engine cleaning
 

know of any good engine degreasers? mines very dirty and most degreasers say that they could damage plastic, i was wondering if this would damage the coils, i just got some stuff from autozone and overlooked that little warning, so is this a danger to the coils? if so what are some alternatives, maybe a good pressure wash?

I use some engine degreaser from Wal Mart which is about $1 a can. You can also use some of the orange degreasers. I add it to the engine, wait for a few minutes and then use a pressure washer. Does a great job. I use a plastic bag to cover the alternator. :)

simple green works great.

I wouldn't pressure wash it. Just spray the degreaser on and let it fester for a while then sprinkle it off lightly with water. Like Earl said, cover the alternator.

Engine Brite, from Gunk I believe, works well. Don't use anything too agressive like Castrol degreaser. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think all of the aluminum parts in the engine bay has a factory applied wax coating. A strong cleaner will remove this coating and etch the aluminum.

I wouldn't spray the aluminum work at all. I would only apply the degreaser on the greasy part of the engine. :)

smelly stuff
 

if is't nasty then ZEP 505 is the magic
I did to use the $1 wally stuff untill it changed from foaming to useless liquid spray. it was golden.
after using the zep for cleaning a photonic curing frame today at work I hail it as king. if it works on Al in a nano patrical reactor then it will work in a engine bay.

but theres no need to worry about the coils? i did plugs on the thing last sunday and i do not feel like taking those again until i do my engine rebuild/manual conversion somewheres done the road