Don't fear the cleaner

[Atomic-Mouse]

I wash under the hood once a year just before I park the jeeps for the winter. I cover the alternator with a plastic shopping bag, pre spray simple green and rinse with a garden hose with a spray nozzle. Then a tornado blow gun to blow off as much water at possible and dry things off.

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[roaniecowpony]

I just drive around in my Jeep, when I work up the courage, in a shell-shocked look....wondering how many more engines I will have to change in this thing.

 

[SadRobot]

I just drive around in my Jeep, when I work up the courage, in a shell-shocked look....wondering how many more engines I will have to change in this thing.

You and I are only on engine #2. @beachbumm78 is already up to engine #4 I think.

 

[Gio]

I don’t detail like some, but if I end up with lots of mud under the hood I use a garden hose with a nozzle on a wide spray pattern. Then I use a spray bottle filled with Simple Grren aircraft as recommended by @roaniecowpony followed by rinse with the hose nozzle on a wide spay pattern. I use an electric leaf blower to push any pooled water off surfaces, then drive it so the engine heat evaporates any leftover water. I have a pressure washer but personally wouldn’t use it on the engine bay.
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The leaf blower is one of the more underrated tools in the barn!
I use it for blowing out the inside of the rig occasionally, I also clean my lawn mower in a similar fashion to the quoted post here. The leaf blower in "Turbo Mode" takes care of trapped moisture and things end up clean and dry.

I like to restart the motor just to get a little heat and further evaporation for areas the blower may have missed.

I have not, but will be trying the Simple Green.

 

[X35]

I’ve always used Simple Green and the garden hose on the engine bays of my vehicles. I start the engine and let it run a little after blowing everything down with compressed air. Never had any issues.

 

[NWJeepr]

I've always been nervous about opening up the hood and actually cleaning *under there* at a car wash (baby take my hand).

questions:

1 - wouldn't I run a risk of chemicals getting into the air intake for the engine? isn't water also bad?

2 - what about fragility in the form of high pressure water hitting hoses and whatnot? any chance of knocking things off kilter?

3 - we'll be able to fly?

Maybe watch some youtube videos on detailing engine bays.

The basics are don't spray the air intake, alternator, fuse box, accessory pulleys, or any electrical connections directly. Keep the wand 12-18" away from whatever you're spraying and keep moving, don't dwell on one spot. Don't let degreasers or cleaners dry before rinsing...especially on metals, big no no. Degreasers can stain and corrode aluminum.

I don't know about #3, you've really lost me there.

 

[Brad Hearing]

Maybe watch some youtube videos on detailing engine bays.

The basics are don't spray the air intake, alternator, fuse box, accessory pulleys, or any electrical connections directly. Keep the wand 12-18" away from whatever you're spraying and keep moving, don't dwell on one spot. Don't let degreasers or cleaners dry before rinsing...especially on metals, big no no. Degreasers can stain and corrode aluminum.

I don't know about #3, you've really lost me there.

Romeo and Juliet
Are together in eternity

 

[jadmt]

mine are not show vehicles so

i just use a damp micro fiber cloth, if things are particularly bad I will use a small amount of dawn soap otherwise just plain warm water and wipe everything down every couple of months or sooner if doing a moab or similar trip...
mazda has 40,000 miles in 2 years and jeep 16000 miles in a year and a half...hood liners get the same wipe down..

 

[beachbumm78]

You and I are only on engine #2. @beachbumm78 is already up to engine #4 I think.

Still hanging in there on Engine #3. Although I did already get the dreaded cycle engine light for a Bank 1 issue. Thankfully was fixed under warranty. But does not make me feel good about the life of the engine for sure!

 

[Tr4ckD4ys]

I wash under the hood once a year just before I park the jeeps for the winter. I cover the alternator with a plastic shopping bag, pre spray simple green and rinse with a garden hose with a spray nozzle. Then a tornado blow gun to blow off as much water at possible and dry things off.

As in you don’t daily your jeeps? Man I’ve been putting on 3500 miles in less than 6 weeks. I drive it through sand, mud, dirt and manhattan potholes pretty much daily!

I’m actually surprised at how many folks on this forum look at their Jeeps as weekenders instead of daily drivers. I’ve always wondered: Is it because you want to prolong its life for the fun stuff rather than waste miles on plain roads? Kinda feels like a luxury to have that perspective.

 

[NWJeepr]

Romeo and Juliet
Are together in eternity

oh, duh. Blue Oyster Cult!

 

[roaniecowpony]

You and I are only on engine #2. @beachbumm78 is already up to engine #4 I think.

Yeah, but owning a jeep has aged me beyond my years.

Before I bought a jeep.

After just a few years of jeep ownership.

 

[NWJeepr]

Yeah, but owning a jeep has aged me beyond my years.

And people don't believe me when I say the 3.6 is junk, a boat anchor...

 

[PhrogUSMC]

I only cleaned mine to chase a coolant smell lol .... never did see any leaks anywhere.

I currently have a coolant leak coming from the top of my reservoir. That's probably the cleanest part of my engine bay at the moment.

 

[jadmt]

Yeah, but owning a jeep has aged me beyond my years.

Before I bought a jeep.

After just a few years of jeep ownership.

4xe will do that to you....

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