Babyblue, the article is not too bad. Cleaning at a car wash with a special stall for engines is a good idea. I prefer this way. There are many local restrictions on cleaners going down the storm drains, so use caution if you do it at home, as you may end up with a fine and a hazmat cleanup bill. There are numerous spray on cleaners/degreasers on the market. Castrol makes a decent one. Use care when using them, as most of them can damage paint. If you do use them, spray only the areas that need the most cleaning. Some brushing may help. When using a pressure type washer, hot water works much better than cold. Use some eye protection, as it will send dirt, etc flying, when you blast it. Use care to not get water into vital parts. Do not spray directly at distributor, or at connector. The high pressure can force water into places it does not belong. I have also seen the moisture condense under the distributor cap, causing an engine misfire. This is not uncommon. You may have to remove the distributor cap, and wipe it down with a rag, and WD40. Be sure to rinse all soap, or cleaner well with water, so they do not leave a residue. Really bad, crusted, greasy engines may require a professional cleaning. After cleaning, and drying, you can shine it up, or wax as preferred. Just remember, some cleaners do affect paint, possibly permanently, so use caution. Just my 2 cents worth, hope it helps...Mike
