What's up!! My engine in my Lightning is dirty as hell, and I was thinking about cleaning it up...maybe to show quality. I was wondering what everyone recommended on any special chemicals, technique's, or just some better way's to get it super clean other than just taking a sprayer to it. Thanks.

 

a good way to clean engine compartments would be to take a pressure washer to it...this will clean it good , this is how a lot of dealerships clean their engines also, however you must be careful where you point it. such as watch your plugs and your distributor and your computer. Hope this helps
good luck

 

Just my 02 cents, I would not spray water on it. I have heard of to many people getting water in the spark plug holes; therefore, having to replace coil packs.

 

i guess that will leave you to hand wash it

 

I was gona try one of those little steam machines that you see on tv anybody try that or think it would work.

 

Well that is kinda what I do. I get some 409, a rag, and go to town.

 

I have used one of these machines, not on my engine though. In my opinion, they suck. It takes to long, it is like you have to move an inch a minute or something. I guess you could compare it to the Mr. Clean auto dry car wash system, it takes just as long if not longer to rinse it with their spray gun, than it takes to dry it. That is why I wash, and then get the leaf blower out.

 

I washed under the engine last year at a carwash and I had a rough idle from there on out. I took it to a mechanic $275 later turns out I had gotten a coil pack wet!! I never wash under the hood now. Just take your time and a bunch of towels.

 

CD2 cleaner and detailer works good. spray the cleaner all over and let sit ten minutes then rinse off. drive it around to make it dry quicker then spray on the detailer and let it sit. will look like a brand new motor when you are done.

 

Don't you just hate getting water on your distributor and I hate it even more getting water in my computer cause it gets my carpet and seats wet too.....

Keeping in mind Gen 2 Lightnings don't have a distrbutor and your PCM(computer) is inside the truck.

 

I thought something was strange, If we have coil packs we dont need distributors

 

Guys - it's just a dialect thing - we call them VENDORS!

Herb

 

I just use a strong foam degreaser...use spot free low pressure, and then a leaf blower. That will get it clean, but then I usually wipe it down with some sort of medium-low gloss interior shine. I dont recomend using a tire grease as dirt sticks to it easily, and it makes it a little harder to clean next time.

I only cover the cone filter with a bag, and my intake pipe and MAF because they are polished and dont like water. The rest of it is safe with low pressure spraying.