with a hose. The problem areas which need to be covered or avoided are: PCM, fuse relay box, distributor and battery. It might be a good idea to keep your engine running while you wash it down. Just keep away from the battery and alternator.
If the engine bay isn't too bad and want to kill a day, you could do what I do and spray a section and wipe it down. It may take a little longer, but you're guaranteeed not to get the electronics wet.
Chuck Robbins
www.intense99dak.com
 
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RESQready
GenIII
12/07/2001
13:36:07
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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The electronics are pretty resistant to water -- just avoid prolonged spraying, especially with a power washer or self-serve car wash. My only concern is the air intake, especially if you've modified it. Let the engine cool down and cover the opening or filter with a plastic bag (on a cold air intake, the last thing you want to do is shoot water/degreaser up into the TB).
DJ
2000 QC 4x4 4.7
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litlpunisher
GenIII
12/07/2001
13:37:51
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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Nice interior. Is that custom? Ilike the center console.
98 Dakota
Bottle fed 340ci
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Big Blue
Dodge Dakota
12/07/2001
14:14:02
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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I called DC about this right atfter I bought my 2002 QC w/4.7L and they said not to spray it at all. Only wipe it off. My concern with spraying water on it from the top was the fact that the sparkplugs sit on top of the motor, water could settle where the plugs go in.
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Brian024.7
Dodge Dakota
12/07/2001
16:45:25
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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The plugs are sealed. Its an engine, truck engine none the less, its made to handle some water, you can spray it, just don't use the high pressure trigger.
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Dakaty
GenIII
12/07/2001
18:42:00
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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I tried washing mine at the "quarter car wash". It cleaned the engine pretty well. BUT.. the steam produced on the way home got under the distributor cap (and maybe into the PCU connections) and caused some back firing.
Now I hand wash mine with a mit and soapy water. I have't let my engine get greasy, so it's a fairly easy job. I rinse it with the water hose.
Be sure to use a rag or paper towels and soak up all the excess water that will accumulate on the intake manifold, AC Compressor brackets, etc. Then let the engine idle for several minutes with the hood up to evaporate most trapped water.
This will reduce the possibility of water vapor getting into the electronics.
Bill
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Broeheem
Gen III
12/07/2001
19:38:22
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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Around my house, that'd be the "SIX quarter car wash", and that's for a generous four minutes.
Patriot Blue 2001 SLT Plus Club Cab
4.7L./multi-spd auto/3.55 LSD
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joe
Dodge Dakota
12/07/2001
19:48:16
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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Can you steam it like the detailers do?
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Quick Racing
Dodge Dakota
12/07/2001
19:50:50
|  RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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I used to detail vehicals about a year ago, and if the engine compartment was a real mess, I just sprayed it down with degreaser and soap, let it sit for a few minutes and hose it down...
***Note***
~I also let them sit over night so if things got wet it would have time to dry. As said before, don't spray directly at the distributor, fuse relay, wiper motor, or open air intake.~
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Daddy-D
Gen III
12/07/2001
19:58:23
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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I am known as a fanatic about clean engine
bays. I have never had a problem with
electrics when cleaning. With all my cars, this
is what I do:
Equipment Needed:
Pure Simple Green, in a spray bottle
Good, adjustable garden nozzle
Pressure washer (optinal)
Compressed air (optional, but very handy)
How To Do It:
On a WARM engine, Spray pure Simple Green
- using a household sprayer; wet down
everything. Let it soak in for a few minutes. Do
not let it dry on anything! Grunge will require
additional applications, even help from a parts
cleaning brush.
Usually, you only need a well-focused garden
nozzle to blast your engine bay clean, but I
prefer the pressure washer (fan setting, not
stream!) because it's faster, more forceful for
those tough spots, and uses a lot less water.
While you're at it, blast clean the
radiator/condenser fins.
With compressed air, blow out the puddles in
spark plug wells and anywhere else water
collects - this also helps reduce water
spotting. No compressor? Twist some cotton
rags (100% Cotton T-shirts are great) to get
into the spark plug wells.
Start your engine.
If it misfires, shut it off and blow out the
distributor body and cap.
Don't forget to check for cracked or blown off
hoses and tubes.
Drive your vehicle to really heat up the engine
bay and boil off any remaining water.
(If you're really over the top (like me), you'll
clean under the engine, too!)
I also own SAABs, which are notorious for
messy oil changes; I never have to worry
about getting greasy when in the engine bay.
'98 DakSport C/C 3.9 2WD A/T
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Dakaty
GenIII
12/07/2001
19:58:55
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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Broeheem-
Its so nice that you noticed I'm showing my age with the "quarter car wash" thing.
