How-To: Engine Bay Cleaning

[R-X-R]

303 is just a protectant right, but it does clean it.

 

[ThrillRide]

Restores and protects. The s100 is for cleaning.

 

[ThrillRide]

Wanted to update a little on this process. I've had a lot of questions about it lately and discuessed it in this forum and others, so I have it on the brain. I mentioned it already but having a steamer for this work is so valuable. When starting out I didn't use it as often because I just didn't want to get it out and mess with it (just lazy I guess). Using a hose is quicker in some regard, but less in others. If you have extreme build up or some nasty cosmoline left behind, there is no question you need a steamer, as it will be way quicker than product, brush and hose (or power washer, which I will never use under the hood). But now I almost never use a rinse under the hood. On an average job, sure it may be quicker to just use a rinse, but I can assure safety due to the precision of the steamer and I don't have to use any chemicals or water whatsoever (outside of the quart or less I use in the steamer ).

All that to say, if you can get your hands on a steamer for this job I'd strongly recommend it. Also does amazing work for those tough to clean wheels. I have a good steamer, but being that this is an amazing little machine, think I may soon upgrade to one that has continuous fill. A good one cost a considerable amount but they really shorten the time I have to spend.

Ok thats all. Just a little pro detailer advice for the day.

 

[HKPRO5]

What about a power washer with heating capability ?

 

[ThrillRide]

What about a power washer with heating capability ?

As I mentioned, I really don't like to use a pressure washer under the hood. Well, don't really like to use them at all. But anyway, hot water will work better than cold at loosening up grime. But most of the hot water/steam pressure washers I've seen (good ones at least) are very expensive.

 

[SpeedKnight]

The best metal polisher Ive used, good 'ol aluminum foil! Just wad a little up, make sure its damp, and rub away. Works on just about any metal surface you can find. Ive used it on old rusty pitted chrome and had it come out shiny as new. You can just use water but I like diluted Simple Green. A great degreaser, and good for the environment.

 

[GeorgeMichael]

Very valuable tool is a steam cleaner. If you have some real nasty build up under the hood a quality steamer can really make the job easy. My degreaser works amazingly. But some times there is just stuff that won't come loose with cleaner and elbow grease. If you have access to a steamer it can really make jobs (not just the engine bay) a lot easier

 

[SRH_3GT]

Engine Detailing

When I detail my clients vehicles, using my HPW, I spray Amazing Roll-Off on the engine bay. After the engines are washed, I start the vehicles to make sure nothing is wrong with it. I shut the engine off and dress it with Stoners More Shine. After the engine is dressed, I start the vehicle back up and let it run for about 5 minutes.

Now, there are "some" vehicles the I will not wash it with a HPW. I will use the steamer I have. I have one vehicle, so far in over a years time, that I felt safe to use the steamer on. It's a problemed vehicle, like, an '89 Jaguar XJS Convertible with 14.5k miles on it. Sure. There are really no miles on the vehicle BUT, it's an English made Jaguar. Not by Ford. Those vehicles are an electronic night mare. If I had after pictures, I would show the before and after work. The driver side window motor went bad and I can't finish the detail job since I need to wash and compound it. About a month ago, the passenger side window motor went back and we were able to find a new part and corrected that one.

Here are some befores and afters of some of my clients vehicles:

 

[davered]

i use a pressure washer on engine bays everyday at work. ive never had an issue damaging anything with it as long as you keep the nozzle 2 feet away and keep the water out of the intake. and ours are more powerful than the weak coin operated car wash pressure washers. just had an sl500 in this week. god i love that car. nothing needs to be covered, but keep the spray moving. dont sit on a certain spot.

 

[noclss2000]

for most of my details of the engine bay I spray simple green down to loosen up grime/dirt and let it sit for about 5 minutes. I then take a hose and carefully hose the engine bay down, avoiding contact with distrubutors, alternators, intakes(I put a bag over the intake if its' exposed and not in a airbox). after the motor dries, I usually use a silicone based product like tire shine and put it on a rag to wipe down hoses and black plastic parts, avoiding contact with electrical connectors to avoid damage to them. It always comes out pretty good, just gotta take your time and be careful as to what you spray/wipe to avoid damage. Doesn't matter if a car looks good if it won't run.

 

[99ProtegeKV]

just tried this a lil.. kinda half assed it so it didnt work that great.. gotta try it again when i have more time

 

[altspace]

Wow, the front of that MB looks like it was sand blasted.

 

[SRH_3GT]

Wow, the front of that MB looks like it was sand blasted.

He drives it to Dallas, TX area, from South Padre Island, TX every week. It has over 130k miles on it.

 

[323_stephan]

Just bringing up a little problem I have with the aluminium foil. Personally I wouldn't cover the electrical parts with a material that conducts electricity itself.Because although it may stop water from getting and staying in the components, unless you disconnect the battery there is a danger of a short somewhere. Obviously if you're careful there wouldn't be any issues but I do consider it to be an easily avoidable problem if anything does happen.

 

[table5511]

I agree with not using alum. foil and water in combo. I also think that the only acceptable time for using any kind of spray water, whether it be a hose or a pressure washer would be for situations such as cleaning a dirty engine bay to sell a car, or after buying a car with a dirty engine bay. I have seen videos of CARMAX driving a Corvette into a wash bay and then blasting the crap out of the engine bay with a pressure washer, with no protection. They do this on every vehicle, to my knowledge. There are just too many components which you can't protect. Electrical junctions or un-protected electrical connections, alternator, battery, fans, control modules, ignition, etc etc. Just not a good idea to get the engine bay wet. If you have a clean engine bay, its not hard to keep it clean once a month or so. I just use a shop cloth and use a general purpose surface cleaner (glass/surface cleaner), and occaisonally a trim shine/cleaner on engine covers / air cleaner, etc. Just with water and a cloth, or surface cleaner and a cloth, any very minor surface grease under the hood or in the engine usually just comes right off. I really think its a bad idea to spray down an engine except in those previously mentioned scenarios. Here are some pix of my previous engine bays in my Passat and Jetta, and of my current Mazda