I recently just bought a 1988 camaro iroc-z and the engine bay is absolutely disgusting because it probably has never been cleaned. What would be the best way to clean it? I saw a few videos on youtube with people spraying down their engines but they had fairly new cars compared to a 1988 camaro. Also should i dilute the cleaner I am using?

 

Hi Section8. I clean engines with purple power all the time. Dilute Purple Power 50/50 with water. Use on engine this way. Increase water for cleaning more sensitive areas. Allow it to sit a minute or so and rinse with hose nossle on a stream setting or pressure washer. Repeat until clean. Run engine with the hood up so it can dry good. 10 or 15 minutes should do. I wouldn't drive it to dry the engine just in case you get the distributor a little wet. ****** I am not telling you to do anything. Do at your own risk. This was an example as to how I wash engines. ****Do not wash Ford 4.6L & 5.4L motors !!!! Unless you like drying out coilpacks for days.


al

 

I used Super Clean from Castrol. Many parts stores sell this, and Walmart. I bought the gallon, but for under hood only, the smaller spray bottle will work just fine. Be sure to cover distributor and other water sensitive parts.

I bought the following:
a long arm soft bristle brush (Advance Auto Parts)
a set of detailing brushes nylon/steel (Harbor Freight)
2ft long air nozzle (Harbor Freight)

I sprayed on the Super Clean with spray bottle about 75% to 25% water dilution. Then let it set for about 20 minutes, then used another spray bottle with hot tap water to rinse it off. Then use a regular garden hose afterwords.

Works very well and very inexpensive. This also works well for rims.

 

Just a note that purple power will etch aluminum.

 

I've always used simple green. I find it's not the best at removing stains per se, but great for actually cleaning gunk and road grime. I use the concentrate and typically cut 50/50. I use a simple green dampened cloth and wipe down around the battery, alternator, distributor and relays along the firewall. Then I cover with plastic grocery bags, soak the rest of the engine, let it sit a few mins then hose it off. Remove the bags and crank it up for a few mins.

 

A lot of the aluminum or clear coat safe wheel cleaner should be safe too.

 

Spray Simple Green, 50/50 with water, or sometimes full strength. Let it sit for a few minutes, and get out your brushes. You need to scrub every nook and cranny if you want it to look good, then rinse. Repeat, rinse. Repeat, rinse. Spray entire engine with dressing, then wipe down. Start engine and let it run to fully dry.

You may want to do a quarter of the engine bay at a time to control your work.

 

Noticed that your info says stock a few times. Are you trying to retain factory presence? if so, be careful with all of this when it comes to the engine bay, there are a lot of decals, and stickers in it that are in there from the factory that will blow off with a pressure wash, degreasers, ect....