After doing a lot of dusty dirt roads, my van's engine is looking
decidedly furry on top. It's effectively dirt-colored now.

Can you just hose the thing off with some purple power cleaner? I don't
want to use anything that can't go down the storm drain.

I don't know if Bend (Oregon, USA, Earth) has any carwashes with proper
traps for cleaning engines.

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
Bend, OR
KG6RCR