Do you clean your engine?

[Smoky]

Anyone wash their engine? What do you use and any special tricks so as not to damage that expensive oil burning machine?

My 6.0 seems to be dirty especially around the turbo boots. Is there anything I need to check on the boots?

 

[BIG JOE]

Yep, I do.

On a Cold engine.. I cover the Alternator.. then spray a 50/50 mix of Simple Green & water all over everything.. straight Simple Green on the grungy areas. Let it soak.. rinse it all off with HOUSE PRESSURE water Only.. not spraying directly at major electrical connections and areas.

Let it dry, then kinda Detail things 'til I feel good about it

Works Great.

Joe

 

[DaveBen]

Yes, keep that hose away from the electrical connections and wiring. The PCM (the computer that runs the truck) is near the driver's battery, so don't hose that.

Dave

 

[JLDickmon]

Gunk Engine Brite Gel
spray it on, wait five minutes, hose it off

a clean engine is a happy engine..

 

[Scot]

Yep,

Blast mine with some green foam substance at the self serve car wash. I'm never really careful about spraying anything under the hood. If something "MUST" stay dry its going to be protected by design @ Ford. Usually just do it a couple times a year. More if it's going to in for service. I think the dealer guys appreciate a clean one.

 

[Deerjager]

I have always been real nervous about hosing doen my 7.3L. I guess I will use the suggestions here and give it a try.

 

[Stroked68]

I just use our steam cleaner and blast the grime off. My doesnt leak a drop of oil except that normal buildup around the boots. Grime around here protects our trucks from the damn salt they use haha.

 

[Smoky]

I just use our steam cleaner and blast the grime off. My doesnt leak a drop of oil except that normal buildup around the boots. Grime around here protects our trucks from the damn salt they use haha.

What causes the normal buildup around the boots?

Are they leaking?

 

[tankerdude]

I use a 50/50 mix of Super Clean/water. Super Clean is available at WM, and works great. I think it works better than Simple Green, which has a funky smell to me.

Anyway, I use a spray bottle set on "stream" to hit all the hard to reach areas, than a quick once-over the rest of the engine with the spray bottle set so that it will fan out the spray. Let it sit for just a few minutes then use hose water to wash down the entire thing being a little careful around the electronic/electrical stuff. I've done this literally hundreds of times with no problems.

I agree with what Scot said: If it needs to stay dry, Ford designed it to stay dry. I would add one more thing: Ford did NOT design things to stay dry when subjected to water from a pressure washer. I don't ever use THAT on the engine compartment.

 

[BIG JOE]

What causes the normal buildup around the boots?

Are they leaking?

JMO but I don't think they're Leaking Smokey.. I kinda think the grunge comes from the fact that most Boots are made with Siliconized rubber materials.. dust, dirt, grime collects on and around'm.. Warm ups, cool downs, outside temps/humidity verses under the hood temps.. Whalla.. Build-ups ?

I've found a good Hose Down, now & then.. with just just the water hose keeps My engine bay.. to my like'n