Cleaning ENGINE!!

[85.5classic]

I need help with cleaning my engine in my 944, I want to make it shine up, plus i want to get that black gunk off the sides under the hood,and on the sides of the engine, since the paint is red underneath. I want to get everything perfect. What can I use and what should i stay away from?

[Scott R]

Use "Simple Green." I used to only be able to get this at the auto parts store, but now it's even in the supermarket! It's a organic degreaser thats enviromentally freindly. Spary it down let it sit for a few then power wash it off. After that dress the engine in some tire magic or armor all, let it sit and the whole thing will look shiney. Just make sure to keep water away from your fuse/relay box under the hood. First time I washed mine I shorted the starter relay and the engine would not shut off with the key.

[RaF944]

At target i bought this degreaser/detailer kit and i sprayed it on hosed it off...then spreayed hte detailer on and man did it make a difference! I then bought some Mothers metal polish and polished the manifold and some other metla parts...looks great! and cheap....only cost like 5 or 6 bucks and only took about an hour total!

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85.5 Porsche 944

[Mrmerlin]

Originally posted by 85.5classic:
I need help with cleaning my engine in my 944, I want to make it shine up, plus i want to get that black gunk off the sides under the hood,and on the sides of the engine, since the paint is red underneath. I want to get everything perfect. What can I use and what should i stay away from?

Hi Classic..first a few words on cleaning your engine compartment...... there are a few places where water is not good ,one is the alternator cover it with a plastic bag also be aware that there are holes in the top of the bell housing where the speed sensors are and if you wash the motor then water will go into the holes and you guessed it into the clutch and pilot bearing and throwout bearing.and then finally go into your starter and slave cylinder..( make a cover or stuff a rag around this opening to keep things dry,)all of this is not good as it will decrease the life of these components
..That said........ I noticed that someone on here likes the Simple Green stuff......well as apoint of interest it came out that this stuff is really a corrosive and people were using it to clean their airplnes it will cause corrosion in places you cant see..my friend uses it to clean his motorcycle and a lot of the fasteners that had a nice cad plating on them are now rusting...he uses simple green.....anyway to clean the under hood area I have found that the best stuff to use is called Engine Gunk it comes in a white can made by Gunk co. and it is usually the cheapest stuff...use this now after spraying let it sit on a warm engine not hot as you might crack your ex manifold while rinsing......after spraying this stuff on use your hand on the painted surfaces and a brush on the greasy/oily places like the hoses by the oil filter let it sit then wash it off( hi pressure house hose)is good (not the kind at the super car do it your self )after your done rinsing you will have to dry the distributor cap and then try to start the car let it run for about 3 mins to warm it up ..also get some of that dielectric grease and remove all the connectors for the fuelinjection and put a lil grease on them this will prevent corrosion from fouling you ride later on........after your done this take your ride for a ride..and let the gunk fumes clean out it will smell like this for a few days.....if you want after your dry off run you can spray the hoses with armorall or some people use WD 40 on the engine this will prevent the aluminum from starting to corrode.....good luck...Stan