[R3D]

What would be the best method to take dry dirt/sand off an engine?

Some type of vacuum perhaps?

[Brian_TII]

I use the hose and just spray it off. Try not to hit anything electrical too hard, and try to mostly avoid the area where the spark plugs and coils are and you should be good. Been doing it for years.. Usually once every 6 months or so.

[335xi_zer0]

The BEST method would be to actually wash it. Sounds strange I know but as Brian TII said, it's not out of the ordinary.

detailedimage has a guide to do it, but simply it's just using a degreaser like the CG Degreaser and giving it a good wash. After that, it gets into detailing like 303 and Black on Black.

Here's the link: http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-P...ur-engine-bay/

[PINeely]

I use shop air to blow away all of the dirt that I can, then degrease and wash it with no pressure. The motherfucker is the honeycomb on the top of the intake manifold so I have an old paintbrush to knock trapped dirt out of there.

[Weaselboy]

Here is what I do:

1. spray down engine bay with a citrus degreaser product (cheap ZEP stuff from Home Depot will work fine) and let it soak a few minutes
2. hose off degreaser
3. blow off water with leaf blower
4. wipe down plastic surfaces with 303 Aerospace Protectant