Is there a final word on engine washing?

[itsnotanova]

I pressure wash the bottom all the time before working on them. Of course they're up on a lift and I have good access to clean underneath. I'm not sure you would really get to that much with a car on the ground. I also power wash the whole motor once it's out, but I wouldn't recommend doing it with the engine still in the car. Mostly because you can't really see where you're spraying in such a confined space and there's some areas that shouldn't have 1800+ psi water sprayed at. You're also more likely to get overspray on the interior. I've had good success with simple green and a garden hose.

[BoxsterSteve]

Originally Posted by itsnotanova

I've had good success with Simple Green and a garden hose.

+1 on the Simple Green.
Fabulous stuff.
I've used it on the Boxster and my DD Subaru Forester, which had been thrice oil sprayed.
Took all the 5 year old oil scuzz off the Forester's engine compartment paintwork, after sitting 10 minutes and rinsing with a moderate pressure stream from the garden hose. No elbow grease needed.
Both came out like new.

[BoxsterSteve]

Forgot one other detail.
On the Boxster, I used my compressor & blow gun to chase the rinse water away. I aimed the air stream into the engine compartment and ended up with only a few water drops on the interior and paintwork.