Degreasing the engine bay
#1
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Rep Power: 233 Degreasing the engine bay
Hi, I'm planning on cleaning things up a bit and have somewhat of a shameful question
From what I've gathered, before hosing everything down, I need to cover: fuse box, alternator, and an intake (I have an 01 model so there is no distributor).
Could somebody be kind enough to outline the alternator on this picture:
Also, is there anything also I may need to cover - I really don't want the engine light to come on. Thank you!
From what I've gathered, before hosing everything down, I need to cover: fuse box, alternator, and an intake (I have an 01 model so there is no distributor).
Could somebody be kind enough to outline the alternator on this picture:
Also, is there anything also I may need to cover - I really don't want the engine light to come on. Thank you!
#2
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Rep Power: 787 Re: Degreasing the engine bay
what kind of car is that? any pics? ive never seen the brake/clutch fluid on the opposite side, and no power steering? and the headlights and grill seem new to me too...anyway for your question, the intake air filter is inside those black boxes so no need to cover anything. you could put a piece of tape over that snorkel piece by the battery if you want, just remember to remove it before starting the car. cover the alternator and thats pretty much it. i would let the car dry completely before driving it tho like at least overnight. alternator should be down below on the right side where that thick a/c hose is. sortof near the washer fluid tank.
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Rep Power: 233 Re: Degreasing the engine bay
That's actually not my Civic. I thought I found the fitting picture but come to think of it, it does look different.
I'm guessing the location of the alternator should at least be the same...and would still like to know where it is at. Thanks again.
I'm guessing the location of the alternator should at least be the same...and would still like to know where it is at. Thanks again.
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Rep Power: 787 Re: Degreasing the engine bay
check down below between the header and washer fluid area where the empty space is in the pic. should be below the power steering pump and reservoir.
#5
Re: Degreasing the engine bay
this is what I did. took me about an hour and a half - but i was very careful and was very quick with the hose.
1) Taped off the intake, fuse box, battery with tin foil
2) Altnerator is impossible to tape off because its under the power steering pump so i just took tin foil and slide it down as far as it can go near the alt, it wont cover it perfect but it will help
3) Spray the entire bay with simple green and let it sit for 5mins
4) take a toothbrush and scrub tough dirt.
5) let sit for 5 more mins
6) hose it down with your house hose with the nozzle adjusted to its widest spray
7) i was very quick with my hosing, i only hosed it for about 30secs tops cause didnt want water to get in spots where its not suppose to go
8) let dry for overnight
1) Taped off the intake, fuse box, battery with tin foil
2) Altnerator is impossible to tape off because its under the power steering pump so i just took tin foil and slide it down as far as it can go near the alt, it wont cover it perfect but it will help
3) Spray the entire bay with simple green and let it sit for 5mins
4) take a toothbrush and scrub tough dirt.
5) let sit for 5 more mins
6) hose it down with your house hose with the nozzle adjusted to its widest spray
7) i was very quick with my hosing, i only hosed it for about 30secs tops cause didnt want water to get in spots where its not suppose to go
8) let dry for overnight
#6
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I'm glad I live in a relatively clean area, without dirt roads, salt in the winter, etc. My engine bay looks a bit dirty during the one month rainy season in SoCal. I'd rather have a filthy car on the outside, but a clean interior and engine bay. The interior is for the ladies and my OCD. Dates can live with a dirty car, but not a car with crap all over the seats and old McDonald's cups in the cupholders. I don't know about you, but I spend the majority of my time driving on the inside. Clutter = chaos. As for the engine bay, not a lot of gearheads I know have a crappy looking area under the hood. Their car car may look like crap, but their engine is their pride and joy. This is my reasoning for keeping the mechanical portions of my car immaculate. When you take your car in for servicing and your engine is clean, they know you are serious about the upkeep of your car. If your car is detailed to the max and you have a crappy looking engine bay full if grease and dirt. It seems you only care about appearances. 20 years of hosing down engines, without a problem. I try not to do it when everthing is hot, however. Just wipe everything down thoroughly. You should never have an engine bay looking like that, unless you live in the snow.
I clean my engine bay at least once a month. If it's a little dusty l'll hose it down and wipe everything down. Unless you're degreasing, which I really don't understand, because I tend to fix/clean any leaks before it can get that far gone, I only cover my intake with a plastic bag. When I was stock, nothing. Alternators, distributors, etc, are designed to get wet.
I clean my engine bay at least once a month. If it's a little dusty l'll hose it down and wipe everything down. Unless you're degreasing, which I really don't understand, because I tend to fix/clean any leaks before it can get that far gone, I only cover my intake with a plastic bag. When I was stock, nothing. Alternators, distributors, etc, are designed to get wet.
#7
Re: Degreasing the engine bay
you just use water and paper towel? no simple green or degreaser?
