Cleaning Engine

370zseth · 02-22-2015, 08:54 AM

Need to clean my engine bay (more a wipe down) Anyone have any tips or have something they can recommend to use?

Thanks and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Chuck33079 · 02-22-2015, 10:30 AM

For a wipe down, I blow everything off with compressed air, then use Armor-all cleaning wipes. If it's bad, you can wrap the alternator and other electrical components with a plastic bag and use diluted simple green and a scrub brush and then hose everything off.

JARblue · 02-22-2015, 11:47 AM

I use Adam's All Purpose Cleaner and a scrub brush. I cover/wrap my R2C intake filters and a few electrical bits with towels. I rinse with full blast spray away from those areas and back off to a weaker stream when spraying closer to those areas. After washing, I also pull off all the cowls and wipe them down and treat them with Super VRT along with any rubber and trim inside the engine bay.

1st · 02-22-2015, 01:41 PM

Water, damp wet rag. Maintain it then you don't have to go to war with it. Some say hose it down.... I'm not a fan.

kenchan · 02-22-2015, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370zseth

Need to clean my engine bay (more a wipe down) Anyone have any tips or have something they can recommend to use?

Thanks and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

every spring i wash my dd's engine bay using a hose. i cover the alternator and battery with a bag, but otherwise i hose it down not aiming at the air intake filter, spray simplegreen, use a soft bristle brush to agitate and rinse with a hose. then wipe down the battery and alternator with a rag.

same with the fuel filler. open fuel filler door, leave gas cap on of course, and just soap it up and rinse it completely with a hose.

1325 · 02-22-2015, 07:39 PM

I use Formula 88 in my engine bay, agitate with a soft-bristled brush then hose down with wide spray pattern water. I then take a Metro Vac Air Force Blaster Side Kick to address any standing water and once dry I spray 303 Aerospace Protectant on all parts. My technique has never failed me.

kenchan · 02-23-2015, 09:34 AM

since i have raceramps this year i will be washing my dd's engine bay from UNDER the car with no need for my rhino wood extensions.

k, dat dont sound right...

RonRizz · 02-23-2015, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

For a wipe down, I blow everything off with compressed air, then use Armor-all cleaning wipes.

Matches my routine... I'm a fan of the armor-all wipes for this one reason.. Actually discovered this years ago while at a show, forgot to bring my usual engine wiping rags along, used these in a pinch, and stuck from there.

Bulletz4break · 02-23-2015, 11:14 PM

I use an APC and a steamer. I don't like using a hose or a pressure washer on an engine if I can avoid it.

370zseth · 02-24-2015, 08:47 AM

So many different methods, but seems like all would work.

kenchan · 02-24-2015, 12:58 PM

yah, just be careful not to force water into the air filter openings on the Z.

RyanWest · 02-24-2015, 01:04 PM

I use APC and Kwazar bottle from Stay Fresh Car Care.

I never really have to agitate because i do it so often.

ZeroZeta · 02-25-2015, 04:33 PM

I have used Foamy engine bright for years on cars that get dirtier than my Z. Just make sure you let it dry out after.

Swindler · 08-13-2016, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

For a wipe down, I blow everything off with compressed air, then use Armor-all cleaning wipes. If it's bad, you can wrap the alternator and other electrical components with a plastic bag and use diluted simple green and a scrub brush and then hose everything off.

Where is the alternator located? please forgive the embarrassing question but I wanna try to clean the engine up a bit and keep reading cover up the alternator but can't figure out where it is.

JARblue · 08-16-2016, 10:56 AM

If you're standing in front of the car looking under the hood, the alternator is to the left of the pulleys in front of the engine. It's sort of down low but above the oil filter. A quick google image search should help you identify it.

02-22-2015, 08:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
370zseth Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Palm Coast/Daytona-FL Posts: 319 Drives: 12 370Z Rep Power: 24	Cleaning Engine Need to clean my engine bay (more a wipe down) Anyone have any tips or have something they can recommend to use? Thanks and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

02-22-2015, 10:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
Chuck33079 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 12,265 Drives: 2011 370ztt Rep Power: 29538	For a wipe down, I blow everything off with compressed air, then use Armor-all cleaning wipes. If it's bad, you can wrap the alternator and other electrical components with a plastic bag and use diluted simple green and a scrub brush and then hose everything off. 370zseth likes this. __________________ 2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

02-22-2015, 11:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 43 Posts: 36,449 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684440	I use Adam's All Purpose Cleaner and a scrub brush. I cover/wrap my R2C intake filters and a few electrical bits with towels. I rinse with full blast spray away from those areas and back off to a weaker stream when spraying closer to those areas. After washing, I also pull off all the cowls and wipe them down and treat them with Super VRT along with any rubber and trim inside the engine bay. 370zseth and T.lynch like this. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

02-22-2015, 01:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
1st A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: I 80 Biz U.S. 50 Posts: 1,708 Drives: Platinum Z Rep Power: 1615	Water, damp wet rag. Maintain it then you don't have to go to war with it. Some say hose it down.... I'm not a fan. SouthArk370Z, 370zseth and falicfr like this.

02-22-2015, 07:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
1325 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 287 Drives: 10 370Z BLK 6M Rep Power: 14	I use Formula 88 in my engine bay, agitate with a soft-bristled brush then hose down with wide spray pattern water. I then take a Metro Vac Air Force Blaster Side Kick to address any standing water and once dry I spray 303 Aerospace Protectant on all parts. My technique has never failed me. 370zseth likes this.

02-23-2015, 09:34 AM	#7 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	since i have raceramps this year i will be washing my dd's engine bay from UNDER the car with no need for my rhino wood extensions. k, dat dont sound right... 370zseth and busterbull like this.

02-23-2015, 11:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
Bulletz4break Base Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 101 Drives: 2011 370z Rep Power: 10	I use an APC and a steamer. I don't like using a hose or a pressure washer on an engine if I can avoid it. 370zseth likes this.

02-24-2015, 08:47 AM	#10 (permalink)
370zseth Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Palm Coast/Daytona-FL Posts: 319 Drives: 12 370Z Rep Power: 24	So many different methods, but seems like all would work.

02-24-2015, 12:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	yah, just be careful not to force water into the air filter openings on the Z. 370zseth likes this.

02-24-2015, 01:04 PM	#12 (permalink)
RyanWest Track Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tamp, Fl Posts: 714 Drives: 2009 Nissan Rep Power: 33	I use APC and Kwazar bottle from Stay Fresh Car Care. I never really have to agitate because i do it so often. 370zseth likes this.

02-25-2015, 04:33 PM	#13 (permalink)
ZeroZeta Track Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Austin TX Posts: 543 Drives: 2013 Z Rep Power: 12	I have used Foamy engine bright for years on cars that get dirtier than my Z. Just make sure you let it dry out after. Brendan likes this.

08-16-2016, 10:56 AM	#15 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 43 Posts: 36,449 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684440	If you're standing in front of the car looking under the hood, the alternator is to the left of the pulleys in front of the engine. It's sort of down low but above the oil filter. A quick google image search should help you identify it. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

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