This may be silly question to some people, but I am sure there are others out there like me that want to know this!

What is the correct (or best) way to wash the engine bay?

I have heard that you must cover the alternator, intake, and battery (in our case fuse box). Some people say a pressure washer is alright, others say just soap it all down and use the low pressure garden hose to take it off! So what should I do?

Also, I can't seem to find where the intake goes to in the bottom of the engine bay. I can't see where it goes down from the supercharger. I am also unsure of where exactly the alternator is. I see the starter, but not sure where the alternator is. I haven't spent any time seriously looking, but if anyone knows off the top of their head I would appreciate it! Pics would be awesome too!

I ask this because my previous car's engine bay kept pretty clean. I washed it a few times carefully and only once got a nit of water in the intake. It took a day to dry out, then it ran perfectly fine. The SS/SC being my first new car is being babied as much as possible. The engine bay on these things seems to collect dirt just as bad as the outside! They could have done a better job sealing the engine bay in my opinion! There is water and road muck splashed in a fair number of places. I have just been hand washing and wiping down what I can get to, but with spring coming, I'd like to give it a good bath once everything is cleaned up in a few weeks time!

 

The intake goes into the fender, so it should be safe. (assuming that there are no leaks around the throttle body)

I was actually wondering the same thing. My engine is getting pretty dusty looking.

 

I would like to know what is the proper way too.

 

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/engine---chassis.html this web site is very good it tells u how i used this methood and it worked great. engine looks awsome now that i cleand it. i also used a steam cleaner to get the chemicals off i did not use the harsh degeeres on mine thogh.

 

too my knowledge the only thing in engine bays you really dont wanna get wet is your distributor but covering the altenator is always a good safety idea, but yah, my head hurts from all the Ghost recon ive played today i need sleep

 

Sorry to go off topic but, GRAW?

 

soap and water!!!!

 

engine degreaser works where its reald bad then just soap and water it off and use the little plastic wipes on all the plastic and vinyl peices in the engine

 

i was wondering the same thing cause i got CAI and if i spray water down in the engine bay, it will run down to the exposed air filter

the only way i think any1 with CAI can do is to:
jack up left side of car
take out the plastic cover
and cover the filter with a bag of some sort

then wash it

but then heres another problem
usually its best to wash ur engine while ur car is running, if i covered the intake with something, i cant start it

btw.. i never washed a car with CAI before
but i believe the only thing u have to cover is the distirbutor(which we don got) and to wash with engine running
alternator and battery is not a problem, just don go dumping 5tons of water on it, if u no what i mean

 

I don't think you would need to keep it running. Run the motor before hand to warm everything up, but just turn it off right before you start washing.

 

I have not washed this motor yet BUT everytime I have washed a motor before I have KEPT it running. As you spray water at it it is better to run the engine to counter balance the chance of water getting in the electrical and stopping it from starting up until it drys out.

 

Never thought of that, good info. I am gonna be cleaning my bay this week.

 

i used some steel wool and cleaned up the supercharger pretty nice in the spots i tried it. i am going to get a soft abrassive tip like a brillo pad and use a drill or dremel and finish the whole thing. It cleaned the dirt and crap off it really well

 

Do NOT run the engine right before you clean it, you can crack the block that way. Also, when I worked at a dealership in the detail bay my manager told me that only older cars need to have the engine running when you clean it.-- just what the manager said.

 

I've always washed my engine with warm water from the pay and spray around the corner from me. I drive there, turn the car off. cover the engine in degreaser and then blast it with the high pressure.

I'm not saying it's the right way but I'm saying its worked for me for years and 3 cars.

 

yeah with all the cars that i have cleaned in the detail bay we just take out this spray degreaser soak the engiene bay up let it sit for a couple of minutes well the engiene is off. then powerwash it off. the degreaser evaporates when you powerwash it and leaves the engiene looking really noice. if i can find out what the name of the product is i will let you guys know.

 

so wait....is it bad when ur at the spray n wash places to just use the "engine cleaner" setting on our engine then simply spray it off with water?

 

Nope thats what I've been using with good results.

 

Thanks for the info guys.

As a side note, someone mentioned the block cracking if you were washing after running the vehicle. That is possible, however GM actually tests the LSJ by running it up to maximum operating temperature, than flushing it with freezing coolant. So washing it shouldn't hurt, even if it was hot. Alhough, I agree, why take the chance?

Read the last paragraph on the left from this PDF: