Cleaning a 1995 LT1 engine

[ROUDA]

Ok I want to clean my engine. Its a 1995 lt1 and Im not sure how to do it cause of the opti spark its not suposed to get wet. I wanted to know how you clean your lt1 and how to cover the opti and the best way to clean it. Thanks

[JoeliusZ28]

if its really dirty i usually just douse the whole thing(minus opti) with water to get it wet and then spray the whole thing down with simple green and let it sit for a minute or so. Spray it off VERY cautiosly, then go over the whole thing again by hand with a rag to get it all off. Optis are sensitive, but ive given mine a good misting several times and its never given me any problems. If you want it to shine, spray the whole thing down with a dressing such as armor and again, let it sit awhile... longer than the simple green. Wipe the whole thing down to remove the excess dressing and youll have a beautiful engine bay.

With any other vehicle i use the same method, except i replace the cautious spraying with a good powerwashing.

[SoulTerror]

I used some car wash cleaner then some armor all wipes on mine. Then some tire shine on some of the plastic.

[SlipStreamZ28]

I never get what all the fuss is about, I know the Opti shouldnt get wet but Ive been cleaning my engine bay out with the power washer at the quarter car wash for about 4 years now and I have never had an opti problem. Im not saying go and spray water all over the place like crazed fireman but if you take a little caution the quarter wash is fine IMO

[Danase]

One tip is to NEVER use Simple Green on your engine. Simple Green will turn the rubber and plastic white and will oxidize the aluminum and metal. The safest bet is to use a Citrus based degreaser. Spray everything down and let it soak per the manufacturers recomendations. Then hose it off gentley. If you need to use a cleaning brush to help get the grime off. Once the engine is clean and dry go over the plastic and rubber parts with a protectant. I highly recommend 303 Aerospace Protectant.

[JoeliusZ28]

One tip is to NEVER use Simple Green on your engine. Simple Green will turn the rubber and plastic white and will oxidize the aluminum and metal. The safest bet is to use a Citrus based degreaser. Spray everything down and let it soak per the manufacturers recomendations. Then hose it off gentley. If you need to use a cleaning brush to help get the grime off. Once the engine is clean and dry go over the plastic and rubber parts with a protectant. I highly recommend 303 Aerospace Protectant.

if you are using UNDILUTED simple green I completely agree. This is why i douse my engine bay first with water, and even dilute the bottle a bit first. Simple Green does require caution. If you let it sit too long you will know it. But ive been using simple green on my engine bay since i bought my 11 year old car over 3 years ago... and my engine bay looks good as new:

PICTURE

Yes, I do re-polish my intake evertime I clean it, so yea some oxidization does occur there. but that thing oxidizes with just plain water too. From his post, his engine bay is probably filthy, and thats when simple green is the cleaner to use. Citrus solvents are a very good, safe alternative... but on a bad engine bay i usually start with simple green and then move to the citrus.

I second your recommendation of 303 Aerospace, that is very good stuff.

[SlipStreamZ28]

One tip is to NEVER use Simple Green on your engine. Simple Green will turn the rubber and plastic white and will oxidize the aluminum and metal. The safest bet is to use a Citrus based degreaser. Spray everything down and let it soak per the manufacturers recomendations. Then hose it off gentley. If you need to use a cleaning brush to help get the grime off. Once the engine is clean and dry go over the plastic and rubber parts with a protectant. I highly recommend 303 Aerospace Protectant.

I would be careful of any orange or citrus based cleaner you use as the orange oil can dry out the rubber as much if not mpre then simple green. we found this out the hard way at work when we soaked some of the rubber rollers from one of the machines in some Bio-Clean ( an orange based cleaner we use) it cleaned the rollers fine but about five minutes after the machine ran all the rollers just completly disintigrated from being dryed out...it was actually kinda funny, mostly cause I wasnt the guy who had to replace all the damn things ( there was about forty of them)

[1fstss]

power wash the motor while its running, just dont spray near the air cleaner. than... elbow grease

[greenmachine]

power wash the motor while its running, just dont spray near the air cleaner. than... elbow grease

your not supposed to wash your engine when its hot because the steam can get places it shouldn't go.... and f things up

[Danase]

I would be careful of any orange or citrus based cleaner you use as the orange oil can dry out the rubber as much if not mpre then simple green. we found this out the hard way at work when we soaked some of the rubber rollers from one of the machines in some Bio-Clean ( an orange based cleaner we use) it cleaned the rollers fine but about five minutes after the machine ran all the rollers just completly disintigrated from being dryed out...it was actually kinda funny, mostly cause I wasnt the guy who had to replace all the damn things ( there was about forty of them)

That is why adding 303 after cleaning was recommended.