How should i wash off my engine?

In response to the solution posted by "CAPSMAN" DO NOT USE GASOLINE FOR ANY CLEANING PURPOSES! What do you want to do? Burn the Car, Yourself and possibly your Home and/or Garage to the ground? The preferred method is to obtain some commercially available Engine Degreaser **** as "GUNK" or equivalent. Spray it on per the manufacturers directions, after it has been on the engine for the specified time hose it of with a garden hose. It works best when applied to a Warm NOT HOT engine. The warmth will help evaporate the water used for rinsing from electrical components. Do not get water into the Air Intake system, Alternator or Starter. Most all vehicles from the 80's up will restart immediately after rinsing. Some may require an hour or so drying time.

Spray on oven cleaner is great for cutting through the oil. Just be careful not to remove paint with it. Fantastic type cleaner works for thinner oil accumulations. Or brush with gasoline. Use a toothbrush or barbecue brush. Then, I've always just hosed off my engine with a forceful jet of water. It hasn't caused a problem, even when I've started the engine wet. But to be careful, last time I dried the ignition coils and spark plug wires before starting the engine.