Engine Detailing

Engine Detailing?

  • Included in basic detail offering

    Votes: 6 28.6%

  • Only ala-carte or add on

    Votes: 10 47.6%

  • I don't do it at all

    Votes: 5 23.8%
  • Total voters
    21
TruckTechniques

TruckTechniques

Michigan Detailer
Reading the thread on Engine Detailing Liability got me thinking.

How many of you include Engine Detailing in your basic offering?

Or do you do it ala-carte or not at all?

Just curious.

Thanks
 
I don't think people would even come to me if I didn't do the engine. On my price lists I have only one detail that I offer, that is all. If someone is a regular client then I usually still do it, just maybe do extrawork some where else on the car since I didn't have to spend as much time on a recently detailed compartment, ya dig? Didn't know how to clean, dry, polish and dress a engine compartment until I went to school years ago. The more you do, the more you should feel confortablr doin' em.
 
The only time I even offer engine detailing is for the clients returning a lease or trying to sell the car. An engine detail increases the price by $35 for a normal car and $50 for a show car. I feel really confident in my abilities to safely detail an engine without melting it, so i don't stress. Its not something I'm going to do on a $40 wash and wax, but if they are going to be in a situation where the engine bay is going to be checked out, then I certianly offer it. I do most of the engine detailing by hand without using a fire hose blast of water. Just a spray bottle and a towel works pretty well for me. You can get the painted areas pretty wet without ruining anything. I don't spray water on the block or anything, so its really just low risk for me.
 
Thanks for the replies so far.
So far everyone has been suprised when I said I detail the engine. I give it a basic degreasing, rinse it off then dress the plastic items and hoses. So far, I have included it with a bumper to bumper detail and think I'll continue doing it that way.

Regarding detailing a lease return, I had a friend tell me they wanted to pay me to detail their vehicle just before they turned it in. I told him to save his money... You get absolutly nothing extra for turning in a clean lease - I told him to drive up and hand over the keys :cool:

Selling a car - definatly - a clean engine bay may be just the deal breaker for some buyers :D
 
You get nothing when you return a lease regardless. I think that most people like to return things in as good of condition as possible. When people are returning a lease that is way over their miles or something like that, then they might want it to be extra clean so that they don't nickel and dime them for every scratch and dent on the car.
 
Years back, I managed one of the few shops in a 75mi radius that had an oil trap and a floor hoist. We had contacts at many local repair shops who would send them to us, so we did a lot of them -- uppers started at $25 + the cost of a hand wash, upper and lower $50 + the wash, bumper to bumper $75 + washing (dressing was always extra). We also were the only one who did undercoating -- which of course needed to be cleaned first. When I went out on my own, I would include it on a complete detail but never listed it as such, slowly it evolved to being a "by request," "up-sale," or "sweeten the deal" item -- similar to shampooing a trunk. Today, being fully mobile, I will explain to customers who request it, the implications of current EPA regulations (which allows them to make an educated decision on environmental issues). If they still want it done, I will take it to a facility that has a water/oil trap and charge accordingly -- exceptions are if it's in great shape were a light rinse and dress will not dirty up a new white driveway.

When I settle down with a shop, you can bet yer a** it will have an oil trap and a hoist!!
 
I do not offer engine detailing.

When I do get a special request, I simply offer to just wipe down the engine compartment and I will only lift the hood while the customer is present and can see that I'm not using any water or chemicals.
 
mirrorfinishman said:
I do not offer engine detailing.

When I do get a special request, I simply offer to just wipe down the engine compartment and I will only lift the hood while the customer is present and can see that I'm not using any water or chemicals.
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No wonder you don't have a waiver then. Why don't you do engine detailing? Is it because you don't have any way of protecting yourself if they decide to sue you, or for some other reason? Engine detailing is a profit center for detail shops. I assume you don't do many show cars or "full" details if you don't even have a price structure for engines. Its part of the car, ya know. Why on earth wouldn't you even offer it? Are you one of those people who subscribe to the theory that the dirt makes the engine work better and helps protect the paint n the wheel wells from fading?
 
Most of my customers do not ask about the engine but I always ask if they want it done. I charge an extra 50 bucks for the work. Most of the time its when I'm working on a car that is getting ready to be sold
 
Beemerboy said:
Most of my customers do not ask about the engine but I always ask if they want it done. I charge an extra 50 bucks for the work. Most of the time its when I'm working on a car that is getting ready to be sold
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Wow - $50?

Do many customers take you up on that at that price?
 
$50 is a good price. I charge $50 for a full engine detail. $35 if they just want it "clean". If they want it showroom fresh, then they have to pay me a little extra. I don't know why people are so paranoid about doing engines. Its really not that hard. Just get some towels and a spray bottle and get in there. Engine detailing involves less risk of expensive mistakes than using a rotary. You can FUBAR a $15,000 paint job really easily. I highly doubt that a car with a $15,000 engine is going to get very dirty. In fact, i don't think I have ever seen a $15,000 engine. I have seen $15,000 paint jobs and those are the ones I sweat on while working. One slip could be big bucks.

Everybody appreciates a clean engine. If you don't know how or are a little chicken to do it, then learn. Its really not that tough. Take a close look at your engine and use a little common sense. Just ask yourself "Should be getting this wet, or should I wipe around it?" Common sense will get you through an engine detail.
 
what are you guys doing in an engine detail?

I have been using a degreaser for the heavy stuff, follow it up with a light brushing with some car wash soap on some areas. After it dries, I'm using an aerosol engine detail spray over it then follow up with a quick wipe of a protectant on the plastic covers etc.

Not much time involved at all. Although it does sound like I'll make the engine an extra service...


My dad used to include engine painting back in the day when he had his clean up shop :D
 
mirrorfinishman said:
I do not offer engine detailing.

When I do get a special request, I simply offer to just wipe down the engine compartment and I will only lift the hood while the customer is present and can see that I'm not using any water or chemicals.
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Frank, wouldn't Engine Detailing be covered in your "Detailing Guides" and/or your "Training Courses???"

Also, what kind of service would we be providing if the customer had to be present while work was performed -- are we not in business to save people time -- heck, maybe we should just hand them a towel and ask them to remove the wax?

Could this be one of those "senior moments?"
 
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I have seen some nasty engine screw ups run through the wholesale auction they use wheel acid and after a few days you have this white hair looking crud on the alumnium parts
 
Engine detailing should at least be offered it is part off the car some will charge more and some will not but if you are worried offer a waiver as Fuzz said that way it is a precaution to them and protection for yourself.. it's like making the paint look beautiful and leaving the windows dirty, a complete detail should include the engine just charge accordingly....
 
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