my whole engine compartment looks like a mess.

I still have the original 'tweaked' hood on from when I hit the deer, so theres about an inch gap between the top of the grille and hood, blowing all the water and crap right over the top of the engine. Lately everything basically is just looking white with corrosion and oxidizing powdery stuff. The center section of my turbo is covered with surface rust too.:mad:

Any efficent way to go about cleaning it? What stuff should I use to clean it, and maybe like one of those 3M scrub pads. And in the future after I sit down and actually work hard on cleaning it, anything I can do to keep it somewhat looking nice? Besides moving down to georgia so I can have a engine that looks like Brandon's (BMDMAX).:cool:

spray it with WD-40?? :confuzeld:

The white corrosion will rub off if I scrub it with a finger...I want to clean the engine soon before the white powder becomes permanent :rolleyes: :mad:

ideas??

ben

Might try brightener at a truck wash. Be careful though, that stuff will damage it if left on too long.

I have the same crap...all over my alternator...and any other engine component...i always thought it was from the nice salt that gets spread on the road...ben lemme know if you find something that makes it look nice fairly easy

Ben, its probably salt. They salt so much here that your whole truck will turn white.

Mine is like that too... :(

so if I clean it can I put anything on it to keep it nice?

wax or wax polish of some time. i usually use a extra fine steel wool cloth(works good for slight surface rust). maybe put some type of armor all or pertectant on rubber and plastic parts.

WD-40 evaporates so it would not give you protection to keep the corosion from coming back.

I used something called Corrosion X, I used it on a ATV Honda TRX 400 Motor that was sitting outside for a while. Sprayed it on, then let it soak. THen used a engine cleaner on it then washed it off. It worked pretty good. Nevery tried it on truck parts tho. It works good to break rusted bolts loose also.

I think we need to watch what we use to clean the engine....some of the chemicals do not react very nicely with the aluminum in our engine bays

Use a motorcycle cleaner, like...

1. S-100
2. Honda-Brite

Use these only when the engine is cold - spray a light coating of wd-40 to protect from corrosion.

jeff

I think we need to watch what we use to clean the engine....some of the chemicals do not react very nicely with the aluminum in our engine bays
Not to mention electrical components...In the past ive had my engine steam cleaned at the dealer like once a yr.. I figure if they screw somethign up, at least theyll know who did it..

I use WD-40 everywhere on my truck. I also hose it down a couple times a year with the steam cleaner. WD works great, and it's safe to get everywhere, except for the belt...

Get a good spray bottle and buy a gallon - cheaper, and more effecient (put it where you want it) than the aerosol.

I have posted my cleaning recipe before and it is pretty much a simple deal, I try to do it at least four times a year.

Go to your favorite store and get some of the Ziploc food covers - multiple size box, they look like shower caps in various sizes.

Get a roll of tin foil.

Get a degreaser cleaner like Super Orange or Simple Green, either one works great. I sometimes use Gunk Foamy engine brite for a bit deeper cleaning if necessary.

Once you have all that fun stuff pull the truck into the drive or where you clean it. Let the engine cool.

Use the various covers to cover the critical electronics. I cover the FICM and CAN-BUS connectors, my electronics for gauge sending units, air filter, etc. Foil makes a good cover for some electronics or can help keep the baggies in place as well.

Spray your cleaner of choice all over the engine. Let it soak for a good while. I often wash my wheels or some other part of the truck while the cleaner does its magic.

Fill a bucket with more cleaner and water, suds it up and grab an old wash mitt. Now wash up the engine, everywhere you can reach. It will remove, grease, salt and corrosion with no problem.

Rinse the engine bay with low pressure water, a blast spray or pressure wash is unecessary and only increases risk.

Break out the air compressor and use the air chuck to blow off excess water. Remove the baggies and foil. Towel dry the rest.

You can apply your protectant of choice at this point but normally it is not required.

This program will keep your engine bay looking brand new with ease, IF you do it regularly. Don't let the crud build up. This is guaranteed to give you the "Georgia" look, it ain't just the nice weather down here that does the trick. ;)

Ben,
I am suprised with all your free time at school to dwell on electrical compoents etc, that you haven't disassembled the whole enginge and cleaned it with a tooth brush. But as I live in the salt belt also, I have then engine corrosion. I usually run it through one of those fancy carwashes in the winter with the underside pressure sprayers and then in the spring go over the engine with the pressure washer with the soap and when dry wd-40 the whole thing.

pics :mad:

Its on the to-do list...clean the engine, before that junk gets permanent

ducttape the gaps in your hood so you dont get more salt water in there :grd: ):h

Just buy a Van, you can't see anything under the hood so it always looks good.

:lol: :funnypost:

Are you not running your fender liners or where they just gone during the pic? Getting water alone on a hot motor will cause deposits like that.

I took the passenger side fender off because it is being painted. (from the deer)