How-To: Engine Bay Cleaning

[maxchao]

So...What would be the best product/chemical to keep "cleaned engine bay" clean?
I also prefer tooth brush and tower only.

Josh

 

[SNike05]

Gunk, like many others, claim to be a citrus cleaner but it is actually a petroleum based cleaner. it contains and oil to give it a citrus smell but thats it. CD2 is not the best by any means. It works for a lot of people but it is a silicone based cleaner. Another product I would keep clear of rubber. Granted small amouts probably isn't going to hurt anything but its just not worth it to me. Especially when there are products out there that work better and are better for the environment for only a few bucks more.

I use the regular gunk not the citrus version I can smell the petroleum it works great for me.

 

[ThrillRide]

So...What would be the best product/chemical to keep "cleaned engine bay" clean?
I also prefer tooth brush and tower only.

Josh

after you have it clean the product i have had the best luck with is 303 aerospace protectant. but regular maitainance is the best way. its an engine bay so its going to get dirty. best to just do regular cleaning and don't let it build up.

 

[maxchao]

Ah, I was actually asking for opinion on the "cleaner" product. I just bought a MP5 and the previous owner keeps the engine bay rather clean. I don't care about looking good but I don't want it looks dirty and oily. So, it's already clean but as we all know it's getting dirty, so what product I might be able to use for regular maitainance to keep it clean and free of dirt and oil? It would be nice if it's some OTC product.

Josh

 

[SNike05]

Any diluted all purpose cleaner will do the job. Even better would be car soap and a rag.

 

[ThrillRide]

Ah, I was actually asking for opinion on the "cleaner" product. I just bought a MP5 and the previous owner keeps the engine bay rather clean. I don't care about looking good but I don't want it looks dirty and oily. So, it's already clean but as we all know it's getting dirty, so what product I might be able to use for regular maitainance to keep it clean and free of dirt and oil? It would be nice if it's some OTC product.

Josh

If it is not heavily soiled just get a detail spray and clean and wipe as needed. Not just any degreaser is a good idea. Products like simple green can do damage to aluminum and other alloys. Lots of people quite using strong degreasers under the hood because they cause hazing and etching of several underhood materials. I use p21s total auto wash because it is a true citrus cleaner. it is pH balanced so it is safe and very very effective at tough cleaning. Don't use petrolyum based cleaners. They will deteriorate your rubber hoses and they are bad fro the environment. Use a true citrus based or water based cleaner. Check out p21s, s100, autoglym, Eimann, and 303. Those are all very good brands.

 

[maxchao]

I guess I would just use the Maguiar's quick detailer for regular maintenaince then, if it get harder to clean I'll then find something stronger. I really just don't feel like hose down into the engine bay, prefer something put-on-and-wipe-off and safe for all material under the hood. Try to keep my stuff minimum.

Josh

 

[githua92]

Nice write up on the engine bay cleaning. I have one question, on the MSP is it okay to an all metal polish on the exhaust manifold heat shield and head cover?

 

[ThrillRide]

Nice write up on the engine bay cleaning. I have one question, on the MSP is it okay to an all metal polish on the exhaust manifold heat shield and head cover?

Should be just fine on the heat shield. What polish you using? Don't remember what the head cover looks like?

 

[NCZ13]

i think your referring to the valve cover?

I polished mine using my dremel/some fine grit sand paper, and Mothers power metal.

Its still a work in progress because ive worn down all my dremel polishing tools, although i can take some pictures of it if you want me to

it is not something you can polish to a mirror sheen by hand.

 

[githua92]

I use Meguiar products so I was thinking of their all metal polish. I'd love to see what your valve cover looks like, and to polish mine and stainless steel exhaust. I saw another thread where someone was explaining how to clean the exhaust tip with sand paper. Wouldn't it scratch the exhaust? What do you guys recommend for getting off all the dirt on exhausts?

 

[ThrillRide]

One of the better metal polishes I have used is Flitz or P21S polishing soap. You can use it by hand with very good results. If you don't have access to a machine polisher, one of the polish balls is a decent idea. But you can make the exhaust tip look pretty good by hand. When I sold my WRX I pulled my aftermarket exhust off to sell. At the time I didn't have the proper pad to use with my machine so I just used some soft cotton cloths and micrifiber towels and went to work buffing. Its actually kinda fun. Kinda like polish your shoes. Steel wool and sand paper can be used, but that is usually to rid imperfections or smooth out pitting. A very fine paper is used for this and extreme caution needs to be taken. So unless you have some serious issues I think a regular polish will serve just fine.

 

[GoFast]

very good write up. come spring time i do this yearly!

 

[blue-sun]

I haveuse mothers mag/aluminum polish and most recently NXT mag/aluminum polish on polished/chromed engine bay pieces in the past.

Here's a pic of my old MR2, all blinged out for a car show.

 

[Olestra]

Would you guys use Kleenol APC?
I bought 64oz of it this winter and plan on going to town on wheels, engine, etc.

 

[ThrillRide]

We can't get that one here in the states I don't think. It seems ok though. Its water based. Can't really say much else about it.

 

[Olestra]

We can't get that one here in the states I don't think. It seems ok though. Its water based. Can't really say much else about it.

Oh, interesting. Ok well I'll try it out and then write something about it.

 

[R-X-R]

so basically there is no product that is out there in local store that can cleans rubber,plastic etc under the hood?

 

[gnd]

Here's an engine detail thread for my Protege (see post #1).
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123737034

 

[ThrillRide]

so basically there is no product that is out there in local store that can cleans rubber,plastic etc under the hood?

You didn't read did you? S100 is at Harley Davidson stores. 303 is at many stores.