Cleaning Honda Engine Compartment - Need Advice

[Joe Blo]

I have a 97 accord with 130K miles. The engine compartment is filthy and I would like it to look as clean as my exterior, especially before I eventually sell it. It seems that the consesus is to use something mild like simple green and to spray it on a cool engine and then after rinse with low pressure water. It is not clear however which under hood components need to be covered up to prevent damage by water or simple green. I would like to tap the experience of Honda owners who regulary clean their engine bays and ask what they cover up when doing this procedure and with what do you cover it with. Thanks

 

[Mach5]

I have a 97 accord with 130K miles. The engine compartment is filthy and I would like it to look as clean as my exterior, especially before I eventually sell it. It seems that the consesus is to use something mild like simple green and to spray it on a cool engine and then after rinse with low pressure water. It is not clear however which under hood components need to be covered up to prevent damage by water or simple green. I would like to tap the experience of Honda owners who regulary clean their engine bays and ask what they cover up when doing this procedure and with what do you cover it with. Thanks

cover all electricals. common sense. dizzy, fuses, spark plug cover on dohc, alternator, etc. cover spark plug wires well where they meet the valve cover, otherwise you'll have a fun afternoon sucking through a straw.

 

[Guest]

I have a 97 accord with 130K miles. The engine compartment is filthy and I would like it to look as clean as my exterior, especially before I eventually sell it. It seems that the consesus is to use something mild like simple green and to spray it on a cool engine and then after rinse with low pressure water. It is not clear however which under hood components need to be covered up to prevent damage by water or simple green. I would like to tap the experience of Honda owners who regulary clean their engine bays and ask what they cover up when doing this procedure and with what do you cover it with. Thanks

I've been using the commercial wand-style carwashes on engines for decades.

I prop the hood up, put my quarters in the timer, and give the wholc vehicle a once-over, from at least 3 feet away, just to get it all wet, engine compartment included. I then go top to bottom on the whole vehicle, underside of the hood, top of the hood, and yes, the whole engine. The engine comes clean without having to have the concentrated water stream so close that it will invade areas that are better off water free. Just use common sense.

Then rinse; again with a common sense distance between the area being washed and the nozzle.

I wash radiators, too, just not so close as to deform the fins, and always with as perpendicular an angle to the fins as I can.

Never had any problems. YMMV.

 

[Guest]

I have a 97 accord with 130K miles. The engine compartment is filthy and I would like it to look as clean as my exterior, especially before I eventually sell it. It seems that the consesus is to use something mild like simple green and to spray it on a cool engine and then after rinse with low pressure water. It is not clear however which under hood components need to be covered up to prevent damage by water or simple green. I would like to tap the experience of Honda owners who regulary clean their engine bays and ask what they cover up when doing this procedure and with what do you cover it with. Thanks

I've been using the commercial wand-style carwashes on engines for decades.

I prop the hood up, put my quarters in the timer, and give the wholc vehicle a once-over, from at least 3 feet away, just to get it all wet, engine compartment included. I then go top to bottom on the whole vehicle, underside of the hood, top of the hood, and yes, the whole engine. The engine comes clean without having to have the concentrated water stream so close that it will invade areas that are better off water free. Just use common sense.

Then rinse; again with a common sense distance between the area being washed and the nozzle.

I wash radiators, too, just not so close as to deform the fins, and always with as perpendicular an angle to the fins as I can.

Never had any problems. YMMV.

 

[Guest]

I have a 97 accord with 130K miles. The engine compartment is filthy and I would like it to look as clean as my exterior, especially before I eventually sell it. It seems that the consesus is to use something mild like simple green and to spray it on a cool engine and then after rinse with low pressure water. It is not clear however which under hood components need to be covered up to prevent damage by water or simple green. I would like to tap the experience of Honda owners who regulary clean their engine bays and ask what they cover up when doing this procedure and with what do you cover it with. Thanks

I've been using the commercial wand-style carwashes on engines for decades.

I prop the hood up, put my quarters in the timer, and give the wholc vehicle a once-over, from at least 3 feet away, just to get it all wet, engine compartment included. I then go top to bottom on the whole vehicle, underside of the hood, top of the hood, and yes, the whole engine. The engine comes clean without having to have the concentrated water stream so close that it will invade areas that are better off water free. Just use common sense.

Then rinse; again with a common sense distance between the area being washed and the nozzle.

I wash radiators, too, just not so close as to deform the fins, and always with as perpendicular an angle to the fins as I can.

Never had any problems. YMMV.

 

[Kent Shaw]

I have a 97 accord with 130K miles. The engine compartment is filthy and I would like it to look as clean as my exterior, especially before I eventually sell it. It seems that the consesus is to use something mild like simple green and to spray it on a cool engine and then after rinse with low pressure water. It is not clear however which under hood components need to be covered up to prevent damage by water or simple green. I would like to tap the experience of Honda owners who regulary clean their engine bays and ask what they cover up when doing this procedure and with what do you cover it with. Thanks

Simple Green is not mild and is corrosive to aluminum engines. The Army has send out a notice for aircraft maintenance shops to stop using it on aircraft for that reason. Since you are getting it ready to sell, make sure that you complete the sale before the aluminum engine starts turning white. A better and safer cleaner is Varsol. Cleans great and causes no damage to any of the parts.

 

[Jon]

A good spray of CRC especially meant to "dewater" engines after you cover the distributor, and high voltage spark plug components will help. Otherwise you could end up with a no start, due to high voltage going all over the place. A good degreaser applied several minutes before applying a high pressure water jet will do it. The alternator is resistant to water and is not usually affected by it, as it dries out very quickly. Don't clean it when the engine is still HOT. When its warm its easier to clean, so do it then. It will also dry out easier. Be prepared for a hard start at times. Get it done professionally if youre worried.

 

[Randy Mize]

an untouched, un cleaned engine that runs well is a big plus to me when shopping for a used car, for what its worth

 

[Michael Simon]

Joe.
I cover the distributor, and plug wires. You should cover any control units you see under the hood. I use Sample Green and low pressure "my thumb over the end of the garden hose to produce a mist. I do this once a year. When you finish star the engine and let run to operating temp with the hood open. You might here the belts squawk a bit but this is normal. Hope this helps.
Mike

 

[Michael Simon]

Joe.
I cover the distributor, and plug wires. You should cover any control units you see under the hood. I use Sample Green and low pressure "my thumb over the end of the garden hose to produce a mist. I do this once a year. When you finish star the engine and let run to operating temp with the hood open. You might here the belts squawk a bit but this is normal. Hope this helps.
Mike

 

[Michael Simon]

Joe.
I cover the distributor, and plug wires. You should cover any control units you see under the hood. I use Sample Green and low pressure "my thumb over the end of the garden hose to produce a mist. I do this once a year. When you finish star the engine and let run to operating temp with the hood open. You might here the belts squawk a bit but this is normal. Hope this helps.
Mike