do you guys wash/clean your engine?

[Zeroin]

is it necessary to clean your engine or anything under the hood? i know there are dangerous parts under the the hood, however, when i was browsing on youtube about cleaning, wax car's exterior, there were several videos about cleaning the engine caught my attention. do you guys do that? if you do, when do you do that?
also, other than adding engine oil, brake fluid as well as other fluid, and changing filters, do you guys lubricate any nut, parts? just curious.

[Necos11]

I take it in after every winter to get the engine cleaned. Its like taking a shower without washing ur but LOL. Gotta show ur engine some love too/

[Danno]

There are some pretty sensitive electrical parts under the hood. Unless you know what you are doing, stay away from engine cleaning. Especially with pressurized water.

[newtmaker]

I don't normally wash my engine compartment until the car has very high mileage and any grease/oil leaks have accumulated enough to degrease/wash.
From new I wipe down the engine parts, especially the surface areas, to remove mostly dust/grime. Attacking early/often helps prevent accumulation.

Walt

[Fox Mulder]

Originally Posted by Danno

There are some pretty sensitive electrical parts under the hood. Unless you know what you are doing, stay away from engine cleaning. Especially with pressurized water.

Agreed. A light spray with the hose when washing the car is ok, this is no worse than driving in the rain. The painted areas under the hood can be wiped down and even waxed if you want, if the engine cover gets really dirty it can be removed and cleaned separately.
High-pressure spraying or pressure washing should be avoided as it can drive water into the wiring and sensors where it doesn't belong, same goes for steam-cleaning.

[GregL]

The only thing I have used under the hood so far is my vacuum and a clean cloth

[OMAN KOREAN TEAM]

yes i clean my engine without washing

first i use (Air machine)

then spray a little of engine cleaner

i have 2 ..

this



or this




then i use (wet microfiber)

thats all >.

[someguy]

Like Oman I use compressed air then degreaser and rags to clean mine.

[Datsun240Z71]

I clean my engine compartments on all of our cars and have for years, with no problems whatsoever. I now use Purple Power (it's effective and inexpensive) from Walmart in a spray bottle, soak everything down and wait a few minutes, and then use my hose and nozzle to rinse. I do warm the engine first, but not to where it's hot. Afterwards, I go for a several mile drive and let the engine heat do the drying.

Again, have been doing this for 20+years with never an issue.

[reus49]

I just wipe it down with a wet rag!