Engine Clean

[Finn]

I have a stock 1990 gmc c1500 5.7 engine it has gotten really dirty over the past few weeks and wanted to know how I’m able to clean such an on old engine bay or can I just spray it down?

 

[454cid]

I'd pressure wash it. Be aware that it might not to run for awhile afterwards, or run and then quit.

 

[DerekTheGreat]

I do that every year. I buy Gunk or whatever engine cleaner stuff at the store, hose it all down and then pressure wash it. While it's dripping off I clean all the excess oil I sprayed off the wheel lips and wash the thing for it's only wash of the year. I clean the interior and then fire it up, usually with no issues. Try not to overspray the alternator or real heavy around the coil or distributor.

 

[RichLo]

Gunk is great stuff. Get a couple cans and a stiff plastic bristle brush, soak it down with gunk and take your time with the brush getting into everything before you hose it down. It'll come out looking brand new.

 

[Erik the Awful]

Spray it down when the engine is cold. Spraying a hot engine is a good way to crack an exhaust manifold.

Don't spray the distributor and avoid engine openings like the oil filler cap, dipstick, and TBI assembly.

 

[xXxPARAGONxXx]

Zep Purple is my go-to degreaser. It's insanely good. Wear gloves and eye protection.

Cover electrical connections first, and then you should be able to pressure wash it after soaking it in degreaser.

 

[thinger2]

I have a stock 1990 gmc c1500 5.7 engine it has gotten really dirty over the past few weeks and wanted to know how I’m able to clean such an on old engine bay or can I just spray it down?

Is it just dirty or is caked with grease?
If its just dirt, a trip to the car wash will do the job.
Put plastic bag around the distrubutor and around the throttle body and the alternator.
Bring your own degreaser. The car wash stuff is a rip off.
Dont blow any wiring off.
If it is a grease monster you need a different plan.
If it is just caked in deep built up dirt and oil.
Get under it and scrape as much of that crud as you can.
It is a dirty nasty job but it saves you in the long run.
Oil leaks mixed with dirt become a paste and the solvents evaporate out and turns into hard dried crud.
When you spray the average engine cleaner on that type of crud it melts the top layer for a bit but that crud pulls the solvents back into itself and only the top disolved layer washes off.
When you hit it with the water, whatever limited chemical reaction was happening stops.
Eventually you end up with re-occuring goo.
And a whole bunch of spray cans.
The zepp product is pretty good but I also really like "Keytone" from Lawson.
If you dont have access to those commercial products Easy Off oven cleaner will do the job.
But, you need to be very carefull with that stuff. It will melt the plastic and the rubber and take the paint right off.
And if you spray it in your eye you will likely loose that eye.
If have used the "Fume Free" oven cleaner on aluminum.
It isnt as effective but it does work and as long as you keep a close watch on it and rinse it off it doesnt etch the aluminun like regular Easy Off does.
If you do this, wear a face sheid and safety glasses and pay attention to the blowback when you hose it off.
Dont get under it untill it is bone dry and cant drip on you.

 

[xXxPARAGONxXx]

-snip-

All great advice, especially not getting under a truck still dripping wet (after using degreaser on it).

 

[thinger2]

All great advice, especially not getting under a truck still dripping wet (after using degreaser on it).

Yep. I watched my freind learn that hard lesson back in the 80s.
A big greasy oven cleaner blob dropped in his eye.
Burned his cornea and burned his eyelids.
And then he rubbed it.
His still has the eyeball in his head.
It just doesnt do anything.
Now, at 55 friggen years old.
It is so ****** up that they are going to pull it out to avoid a brain infection.
This is why I fire people from my jobs when they violate PPD
Wear your ******* PPD
PPD is not some oppresive system designed to beat you down.
Old farts who call you a ***** for wearing your PPD is an oppresive system designed to beat you down and chase you out of the industry.
Believe it or not
Those of us who are professional cronstruction project managers do everything we can to keep you alive.
That keeps us up at night.
That is why we come across as assholes and bark orders sometimes.
That is why we fire people for safety offences.
Because I am never ever going to be the guy who calls somebodies wife or husband or parents and tells them that their kid is dead.
Aint gonna ******* happen.
Never.
I know people who have made that call.
I am never making that call.
Wear your PPD and let me do my job and everybody goes home.
If you try to **** around you are gone.
And that is to save you and to save me.
Everybody goes home

 

[alpinecrick]

Spray wash the engine when it's running--have been washing the engine bay of my GMT400's for 30 years, at the car wash or with one of my pressure washers. I wash the engine bay almost every time I wash the truck. Keeping the engine bay clean goes a long ways towards keeping plastic and rubber parts from deteriorating. Half the time my engine bays are cleaner than my interiors....