Cleaning the engine

[asmith]

Had the main feed fuel line let go on my way home from work today. Diesel was pumped everywhere all over my engine bay, under the truck, The valley was completely full of fuel, probably lost about 7 gallons judging from the fuel gauge. Anyway, I would really like to clean everything. I dont have a steam cleaner, though I will be looking around for one. Just curious what you guys would do. I am not planning on using a pressure washer, but i was thinking maybe something like a foam cannon and lightly rinse. I know there is still a risk of water getting into electrical connections, but at this point I am more worried about it catching on fire than anything else.

 

[Olds64]

I'd park the truck over some cardboard then spray foaming engine degreaser liberally over the engine. Let it soak in for a good 10 minutes then use low pressure water or a spray bottle to rinse the engine clean.

You can repeat several times until the engine is good and clean. Here are the connections and parts you have to be careful around:

12VDC to the side of your IP
Open air intake under the air cleaner
Connections to your GP relay/controller

You can always spray the GP relay/controller and the 12VDC to your IP with WD40 after cleaning them. This was WD40's original intended purpose, water displacement.

 

[DirtyWood]

I would also wrap the main engine harness connector to prevent water ingress. Disposable gloves and a rubber band are an easy way to seal off connectors.

And maybe be careful around the firewall where the HVAC stuff goes through since water can sometimes get in there and into the cab.

 

[Overloaded-dadbod]

No joke every single engine I’ve ever cleaned (thousands at this point) I’ve used either the Zep degreaser or the amsoil citrus, let it sit while engine is hot/warm then pressure wash off. Never worried about water ingress or **** like that. If it would be a problem then it would happen when it rains or driving through big puddles(both happen in my area of the country)

 

[Clb]

Fwiw
I'm a clean engine bay kinda guy here...
But towcat said to never get water on the top of these because of the valley pan grommets...
They leak directly into the eng.

That said, the fact that you said the valley was full then maybe it is fine.

I think it was powersmoke the oils engineering guy that said in order to boil out the condensation from the oil one needs to get the oil to sustained operational temps for an hour straight.

Hence reason #2 I usually recommend that the best thing you can do for drivableility is load it down and find some hills to get it hot and sweaty.

+1 on liberal use of spray degreaser, then safety solvent or brake kleen to rinse it off...
That's my .02

 

[rreegg]

I'd just be super careful around the return line injector caps.....

 

[Clb]

Geez
Ford had a better idea then fell asleap...