Cleaning mud from engine bay?

[Offrodnsuv94]

I have gone off roading a few times in some mud and the engine bay has got very dirty. I wanted to know what the best way to clean the engine bay. And if you know of some one or some place i can have this done could you tell me because if i could find some one who knows what there doing do it I would have more peace at heart know everything is going to work when I try to start it again. I live in San Diego, Ca. Thanks for any help you can give me.
Steve

 

[GaSouthern1]

go to one of the pressure washer places and before you go pick up some greased lightning or bleech white or use the crap they have at the sprayer. Just spray the degreaser on the engine liberally and let it sit for 2 or 3 minutes and then spray it off. Just dont directly spray on the alternator.

Good Luck

 

[espnfreak]

Cover the battery, alternator, and distributor and then spray away. But make sure thet engine is cool. You could get a can of degreaser and spray it on the engine, let it sit, and then hose it down. I did this to mine and it turned out great. a LOT cleaner

 

[Robb]

Cover the battery, alternator, and distributor

It's gonna be tough to cover the distributor, since there isn't one. But it is a good idea to cover anything electrical with plastic sandwich or freezer bags.

Robb

 

[jasonb]

i thought the pre 95s had distributors still?

 

[espnfreak]

wasnt sure, did it go to coil packs then?

 

[Robb]

All Explorers are EDIS (no distributor)

 

[MO_GUY]

If I'm not mistaken, in 95 Ford had some with distributors and some with coil packs because that was the year they started the change over. My 95 Cougar had a dist. but others had the coils.

 

[jasonb]

Originally posted by morrisey0
All Explorers are EDIS (no distributor)

aight.. learn something every day!

 

[Doug]

I powerwash my engine after i go 4wheeling and i dont bother to cover up the alternator or such. I figure if the mud didnt destroy it some water isnt gonna hurt it and thus far ive been ok. *knock on wood*

 

[ahhjaws]

That's what I thought when I went to Moab. It's not a good thing when your car dies in the middle of nowhere. Luckily I could drive for 1 or 2 mins to get off the trail I was on inbetween jumping my battery.

I will always cover my alternator from now on.

But I always use the light wash/rinse and degreaser.

 

[Hotweels]

I went on a 6hr safari with a jeep and managed to pack my alt with mud, just took it to the car wash and hosed it all out with no baggies or covers.
Think about it, if its coverd in mud i has allready got soaked so whats more water gonna hurt?
Make sure the truck is nice and warm under the hood first tho so the water will just evaporate.

 

[espnfreak]

Originally posted by Hotweels
I went on a 6hr safari with a jeep and managed to pack my alt with mud, just took it to the car wash and hosed it all out with no baggies or covers.
Think about it, if its coverd in mud i has allready got soaked so whats more water gonna hurt?
Make sure the truck is nice and warm under the hood first tho so the water will just evaporate.

I always wait til it gets as cool as possible. The water will evaporate anyways when you start it up and start driving again, so whats the big deal?

 

[skater252000]

U can steam clean engine parts too. Just don't do the alternator or the air filter.

 

[Offrodnsuv94]

Thanks everyone

Thanks everyone who replied to my post. I have already taken my truck to the car wash and power sprayed the engine but there is still a lot of dirt that will not come off so im going to pick up some degreaser and try it again. I really want the engine to look new again.
Thanks a lot
Steve

 

[Hotweels]

guess i forgot some of you live in warmer climates, i washed a cold motor once in the fall ant the throttle cable froze when i was driving out of the bay!!!