I'm glad I live in a relatively clean area, without dirt roads, salt in the winter, etc. My engine bay looks a bit dirty during the one month rainy season in SoCal. I'd rather have a filthy car on the outside, but a clean interior and engine bay. The interior is for the ladies and my OCD. Dates can live with a dirty car, but not a car with crap all over the seats and old McDonald's cups in the cupholders. I don't know about you, but I spend the majority of my time driving on the inside. Clutter = chaos. As for the engine bay, not a lot of gearheads I know have a crappy looking area under the hood. Their car car may look like crap, but their engine is their pride and joy. This is my reasoning for keeping the mechanical portions of my car immaculate. When you take your car in for servicing and your engine is clean, they know you are serious about the upkeep of your car. If your car is detailed to the max and you have a crappy looking engine bay full if grease and dirt. It seems you only care about appearances. 20 years of hosing down engines, without a problem. I try not to do it when everthing is hot, however. Just wipe everything down thoroughly. You should never have an engine bay looking like that, unless you live in the snow.
I clean my engine bay at least once a month. If it's a little dusty l'll hose it down and wipe everything down. Unless you're degreasing, which I really don't understand, because I tend to fix/clean any leaks before it can get that far gone, I only cover my intake with a plastic bag. When I was stock, nothing. Alternators, distributors, etc, are designed to get wet.
I clean my engine bay at least once a month. If it's a little dusty l'll hose it down and wipe everything down. Unless you're degreasing, which I really don't understand, because I tend to fix/clean any leaks before it can get that far gone, I only cover my intake with a plastic bag. When I was stock, nothing. Alternators, distributors, etc, are designed to get wet.
#10
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Rep Power: 173 Re: Degreasing the engine bay
My engine bay is a nasty greasy mess. But winters here are 5 months and god bless any little soul who tries to keep a car clean up here during winter.
#11
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Re: Degreasing the engine bay
this is what I did. took me about an hour and a half - but i was very careful and was very quick with the hose.
1) Taped off the intake, fuse box, battery with tin foil
2) Altnerator is impossible to tape off because its under the power steering pump so i just took tin foil and slide it down as far as it can go near the alt, it wont cover it perfect but it will help
3) Spray the entire bay with simple green and let it sit for 5mins
4) take a toothbrush and scrub tough dirt.
5) let sit for 5 more mins
6) hose it down with your house hose with the nozzle adjusted to its widest spray
7) i was very quick with my hosing, i only hosed it for about 30secs tops cause didnt want water to get in spots where its not suppose to go
8) let dry for overnight
1) Taped off the intake, fuse box, battery with tin foil
2) Altnerator is impossible to tape off because its under the power steering pump so i just took tin foil and slide it down as far as it can go near the alt, it wont cover it perfect but it will help
3) Spray the entire bay with simple green and let it sit for 5mins
4) take a toothbrush and scrub tough dirt.
5) let sit for 5 more mins
6) hose it down with your house hose with the nozzle adjusted to its widest spray
7) i was very quick with my hosing, i only hosed it for about 30secs tops cause didnt want water to get in spots where its not suppose to go
8) let dry for overnight
My only question is this, did you think about what would have happened if the foil had touched the terminals on the battery?
#12
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Rep Power: 260 Re: Degreasing the engine bay
Just a reminder guys, if your doing serious degreasing work please spend a few dollars and go to a car wash where they'll actually capture the run off and filter out the oil and containments before it enters storm drains and eventually the river systems.
It's a small thing to do, but if everyone did that it would make a big difference.
It's a small thing to do, but if everyone did that it would make a big difference.
#14
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so much better. if you have more time, you could get a plastic protectant and wipe down some of those black plastics. and metal polish some of the a/c lines.
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Rep Power: 269 Re: Degreasing the engine bay
^ LOL
Nice before and after. Yeah, I agree with Gearbox, about protectant and metal polish. Back in the day, I waxed everything, dust/dirt would never stick. I got that tip from him years ago, when I saw a pic of his engine bay. Now that's an immaculate engine bay!
Nice before and after. Yeah, I agree with Gearbox, about protectant and metal polish. Back in the day, I waxed everything, dust/dirt would never stick. I got that tip from him years ago, when I saw a pic of his engine bay. Now that's an immaculate engine bay!
#19
Re: Degreasing the engine bay
Well i would like my bay to look like this. This guy spent 3 days cleaning his bay.
#20
Kustom Painter
Re: Degreasing the engine bay
I haven't noticed too many stock pics of our engine bays, but when I got my car the positive terminal didn't have one of those protective covers. I just assumed they didn't come with one. lol
#21
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Rep Power: 787 Re: Degreasing the engine bay
i dont have one either but i had to buy new terminals once the stockers lost their grip and wouldnt tighten anymore. and i have a metal battery tie so i have to be extra careful having + and - few inches apart
#24
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