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  #1  
Old 11-30-2009, 10:38 AM
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Engine Compartment Cleaning?

My engine compartment is nice and clean and I'd like to keep it that way. Our dusty roads are already building up a film of dust on everything. Is spray cleaning at a car wash an ok thing to do? Or maybe at home with the hose? Seems to me since there's nothing electronic in there and if I'm not too vigorous with spray, there'd be no problem, but what do I know?

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  #2  
Old 11-30-2009, 11:37 AM
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I would use a garden hose with a gentle spray to remove road dust. Do it on a sunny day, of which you have many, so the engine compartment can dry afterwards. Don't spray cold water onto a hot exhaust manifold. Additionally, any time you are working on the car, wipe anything within reach with a clean rag to remove dust and grime.
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  #3  
Old 11-30-2009, 12:03 PM
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I spray Simple Green on (cold Engine problem) areas; let it sit 10-15min and Hose it off while the Engine is cold.

Many times I have gone for a ride right afterwards. If you live some place where the water would freeze; after hosing I would go for a drive to dry everthing out.

I do not know exactly which models but after 1985 some of the models have some electronic part that if you get water in it gets damaged. No one had mentioned this happening to them for alomst 2 years and I did not pay attention as I do not have to worry about that.
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  #4  
Old 11-30-2009, 06:23 PM
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Cleaning an Engine

I maybe speaking out of turn but I have always been told don't clean a diesel engine -- especially the injectors with water. With that said I could be all wet. However, the rationale that I was provided is that the tollerances within an injector are extremely fine and the sudden expansion/contraction that water could cause might mess them up. Also, with today's CDI process it is possible that water could seep into the electronics and cause some major issues. I personally wipe as best as I can my engine compartment with a damp rag once or twice a year.

This isn't a technical argument and I apologize.

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Old 11-30-2009, 06:42 PM
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Simple green will munch at aluminum parts. Don't let it sit for a super long time.

-Jason
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  #6  
Old 11-30-2009, 08:50 PM
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I wrapped the alternator in a plastic bag before washing, removed the air filter assembly, and sealed the turbo shut.

I used purple power, let it sit for 5 minutes, and then hit it with the pressure washer. After air drying for a few minutes (in the sun) I reassembled the air cleaner and drove around to dry the engine. I've gotten many compliments on my spotless diesel engine bay

Make sure you paint/oil the bare metal after washing. After I cleaned my engine I developed rust on the oil pan/block.
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Old 11-30-2009, 09:12 PM
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i don't wrap or mask anything off. i'm crazy that way. i first spray simple green and let it sit a few minutes, then i top it off with engine degreaser and a few more minutes for it to soak in, then a 1500 psi pressure washer. when i first bought my 300d-T turbo, i spent about an hour of constant pressure washing and i got off about 90% of the gunk including from the bottom of the car. crazy gunk created by diesel engines
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  #8  
Old 12-01-2009, 01:19 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Simpler=Better View Post
I wrapped the alternator in a plastic bag before washing, removed the air filter assembly, and sealed the turbo shut.

I used purple power, let it sit for 5 minutes, and then hit it with the pressure washer. After air drying for a few minutes (in the sun) I reassembled the air cleaner and drove around to dry the engine. I've gotten many compliments on my spotless diesel engine bay

Make sure you paint/oil the bare metal after washing. After I cleaned my engine I developed rust on the oil pan/block.
I bought some Purple Power severl hours ago! I have never used it before but it was $9 something a gallon compared to the $11 something that Simple Green costs. So I thought I would try it.
Nice to see some sort of endosement on it.
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Old 12-01-2009, 06:07 AM
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Cool

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sev View Post
i got off about 90% of the gunk including from the bottom of the car. crazy gunk created by diesel engines
It's patina not gunk.
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  #10  
Old 12-01-2009, 10:29 AM
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Of course try not to get the electrics to wet. I have read on this site many times that you do not want to spray cold water on the IP if it is warm, so I don’t. I always clean the engine area of my car with a spray cleaner like Grease Grizzly or similar and then with the hose but I do it after the car has been sitting overnight and the engine is totally cold.
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  #11  
Old 12-01-2009, 12:13 PM
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I like a garden hose on a totally cold engine.
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  #12  
Old 12-01-2009, 01:59 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elchivito View Post
My engine compartment is nice and clean and I'd like to keep it that way. Our dusty roads are already building up a film of dust on everything. Is spray cleaning at a car wash an ok thing to do? Or maybe at home with the hose? Seems to me since there's nothing electronic in there and if I'm not too vigorous with spray, there'd be no problem, but what do I know?
One question about this I've had before and never recieved a satisfactory answer to concerns where the engine oil dipstick enters the engine. My 240D's was wobbling around so badly there must have been a gap large enough for water to get into the sump and yet I could find no mention of a gasket for it or any kind of issue concerning it. Does lead me to wonder about water getting into the sump though.

- Peter.
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  #13  
Old 12-01-2009, 02:15 PM
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My dipstick fits snugly, I don't think that'd be an issue.
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  #14  
Old 12-01-2009, 04:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pj67coll View Post
One question about this I've had before and never recieved a satisfactory answer to concerns where the engine oil dipstick enters the engine. My 240D's was wobbling around so badly there must have been a gap large enough for water to get into the sump and yet I could find no mention of a gasket for it or any kind of issue concerning it. Does lead me to wonder about water getting into the sump though.

- Peter.
If it is a concern to you; you could pull it out and apply Silicone Sealant or JB Epoxy Weld it befor you put it back in.
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  #15  
Old 12-01-2009, 06:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Diesel911 View Post
I bought some Purple Power severl hours ago! I have never used it before but it was $9 something a gallon compared to the $11 something that Simple Green costs. So I thought I would try it.
Nice to see some sort of endosement on it.
Purple power's active ingredient is Potassium Hydroxide IRRC. It is even more aggressive than Simple Green on aluminum so don't let it soak on the aluminum too long. You can see it fizzle.

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