Cyberkinetic

If anyone has seen a diy engine shampoo link somewhere, can you send it over?

Or if anyone has some advice on how to do it properly, I'd love to hear about it. I've heard of peoples engine lights coming on after doing it, so I'm a little concerned.

Just wondering if there are any parts of the engine that I need to cover in an 01 civic.

Thanks

cibs

people say cover the dizzy cap, and an intake if you have one...


when i do it i only cover the intake, then i rinse it down, spray the hell out of it with simple green, let it sit for a few minutes, and then spray it all down...

comes out looking spotless, and takes like 5 min at the coin-op..


oh and apparently simple green isn't good for ashphalt so dont' do it on your driveway, i don't know if it's true but i dont' want to take the chance, rather do it at the coin op..

Nova_Dust

Some Coin-Op prohibits using engine shampoo, so make sure you don't get yelled at for doing so.

Steps I do:

-Open hood, let it sit for a while, preferred cooled down engine

-Get some grocery bags and cover up:
1) battery (or you can remove it completely)
2) Air filter (if you have those cone shape ones, just "bag" it and tight it up at the end)
3) Distributor cap (same as above)
4) I also cover up some of the sensors near the brake master cylinder. I do so because I can see them and you probably don't need to cover them up, but I do it anyways.

-I use GUNK, you can use other similar products found on the shelf of Canadian Tires. Shake the can well then just spray it. I spray it just about everywhere I see and also inside the hood as well. Be ware that the spray pattern is some what "strong". By that, I mean when you press down the nozzle with your finger, the stream of cleaner comes out rather fast and this will cause splash off the parts. Stand away and make sure you don't get it into your eyes.

-Make sure you wear thick industrial strength chemical gloves cause that stuff is corrosive to the max.

-Give it a good 15 minutes. If the valve cover is dirty, then grab a toothbrush and slowly brush on it. Again, don't brush too hard to cuase splash on your skin.

-Rinse it after 15 minutes, don't use power washer, just garden hose or a stream of water that isn't too strong. Let the water run from valve cover down to the tranny.

-After that, you will notice the engine bay looks clean, but also dull. I have heard people using Tire Shampoo to dress up the engine bay but I just leave it like that.

After it is hosed down, start the engine and let the heat dry the water and idel for a while, or just go around the block for a couple minutes.

You will smell the chemical for the next 3 to 4 days. No big deal.

DumbasSi

I don't cover anything up. You're engine gets wet in the rain and in the winter, so what's the big deal. As long as you don't concentrate the water on the distributor/battery/intake, it will be ok.

Personally, I use this stuff from C-T that is a foaming engine cleaner. It looks and smells kind oven cleaner and it probably works the same way too. I can't remember what it's called, but I have to go to C-T later, so I'll look for it. One of my Civics is 8 years old and you could eat of the engine. I think Simple Green sucks, but that's just me.

For the tough really grimey spots, I use stuff called Spray-9 and an old toothbrush. It's a heavy-duty cleaner available in the C-T auto cleaner area. It works great as a degreaser.

I use a garden hose because I'm afraid a pressure washer might blow a wire or something loose.

I've also heard about using tire dressing or Armour All to make everything shiney, but it probably attracts more dirt then it's worth.

imported_GoldBadge

Anybody ever get squeaky belts from washing the engine bay? A friend of mine had his engine power washed (stock mazda 626) and it squeaked like crazy afterwards...I laughed.

Nova_Dust

Also, try not to get the cleaner on the rubber belts.

Gunmetalef

my engine bay is covered in rust proof.. i keep it like that.. rust free EF is the way to go

imported_QRTR

Don't get any water in your sensors or switches or
you'll smoke it up...

imported_Solid Alibye

Well at the dealership when we shampoo '01 and up CIVICS's we ALWAYS rinse them down with the engine cool and **RUNNING**

The problem being with the alternator on '01+ Civics are really sensitive to being doused in water and can cause the voltage regulator to short and f**k; (causes them to charge @ over *18 volts*; instead of about 14V and causes false SRS and/or engine light to come on w/o any codes stored)

SO if you DOn'T have an intake, make sure the engine is cool and RUN it while you power wash/rise it off and make sure you keep away the alternator;

Now if you do have an intake, obviously you want to cover the cone, and then can't ruin the engine; try to over the holes on the alternator and aviod it when you're washing it down.

good luck!

Cyberkinetic

I have a short ram intake, so I plan to cover the cone filter. Suppose I just left the car overnight to dry out completely after the wash, would I still have to be concerned about avoiding certain parts (with the exception of the alternator, which I will not directly spray anyway)?

Thanks

DumbasSi

The engine gets wet everyday in the winter/rain. What is everyone so worried about?

imported_Moe_Mentum

Few more questions to add to the thread. Can anyone confirm if these products are really bad for ashphalt? Anyone out there who can has done this in their driveway that can confirm? Also is it safe to spray this stuff in and around the engine bay to clean that up as well, or should you just concentrate on the engine itself and use other cleaners to clean the walls of the engine bay?

cibs

depends on what stuff you're asking...

i haven't tried it on my driveway, but u could always try it in your neighbours driveway ahhaah

simple green rocks, IMO, i've used all that other stuff, gunk, foaming engine cleaner, simple green works the best and is biodegradable all natural whatever... it says on the bottle

i use the simple green on EVERYTHING. and i mean EVERYTHING... that includes the walls of the engine bay..the only thing i don't overdo it on is the valve cover,( because i polished mine i can clean it off easily by hand, i don't have to soak it as much cuz then it gets discoloured and i have to buff it again), but if you've got a normal valve cover, then you're more than fine.

so my complicated steps are

1 - cover the intake
2 - pre soak the engine bay
3 - spray the bejesus out of it with simple green
4 - wait a few minutes then rinse
5 - enjoy your clean engine bay

i'll prolly do mine sometime this week, maybe i'll post pics for the non-simple green believers

imported_~ILLEST CIV~

I'm with SilverSiG, simple green does wonders...in fact i cleaned my engine bay last Thursday with it...i'll post a pic of it in it's current state, this is with a drive to barrie and back....and driving around the place. . . . .i personally wouldn't use anything else but simple green....ive been using it since i owned this car

imported_SaYjAiBaO

can you pick simple green up at crappy tire?

imported_MMX

Certainly!

Simple Green 710mL = $6.99.

Notorious

I think im going to give Simple Green a try some time this week or next week.

imported_Moe_Mentum

Alright I am going to take your word for it and use it. I'll even post before and after pics, cause my engine bay bad (I only wish my girlfriend was as dirty) I'll try it out on my Driveway as well. If it eats away at it I will bytch and complain to you guys for fun. But if its biodegradeable it shouldn't hurt too much. If anything the oil and filth that it removes might damage the driveway

imported_crx168

I use GUNK Engine grease remover or CD2 engine detailing...I cover up my dizzy, battery. I have a CAI so don't need to cover that up, but if you have short ram, cover the filter up. And just wipe your dizzy and battery with a wet cloth after.

Why would it matter if your engine bay gets wet in the rain or winter?? cos i don't want to take the chances of not covering it up and spend $$ on new parts when i don't have to.

imported_winner007

Cover the alternator and the wires, and cap and battery. Other than that everything should be fine. That is pretty clean ILLEST CIV. Let me buy some simple green too and try it out.