How can I clean my engine?

[Camacorn]

Hello all,

I have a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer with a 5.0 HO. I bought it off of a friend who lives on a lime-rock road, and the engine bay looks like he took it mudding ( never seen mud ). How can I safely clean it? I've tried spraying it down with some 999 cleaner and then wiping it off, but its as if the lime-rock has stained it.

Running out of options, and I want it to look like I take care of it, because I do!

Thanks in advance

 

[lobo411]

Just a guess, but have you tried vinegar? I'm thinking limestone is calcium carbonate, a base, and soap wouldn't help much because it is also a base. You might try a weak acid, such as vinegar or maybe an orange-based cleaner.