(They really used to cost a quarter for 5 minutes)
Bill (AKA - Old guy)
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DeaPee
Dodge Dakota
12/07/2001
20:14:10
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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The best way to clean a DIRTY engine would be to spray it down with engine degreaser or Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner and brush it with a medium scrub brush. I don't cover anything up at work when I do it, I just hose it out REAL good and then air hose it for a good 2 or 3 minutes.
Some people leave them running -- bad idea, that's when stuff goes wrong. Your engine should be warm, but not hot (not at normal operating temp -- about 1/4 of the way between cold and normal op. temp.)
Every time I clean my truck, 1-2 times a week, I get out some glass cleaner and wipe off everything in the engine compartment. I take my truck through some pretty rough and muddy terrain up my camp, and I usually can find some wherever I take my quad as well -- as long as you keep up on it, it never gets too bad.
- Dave
- 01 RC SLT 4x4 3.9 BLACK
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andrew
Dodge Dakota
12/07/2001
20:58:56
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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Message:
The engine seems not too hard but the firewall gets real dirty and thats where alot of the electrical conections are. How do you clean them?
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Fillupd
Dodge Dakota
12/07/2001
21:15:07
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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Message:
Dakaty, Can you imagine being able to put in a dollar bill in a car wash when you where 16? Heck a dollar would get you 4 gallons of gas during a good gas war! Were those the Good Ol Days are these the Good Ol Days and I just don't realize it yet?
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Lesley
GenIII
12/07/2001
23:17:37
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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The first time I shampooed mine I was scared schitless that I would ruin something. I armed myself with a good supply of plastic bags, duct tape & j-cloth on a roll. After taking off the air intake, I put a couple of clean j-cloths into the bores, then bagged it, sealing it with duct tape. I did the same with the alternator, and anything else that looked like it might not appreciate a blast of water. I then used degreaser on the gungiest parts of the engine, using one of those plastic pot scrubbers to really get the grime off. I rinsed it off then sprayed on the shampoo, and rinsed it really thoroughly as it has some obnoxious chemicals in it. I used the J-cloths to dry up excess water & buff (those valve covers look okay when they are clean). And yes, I did use the power sprayer at the coin wash, without any adverse effects... in future I will probably use the backyard hose.
97 3.9 V6 Sport Club Cab. Black. Auto 3.55
Quick D Intake, JBA Stainless headers
Autolite 3923s with Borg Warner Wires
Awaiting Installation: Borla catback, V8 R/T TB
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Boomer
Dodge Dakota
12/08/2001
11:24:02
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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Message:
I've been doing the pressure wash thing for a little while now. I just help protect the elect. connectors with the help of a little silicone spray.
Here's my question. I get mud and I mean lots of mud under there. Whne I clean it with the pressure washer, degreaser, stc I still have mud spots on the hoses, intake, etc. The big stuff is gone, but the spots are everywhere. Any ideas???
Boomer
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DeaPee
Dodge Dakota
12/08/2001
17:42:06
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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Message:
First, getting electrical connections wet won't do a thing. The ones that are exposed are grounds and that connects directly to your frame -- that gets wet all the time, right? There are some connections that aren't really sealed that tightly and there is a chance of shorting something out, but it's highly unlikely. Water is a good conductor, but you would need to, literally, submerse a hot and a ground together in a bucket to short something out.
Like I said before, I do this atleast 10 times a day, 5-6 days a week. I detail cars for a living and I soak the WHOLE engine compartment -- intake, plugs, distributor, fuses... Nothing's ever broken yet... Been doing it for a year now.
Secondly, the mud on the hoses may need to be scrubbed. My truck's brand new, 3,000 miles on it now, and I've been wiping them down with Aerospace 303 Protectant every time I clean my engine. That will prevent them from rotting in the future as well as help things look nice and shiny for the present.
- Dave
- 01 RC SLT 4x4 3.9 BLACK
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Beaker
Dodge Dakota
12/08/2001
19:47:52
| RE: Best way to clean the engine bay?
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Message:
The electrical connectors in the engine bay are all sealed. That goes for ALL vehicles (I've specifically worked on the harnesses and electrical components on the DN's and AN's; Durango's and Dakota's). Actually, every connector that is exposed to the "outside" is sealed. The grounds will be fine, but as mentioned above you should protect and avoid spraying water near the intake and the PDC (Power Distribution Center). The PDC's cover is not sealed and the fuses and relays should'nt get wet.
My preferences are:
Simple Green, garden hose, brush, sponge, citrus cleaner and in particularly dirty areas, Foamy Engine Brite. You've got to watch it with the Foamy though, that s%*# is very toxic and damaging to the environment, your grass, rubber components, etc.
02 QC 4.7L 5 sp. 4X4
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