How do you clean your engine?

I bought a tornador gun which needs to be connected to a compressor but it's absolutely fantastic to clean the engine compartment. It's not cheap (bought mine on eBay for 140$) but it's such a great tool and it can be used to clean the interior also. It uses very little water and shoots it at high speed so there is no water saturation or possible damage.

Once the engine is all done, let it dry and spray some autoglym for that nice shiny look (it also lasts a long time)

 

After warm up of course, I run the car as hard as it can take. I bet you could eat off the insides. ;-)

 

I've been wondering the same thing. Im not afraid to wash the exterior with water as some are buy the engine has been a different story.

 

Get it
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since we're on this topic, as stooopid as this sounds, but how much of water is safe to get into the engine bay? after a recent downpour, there is this terrible high pitched squealing noise which seems to be coming off the alternator belts.........it will last for about 10-20 seconds if the throttle is not touched and it comes on and off from time to time.....irrespective of if the engine is warm or not......
however if the throttle is pressed and the rpm goes above 2000rmp, it stops immediately..... i did have noise once before the the majors were done after after a wash actually and was told here that the alt. belt pulley could be loose? could this be the issue again? but why only after water getting into the engine bay area ?

ps: i don't have those netting on the engine bay cover..... must i get them on to prevent too much water getting in (if water could be a problem?) thanks
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Fab, does it spray foam cleaner then you rinse the engine with water?

 

The netting is not going to help keep any water out. If your alt belt is only marginally loose, then it may only squeal when it is wet. So if I were you, I would just check the belt and tighten it a bit (making sure it is not too tight).

 

The gun I have is not the foam gun, you fill the container which holds about 1/2 litre and you can do the entire car, interior and engine bay with it.

You only need water and a microfiber rag.

I am away from the garage but the autoglym I use is the typical white autoglym square bottle with the orange writing on the front.

 

A can of tire foam (any brand) on all your black parts. Takes 90sec's and walk away. come back in an hour and it's done. You may have to just wipe off a tiny puddle here and there on the large horizontal pieces but that's it. Do it for all your cars every 2-3 months, works like a charm!

 

I like a mix of simple green and water and small brushes to get off heavy oiled areas.

 

Lot's of posts on this topic. Here's how I did mine...

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=248396

- Eric

 

Sounds likes an application from a stick of Dry Lube on the inside of your belts would do the trick.

Certainly worth a try.

 

thanks alot mate....i realise that i prob should have started a new thread instead of parasiting on this one!!! sorry to the rest for that... anyway, just to let you know that you were spot on, the alt belt was loose.....tightened it and presto.....all noises gone......

 

+1

And smells perty also

Just please stay away for wires and wire connectors in these cars, cover them with baggys before wetting things down

 

Basically I do the same thing wtih my 348 that Zagamies (official Ferrari Dealer here in Melbourne) does. I asked after I got a clean as part of my service.

Simply turn on the car and while the engine is idling its happy spraying with my pressure cleaner. Have to be honest I don't use any soap at all just high pressure water and I can eat dinner out of my engine bay !!! (only if really hungry but :/)

 

How do I clean MY engine?

I wait until its out of the engine bay durring a major, and then remove every single speck of dirt and grime. Then I don't worry about it at all for another 3-7 years.

I do confess to wiping down some exterior parts on the top of the engine every other month or so.

 

I use mine all the time and love it. My engine is always very very clean and never gets soaked in water so there is never an issue of humidity getting into the wiring or the ECUs. Have you made sure it´s working correctly?

Once I hook it up, I do the entire car....sorry but my review is that the Tornador is fantastic altough it is a little expensive.

 

It is indeed not a pressure gun and it does not hurt. The water travels at high speed but it´s so misty and there is so little of it that it definetly won´t hurt on the skin.

 

Looked this thread up searching for a way to clean the underbody.

Sounds like Tornador does not have much cleaning power to take off oily sludge and grease.

 

Just got my car serviced at Aston Martin NE, and they steam cleaned the engine. looks brand new!
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That looks amazing John...like showroom new