winter is done and i want to wash out the engine in my 04 lancer, but im not sure how. do i just get a can of that engine cleaner, spray it all over the engine bay and wash it all off with a hose??
do i need to protect anything? how do i do this?? thanks in advance

 

well, you can use the can stuff, like Gunk Engine Degreaser, you could use a 50/50 solution of Simple Green and water, you could use a mix of Dawn (dish soap) and water, or a steam cleaner does a good job too. One note on the 'Gunk' type cleaners, they sometimes can attack the rubber seals and hoses in there

 

here ya go

http://www.bettercarcare.com/articles.php?articleId=25

i followed those instructions, foiled off the areas i didn't want to get wet, and just used some simple orange based degreaser, and a tire/wheel brush, and it came out awesome

use some quick detailer spray on the painted parts, and vinyl/rubber cleaner/restorer on the hoses adn everything else and it will look NICE!


edit: pics from my registry

 

^ What he said. A really safe way is to just go to the car wash and wash the engine bay out. Becareful not to spray pressurized(s/p?) water into seals and wires. Then just use an old rag and elbow grease to wipe everything down. Some of those degreasers have to be used when the engine is cool, so becareful!