car engine question (cheap car related...)

[72Twenty]

Ok, I want and need to clean off the engine in my Justy Eco-Pimp Mobile. Anyway, anyone have any tips on hosing off an engine? In the past when I've done it (to an old Subaru GL Wagon), I've sprayed degreaser on it then drove it a little to get it hot and break up a bunch of the crud, then went to the carwash and sprayed it off.

THe problem with the Justy is that the alternator is low down and not on top. I know I want to try and avoid spraying that, but it is right in the line of fire...

Any tips on how to do this?

[lemon boy]

lightly wet the engine down (it is okay for it to be cold) spray everything you want cleaned with simple green let it sit for a few mins, respray and let sit a couple more then rinse. I find that just a garden hose is fine. I would avoid using the pressure washer b/c you can blast water into places that normally wouldn't get it.

Try to keep it away from electical parts but don't get psycho about it. The alt will be okay if it gets a little wet. The two most important things to keep relatively dry are your air intake (wet air filter and/or water in the intake = bad) and your distributor cap (wet dist= no go and corrosion). I would also try to not thourougly wet the plug wires.

Do it on a warm sunny day and just leave it for an hour or two parked in the sun with the hood open. The water will evaporate quickly.

[El Chupacabra]

If there are any computer-controlled bits in a Justy (sensors, etc), wrap them in plastic (saran wrap + rubber bands) before hosing.

[Schralper]

DONT USE THE HI PRESSURE HOSE @ the car wash!
"Gunk foamy engine brite" on a warm, not hot engine. Simply green for finish work. Not as powerful a Gunk.
Just garden hose spray it off. If you ever drive on the rain your alt has been soaked so a lil more mositure shouldn't hurt. If your connections/electrics are so poorly sealed that they need baggies to protect, buy another car! Dont spray directly into alt.
Why the cleaning? Time to chrome it?

[72Twenty]

Nah, not gonna chrome it out.

Just wanna clean the gunk off of it so'z I can spy any leaks, etc.

I'm gonna change the plugs, air filter, oil, etc. too. Just routine stuff you should do when buying a private party used car...

Plus I just like a clean engine. I need to clean off the one in my Impreza too, but there is so much electrical stuff in that one.....