Maybe for me the key is to not let it get so bad by doing an annual, or semi-annual, cleaning in there.

 

That's what I have been doing, and it's been working for the rest of the bay, normally have done that on all my hondas and it's been great. I honestly clean the engine bay every 3 or 4 washes pop the hood and foam it just like the rest of the car, and use a leaf blower in the bay afterwards.

Just to keep it clean, just these spots were never 'clean' so should be easy to maintain now.

 

Do you cover the alternator or any other parts? I have honestly never washed a bay in any of my car myself. Makes me nervous.

 

Nope. Most cars after 1980 had revisions to the alternators rears where the rectifier and such is, to allow free flowing water to pass.

If I gave you two scenarios.

- degreaser or engine spray cleaners that people spray on to make the Engine shiney without rinsing

- degreasing like the above but using free flowing water to wash it away, with a leaf blower afterwards.

You should be scared of the first one. As shine sprays or light degreasers people spray on like foam has a tendency to move grease/dirt into places like the alternator rectifier and dry up there and eventually gunk and short.

​​​if you clean the bay primarily the engine, you should use free flowing water. You aren't gonna hurt anything, you'll do more harm not using water

PS, if your Engine is extremely greasy(like freaking nasty), yes I'd probably cover the alternator for the first initial clean. But no you don't need to.

 

Very helpful. I have been every so slightly afraid of putting water in the engine bay. No more. I'll do this soon.

 

Oh man, my SOS Hood Dampeners showed up today. I'm impressed, very nicely made
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I pulled this nasty thing out too(hood liner). CR's don't have them, so must only be for sound, but it stinks. I probably am not going to replace it.

 

Those hood dampers look nice. They prop the hood up high and out of the way. Tell me, are you able to close the hood by dropping from a foot or so like normal?

 

Yep. After a certain point in the travel the shocks lose tension and you can drop the hood to close it properly. The SOS dampers are spendy but truly quality pieces. Everything fit and lined up perfectly and I've had them on my car for 3 years now; they still look brand new and the hood has been opened and closed more times in the past 3 years than some people might do in a lifetime of ownership with all of the tinkering and modding I've been doing.

 

Indeed. They drop like a normal hood close. They hold position at normal hood height, and they go way up high. Like Kyle said. They really are top notch. No rubbing issues with fenders or my covers on the sides of the bay.

I also thought they would be in the way, say, doing a valve adjustment, as pictures are deceiving. They don't touch me at all leaning over and I'm 5'6". Definitely worth the $

 

Gotta say I love the content of your posts and this thread. Thanks for being a contributing member and your car looks great. It’s come so far from when you picked it up.

I wish I had someone truly gifted as you are with paint local to me because I need some work done and am just flat afraid of what I’ll end up with...