I guess I need to start on my D1 by cleaning the engine and suspension that's just caked with dirt and oil from I'm assuming the power steering and maybe the front engine cover...

I've already seen warnings about washing the engine compartment...

So I need to know exactly what to and not to do...

Thanks for the help.

John

 

Stand in front of truck, hood open. Look along the fender inside the engine compartment to your left. Small black box is fuel pump relay, larger black box to the rear is ECU. Don't get them wet.

See air filter box. Follow big rubber hose toward engine. There is a "thingamajig" in the middle with wires, it is the MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor, about $1400 for a new one. Has a tiny heater inside it that gets a spot up to over 350 degrees above ambient temp. Cold water could damage that as well.

If you use degreaser, don't get it on the serpantine belt.

Some like to wash off the engine with the truck at idle, so you'll hear if you start to choke it out.

IMHO if you work one small area at a time, as opposed to 100%, you'll be able to control things better.

 

Here is what you do, park it facing the sun, open hood with engine cold, spray engine with the garden hose, spray with your fav degreaser, let soak, rinse with garden hose.
Leave hood open and let dry for 30 min, start it and drive for 10 miles to fully dry engine.
Repeat if needed.
Always do on a cold engine.

 

Or my version, as Buzz mentioned stay away from those few mentioned items, do not use Degreaser unless absolutely necessary and DO NOT get any on the electrical connections.
I prefer going to the do it yourself car wash and using only the cold pressure rense, and I always do the under carriage first, where you can use degreaser for the heavier oil build ups and finish off with the engine compartment.
I have done this after every trail or at least once a month for the last 11 years and never had a problem.

 

I've found that nothing breaks down oily gunk like liquid wrench or WD40 and a brush. Chemtool B12 is nasty stuff but will remove almost anything, including your skin and those "protective" gloves. Degreaser just uselessly sits on top.

 

Cleaning a Land Rover engine is an exercise in futility.

 

I covered the MAF, and the computer box with a plastic bag to keep 90% of the water out. Then i used straight simple green and spray the entire bay with it. Then I got a sink adapter for my hose so i can run hot water and ran that with the pressure washer. It has never been cleaner.

 

So, Really I'm just looking to keep the computer and relay/fusebox from getting wet...I get it on the MAF sensor as well..
Guess I need to check underneath the computer for rot as well...

Would it hurt to pull the computer and then just bag the wires ? This is an old truck I picked up for a fun runner and snow cat...One of those that a scratch won't bother....

There's a big hole in the air cleaner box beneath the filter... I'm assuming there was a snorkel or something on there and has been forcibly removed...I'll stuff that with a rag in a bag... Maybe I'll pull the whole intake system and just bag the throttle body...

thanks for the input..

 

This is a picture of mine, never seen any degreaser used on the top of the engine, just cold high pressure what, by the way, it is now 13 years old and just as clean.

 

Chemtool B12 is Acetone and Toluene, both are nasty solvents that will eventually eat through steel.

Using the correct degreaser works wonders.
I use this stuff that actually eats oil, spray it on, let it sit for 30 min, rinse.
I spray the driveway before its going to rain, cleans it right up.