Anybody clean the engine compartment of their CRD? If so, what did you use? Anyone got any tips or tricks, or better yet, things to avoid?

Warm but not hot engine, spray with Gunk Engine Brite engine degreaser, let sit say 30 minutes, rinse off with like a hose spray nozzle on a rainshower setting, immediately drive long enough to get to operating temp.. Been doing it for decades on gas and diesel engines with no problem although in old days of poorly sealed distributers on gas engines it was best to cover the distributer.

IMHO do not under any circumstances use high pressure water spray of any type unless you have coated the interior of all electrical fittings with dielectric grease. Way too much chance of getting water where it does not belong on today's computerized engines.

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Sold to LOST member my 05 Ltd, GDE Stg II turbo + TCM tune, SunCoast TC w. Transgo kit, Steiger window regulators, Samcos, Fumoto valve, 2nd gen filter head with Lub. Spec. bleeder, Hayden clutch & 11 blade fan, inverted spare, P-1 battery, BF Goodrich Long Trail TAs, Etecno1 glow plugs, timing belt at 50K miles/8 yrs

sounds good, thanks for the tips!

I know that lesson. Learned it when I got my first dirt bike. Big warnings for using those sprayers as they can force water into places that it normally won't go.. past seals and the like, trapping the water, and ruining bearings..

Thanks again.

I've used foamy engine brite as well with ghood results, but you have to be really careful as it'll damage paint. Typically, I have a concentrated bottle of simple green diluted in a spray bottle and a soft brush. The light dilution of SG and a light spray will get most grime off and the really nasty oily stuff just takes a little soak/brush cycle. The best part is that simple green is biodegradable.

Dan

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2005 Silver CRD Limited
245/75R16 GoodYear Duratracs
Fumoto drain | ProVent CCV Filter
Stanadyne FM100 filter | Cummins fuel pump
GDE Eco | SEGR | BoulderBars | FrankenLift | Frankenskids

I use some purple biodegradable stuff using the procedure that papaindigo described.

One time I apparently got something wet in a solenoid assembly mounted in front of the coolant reservoir. I don't recall what the solenoid controlled. It has vacuum hoses going in and coming out of it. Anyway, it threw a CEL that stuck around a couple of days. I ordered a new solenoid, but by the time it arrived everything must have dried out and it threw no more codes.

I'm obviously no mechanic but you might try to avoid squirting too much water on that solenoid thingamajig.

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2006 CRD Limited Dk Khaki
InMotion S-II, GDE TCM, Cummins Lift Pump, Mishimoto CAC hoses
Cooper Discoverer ATP LT245/75, Rola roof basket, JCR S3 sliders
OME lift+JBA UCA's, custom front hitch receiver, Mile Marker winch
All J Products rear cargo shelf
Sips biodiesel as if it were 12 y/o Scotch

I cover the ECM, TCM and fuse box with foil before I start, and use foamy engine brite and low pressure water.

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05CRD: GDE Hot ECU & TCM tunes, Provent, Cat filter, Facet lift pump, TransGo kit, Florida TC, Samcos, stainless brake lines, HDS thermostat, Renegade light bar,
Bilstein adjustables, Al's Gen 4.5 Arms, 235/85-16 Duratracs, DTT rear, Elocker front, EVIC+TPMS, Turbo timer, McNally pillar gauges, Weeks Stage II kit.

I've pressure washed many engines, I have my own gas powered pressure washer and I absolutely love it.
I just used a hot soapy pressure washer on my CRD the other day at my buddies diesel shop. If you are careful, don't aim the spray at computers or other electrical components or concentrate at high pressure on one area you should be fine.

Works great.

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