I was thinking about hosing it down then spraying auto degreaser on it but when I was thinking about it, getting the intake wet might end up being bad if I turn on the car while the intake is wet, then have it end up sucking water into the engine. I hosed down my Protege5 and sprayed the engine with auto degreaser and it helps alot removing all the crap in the engine. But I don't have an intake in the Protege5 and I was just able to start the car right up when I was done.

 

It shouldn't be a problem I do almost everytime I go to the carwash. What I do I take an old plastic grocery bag with me and a few ruber bands. Take the bag and wrap the intake up real good holding it on with the rubber bands. Then while you are vacuming or what ever spray the cleaner on the engine and let it sit there for a little bit. Then when you wash your car wait until you are rinsing off the soap, pop the hood and hose out the engine. If you are using a pressure washer be careful not to use to much force in there, all it needs is a rinse not jet blasted. Let it drip dry a little bit while you whipe the body down, remove the bag...good to go and good lookin too!

 

i never have used engine degreaser, normally i just use a brake cleaner for it, Plus Honda makes a brake cleaner that is not harmful to electronic components. I don't know what it cost from Honda because i never pay for it but im sure its pretty expensive without a hook up.

 

Honda plus a few other companies make a chemical just for engine cleaning that they use when detailing your car, from what i understand the Honda stuff works great.

 

i use castrol engine degreaser. works really good, spray it befoer you was the car. wash the car, then spray the engine off again, then rinse. looks imaculate all the time. im really picky about my engine bay. and ya, just use an old plastic shopping bag and wrap the dist. and the intake.