My car has the looks, but when someone tells me to pop the hood I get embarrassed !!!! Its so smoky and dirty!!! I want to clean it up since I just bought it. Do the walmart degreasers work?

 

I use engine degreaser (yes it works well), and a power washer. I don't like the performance of the "foamy" cleaner very much. You can use a garden hose if you don't have a power washer. You need to be careful about what you get wet though. Cover the important stuff (alternator, distributor, coils, computer) with plastic bags, and don't concentrate the water directly on them. When all washed, I then blow everything off with air, and start the engine so it cooks dry the rest of the way. After 35 plus years of cleaning engines this way, I've never had an issue.

 

/thread.

He's right. Also, after you clean it, maintaining it is really important, and in my opinion, a point of pride. Once or a week or more, I open the hood, do a routine check of things, take a paint brush and a leafblower, and clean off any settled dust. IT may not sound like a lot, but it keeps all of my vehicle's engines looking pretty good, especially on my daily driver.

 

at work, the car wash guys use the wheel degreaser. its bought i bulk and use weed sprayers to spray it on, then pressure wash it off. they look pretty good afterwards. but being new vehicles, most of the electronics are still very well sealed. and make sure the engine is cold when washing it