Welcome to feakworld - keep it shiny. Here's a good place to start: https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/fit-...-any-tips.html

 

I am not a fan of spraying water in the engine compartment.... simple because electrical hardware and water generally do not get along well and sometimes the problems caused do not surface for quite sometime.

Years ago when the engine compartments were simple it was easy to avoid spraying the very few areas with electrical hardware and back then that is exactly how I cleaned the engine bay. Cover the alternator & distributor, remove the battery & spark plug wires... then go at it.

You fellas living in the salt belt end up with grimy engine bays in the spring that need lots of persuasion to return to the former luster so perhaps some well directed water in certain areas.

Me being in Texas... unless I have leaks under the hood all I see is a collection of dust in there that compressed air and a swipe can remove.

 

I've always hand wiped everything with Meguiars Quik Detailer...It's not like it's a huge engine bay!

 

303 aerospace protectent..........
on all plastics and cawl when your all done and everything is dry.