clean engine bay?, dirty bay Options

[96stgreendemon]

ok my engine bay is filthy and i want to clean it, i bought some meguiars engine cleaner and shine but im hesitant to use it, i have a short ram intake and i was wondering how to go about doing all this. can anyone help me out here?

[mgnt232]

Personally, I would get all the excess loose dirt off and out of the engine bay, with just a sponge and some water. Then take off the valve cover and clean it up real good with the engine cleaner you got, and paint it with high temp paint. It will look alot cleaner and it doesnt really stain like the metal does with the oil and grime.
Then im not sure if your VERY against rice, like some members on here but paint all the plastic pieces in the engine bay, I did it and it gives it a cool look. Look at my profile. I since that picture have painted my exhaust manifold cover with a very high temp paint (its just like a black) but the manifold was not! going to come clean, so this is a good way to clean it up and keep it looking clean.
Also painting the intake looks cool, havent gotten to that yet.

ok my engine bay is filthy and i want to clean it, i bought some meguiars engine cleaner and shine but im hesitant to use it, i have a short ram intake and i was wondering how to go about doing all this. can anyone help me out here?

[96stgreendemon]

how difficult is it the get the valve cover off? i really dont wanna f anything up

[richee3]

I've taken the valve cover off of a 7A before. It's really not a big deal at all. There's some wiring that goes over the left (passenger) side of the valve cover that have to come off, then it's a few bolts and it comes right off with some prying from a flathead screwdriver. I recommend, while you are in there, replacing your valve cover gasket too. They aren't expensive at all.

[mgnt232]

yeah to remove the valve cover you dont need much knowledge of the engine.
The only thing you need to remove are the 4 nuts on the top of the valve cover, and the 2 bolts on the left hand side holding down the wire alternator wire cover, and the alternator power wire. All these bolts are 10mm as well.

But you should absolutely get a new valve cover gasket though. This being because, judging by the look of the engine is has not been replaced in a while, and gaskets go bad, especially when prying around the edges trying to get it off and when its sitting out for a while, while the paint is drying and what not it becomes dried out and will most likely leak.

Also (not sure how much you know, but its an important step that lots of first time people miss). You will also have to get a type of sealant (FIGP is what toyota recommends) any will work, i just got some permatex black gasket maker. Any way the people at the auto store will know what you are talking about if you say sealant that goes under the valve cover gasket.
Ok when you take off your valve cover you will see where the old sealant was, its in most all of the corners (dont worry you will know where it was) so when you take the valve cover off, memorize or write down where it was. Then get all of the old sealant off! very important.
When you go to put it back on just use a small dab where the sealant was a slap the valve cover on, and your good.
Make sure you get engine enamel. normal paint will not! hold up to the temps of the engine. You can find this at any auto store.
Feel free to ask me any questions about ur ST i've done ALOT! of work to mine, and like to help out.

how difficult is it the get the valve cover off? i really dont wanna f anything up

[95CelicaST]

Or if you just want to clean it all up, invest in a pressure washer.


But really, take a plastic bag and tape it over your intake, and tape one over the alternator. If you're super paranoid you can even cover your distributor. Then spray your cleaner on (personally I use Simple Green dilluted in water) and let it sit. Come back in 15-30 minutes and spray everything down with a hose. Now apply some plastic shine crap and you're done.

Go search around on detailersdomain.com. They talk about the correct way to wash the engine bay.

[TinoCel]

(personally I use Simple Green dilluted in water)

Argh, I used that for 6 years when i detailed, great stuff, but REALLY harsh on your lungs/skin. Buy a squirt-bottle of it and go to town on your engine at your nearest car wash, let it soak in for a couple minutes . But like 95Celi said, cover up those 3 with a walmart bag or something and youll be good! There's also a spray called "purple stuff" that makes your tires/rims/wheel-wells look brand new (stock/REAL chrome rims; pep boys chrome brushed alum and and powdercoated will stain so not for those).

Cheers

[nics]

(personally I use Simple Green dilluted in water)

Argh, I used that for 6 years when i detailed, great stuff, but REALLY harsh on your lungs/skin. Buy a squirt-bottle of it and go to town on your engine at your nearest car wash, let it soak in for a couple minutes . But like 95Celi said, cover up those 3 with a walmart bag or something and youll be good! There's also a spray called "purple stuff" that makes your tires/rims/wheel-wells look brand new (stock/REAL chrome rims; pep boys chrome brushed alum and and powdercoated will stain so not for those).

Cheers

should the top of the valve cover where the spark plugs go should be covered as well or water doesnt go in it that much?

[TinoCel]

well.. you shouldn't necessarily be spraying that area too much/long as long as you let the degreaser soak into the buildup. Just go easy

[nics]

time to get a bottle of simple green at work

[Mstoochn]

if you want to do it the easy way, research pressure washing an engine, you can do it safely.

alternative would be a sponge and a tooth brush and the same products you would use to clean your bathroom

[nics]

no budget for pressure washer

[Joe_1985]

before i got a pressure washer this is what i did

get at least 4 or so plastic bags, from say a gas station

go to one of those diy car washes

wrap the dizzy and air filter with bags tightly

spray your engine with cleaner u have and shut hood, ( if the engine is warm and u shut the hood the stuff will act as a steam cleaning effect)

5 minutes later open hood back up and spray engine down carefully with the gun at the carwash.

afterward unwrap everything and let idle for 5 minutes or so then drive away

if missfire occurs water probally got in the dizzy cap or plug tubes, go to a gas station and blow out areas with the tire inflator then wipe dry where possible.

ive only had that happen twice out of at least 100 times ive done this

about your oily mess.....

go to any autoparts store and tell them u want a vavle cover gasket kit for a 7afe

these parts will include

vavle cover gasket

vavle cover grommets

spark plug tube seals


also while u are in there replace the pcv and the 2 hoses that are next to each other on the vavle cover


then go over to toyota or napa and get the dizzy O ring seal and replace that as well while u have everything apart

also id do a tune up and oil change all in 1 shot if needed

This post has been edited by Joe_1985: Nov 10, 2009 - 1:20 AM