How to clean engine compartment?

[traveler]

Being new to Porsches I'm curious how is the best way to clean up the engine & engine compartment. It's not all that dirty yet, but I don't want it to get that way either.

[jazzbass]

Four easy steps:

1. Remove Engine
2. Pressure wash engine compartment
3. Wash engine
4. Reinstall engine

This is only partly in jest. Sure, you can wrap all the electrics in baggies, spray Gunk (I hear Castrol Purple degreaser works well too - just hose the aluminum off quickly) all over everything and hose it off, and your engine will be clean enough for a normal person. But once you get the disease (and you will get it), such paltry measures will hardly be enough.

Wait until you spend an entire weekend scrubbing your wheel wells - then you know the sickness has firmly taken hold. You did know the wheel wells are supposed to be body colored, right ?

[Paul Franssen]

Pink or Black or in-between???

[Luke Hudson]

there some excellent articles on this very website, see:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/concours_corner/concours_corner-6.htm

and

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/concours_corner/concours_corner-7.htm

Luke

[traveler]

Thanks for the replies. The tech articles are just what I needed. There's even an article there on engine detailing that may come in handy later.

[89911]

I've cleaned my engine compartment once about 4 years ago with heavy degreasers and pressure washes. Since then, the only thing its needed is some Simple Green here and there and some Armourall for concours and thats it. I can't understand how some engines get so dirty. Maybe it has to do with the dust in the area you live. Gratitous clean engine photo to follow:

[89911]

[47silver]

89911
nice engine did you worry abou tthe spark plug wires when you sprayed the compartment?

[jazzbass]

Looks like someone has been backdating their heating system. Very nice - how hard/expensive was that?

[89911]

I gathered the backdating sheetmetal from a mechanic who has sources. I think the metal cost me around $100. I actually had the garage I use do the change, since it was in for work and I didn't have much time. It's not too hard. I used some high heat SCAT airplane ducting to connect to the SSI's. Here is a picture before the backdating and total AC removal.

[89911]

Chris, VA tech is playing Pitt at home this year. You going? Let me know, I can get some tickets. Michael.