I'd love to get my engine really clean, along with a super clean interior and I've been reading the post below but need some clarification.
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I've heard to duct tape the black plastic spark plug cover (the one that says VOLVO 20 Valve, right?). So do I put the tape around the edges? Should I cover with a towel. What else do I have to worry about getting wet? I can't wait to get a nice shiny block and headers, I've seen really clean 5cylinders and want mine to look like that. Thanks in advance.
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Matt in MA, '93 850 GLT, matto815@aol.com

I'd be careful with anything electrical such as spark plug wires, distributor cap, coil,etc, (maybe use saran wrap to protect these areas?) Also the remove the oil filter and block the intake with a towel. Don't use a high pressure wash as that will certainly cause problems and make sure the engine is cold. Use degreaser and loosen stuborn areas with a toothbrush instead of using water pressure. Did a engine wash years ago with my 92 Nissan Sentra first and found water had entered the spark plug wells, it was no fun removing the water and drying it with a blow dryer.

Well, many engines have oil under those covers from hasty oil changers who can't feed the oil slow enough thus spill oil over the edge and it'll pool under that cover. If you're a clean fanatic, it'd be best to remove that cover, degrease the oil from that area but ideally blow dry the water off the top. Then be sure to remove the plug wires from each cyl and blow the water out as some always gets into those holes. I'm assuming that have an air compressor or access to one? If not, I'd use alot of rags or paper towels. Don't drive the car with water in those spark plug holes.
That's about the only thing you need to be concerned with unless your distributor cap and/or wires aren't good and if so, it'll either not start or run poorly.
Water in any electrical connector is never a good thing and that's usually not a problem but it can happen if the engine is washed and if so, the terminals can corrode. Just something to consider.

I had my engine "professionally" cleaned. It looked like brand new for a while until I went to those Mr Lube places for my oil changes. They used that hose thing and when full, just pull it away, oil still half spewing all over my cover leaving a nasty hard ugly layer. What is a good product to reclean that surface?

Thanks.