Can you guide me on this engine detail?!?

joyriide1113 said:
would you guys think filling up a pump garden sprayer and wetting the engine would be safer but just as effective?
Click to expand...
Definetly, that would be a good way to do it.
 
hey i was in the same boat as you, i did not have a dirt engine biut i still wanted it clean(due to wheater i could not wash my engine properly) so what i did was fill a spray bottle with some car shampoo (used pb's, i would recomened some apc but i have non left) and water, gave it a good shake. I sprayed down my engine then wiped off the soap with a cheap mf. After i took a spray bottle filled with clean water and again sprayed down the engine, after i used some dressing (pb natural look) and dressed her up nicely. Although it dosent do as nice of a job as a full engine detail it still looks nice and works for now. You might notice you dont get into everycrack and cranny but i find it to be a nice job in between full jobs. I recomed giving it a try
 
I detailed a couple of engine bays recently that had a level of dirt similar to yours. All I did was spray everything with Megs Safe D-Greaser, scrub with a brush, and hose off with my garden hose. I didn't bother covering anything, but I was careful to avoid the alternator, battery, and air intakes. The battery in the 3 series is in the trunk I believe so you don't have to worry about that. I then finished up with a coating of CD2.

I have to say I HIGHLY recommend using CD2. You can pick up some cans at Auto Zone.
 
Mikeyc said:
I detailed a couple of engine bays recently that had a level of dirt similar to yours. All I did was spray everything with Megs Safe D-Greaser, scrub with a brush, and hose off with my garden hose. I didn't bother covering anything, but I was careful to avoid the alternator, battery, and air intakes. The battery in the 3 series is in the trunk I believe so you don't have to worry about that. I then finished up with a coating of CD2.

I have to say I HIGHLY recommend using CD2. You can pick up some cans at Auto Zone.
Click to expand...
You use to be able to. I dont know if its just here but they dont carry it anymore at my auto zone. bummer!!
 
I actually got a hold of some Safe Degreaser yesterday. The problem is that right there. Some areas I just can't reach but are not deep or far enough not to be noticed.
 
joyriide1113 said:
I actually got a hold of some Safe Degreaser yesterday. The problem is that right there. Some areas I just can't reach but are not deep or far enough not to be noticed.
Click to expand...

If you can't really notice them, then don't sweat it!.....
 
glen22 said:
You use to be able to. I dont know if its just here but they dont carry it anymore at my auto zone. bummer!!
Click to expand...
I had to go to two different locations before I found some. The guy at that location told me they have it all the time and that the first location I went to is a very busy one. Maybe the AZ you went to is just out of stock? Also, there is an on-line auto parts store that sells it too. I don't have the web address, but if you google CD2 Engine Detailer you'll find it.
 
I'm Sorry joyride the engine doesn't look dirty. Those pics posted are they before or after. The car is not only beautiful, it is very well taken car of.
Your very lucky to have it. A Big Thumbs Up to your Mom & Dad..
 
Thumbs up for raising an awesome kid that decides to live at home so all he has to pay for is his car? Or did you think they paid it for me? lol.. I get it all the time. I'm only 19, and yes I go to school and work. But since I live at home and really don't have any bills, I can afford to make payments.
 
Check this out!

DSCF1435.jpg

Here (I had to take the picture in sort mode in order to get it to look clearer) you can notice the dirt and dust more. The car has just been maintained with regular wipe downs but no real degreasing or rinsing. I can;t really reach into a lot of those areas, therefor, I was hoping to give it a mroe thorough cleaning. Thanks again guys.

:beer_smil
 
It looks to me that everything in that engine is already nicely covered up - except the altenator. I can see from that last close up that you do have some dusty spots in some tight places....that looks like a PIA to detail by hand. I personally would dilute your degreaser 50:50, give the whole thing a soak down and hit it with a garden hose or a weak pressure washer. 5-10 minutes top for that engine. Afterall, it's only dust....you don't need full strength degreaser. Just keep the water moving and don't flood the altenator. Wipe the majority of water off and dress...close the hood, run for 10-15 mins and you're good to go. I would initially run a cold engine for 5 mins prior to warm it up slightly.....NOT A HOT ENGINE....just slightly warm to loosen any grease/oil if any. my 2 cents....
 
joyriide1113 said:
Thumbs up for raising an awesome kid that decides to live at home so all he has to pay for is his car? Or did you think they paid it for me? lol.. I get it all the time. I'm only 19, and yes I go to school and work. But since I live at home and really don't have any bills, I can afford to make payments.
Click to expand...

Considering you are probably paying at least $600 bucks a month if not more for your car payment and insurance, unless you are working full time or have a really sweet paying part time job then you'll probably be living at home for many years to come. :lol: You can't drive a 40K car and not have hefty payments unless you put massive amounts of money down. Still, that doesn't really make any difference. When I was young and single I was making pretty hefty payments on my car and the credit card bill that I used to make the car even better. :naughty Rock on, brotha! :rockon

I have a motto about engine detailing. "If I can see it then I can clean it." There are many different brushes you can use to reach hard to get areas. Don't be afraid to get creative. There isn't anything quick and easy about detailing. Quick and easy detailing is called 'washing'. If you want the engine to look brand new all the time then you are going to have to spend time doing it. I spent 4 hours on my engine once before a show to get it looking good. It looked pretty good before I spent the time on it, but it can always get cleaner.

I wouldn't worry about a little dirt unless it was going to be in a show. Engines aren't meant to be clean all the time. Nobody sees them very often anyway. The condition it is in right now isn't bad at all. It isn't going to gross anybody out or anything. :lol: Don't stress too much.
 
The wipe down after every wash keeps my engine compartment looking pretty good, but....
For those areas that I absolutely can't reach, I use S100 Total Cycle Cleaner once or twice a year. It's a spray on, rinse off product and seems to do a good job for those areas I can't reach. No Dirtier than my engines get, I dilute the Total Cycle Cleaner with about 25% water to reduce the cost. Still seems to do the job for me.

Charles
 
i second the scrubbing bubbles.....its simple and clean, and it foams it gets in every crevice(sp)..this is perfect for a lightly dirty engine like yours
let it setup for 5 to 10 minutes and hose it off
do this once a year and you will be set

good luck

your engine is very easy to clean just jump in and do it
 
Jngrbrdman said:
Rock on, brotha! :rockon
Click to expand...


Yes I will! Atleast until I finish school (5 years brotha). I just got my para-legal degree, so these payments haven't really broken the bank just yet. Maybe when I graduate I'll buy a home and venture out, but with school 15 minutes away, and no one kicking me out, I really don't see many 19 yrolds moving out already, except for family or financial issues.
 
Hey, welcome to the club. :) My associates degree was in the same field. Only out here we call it a 'paralegal' and not a 'para-legal'. :lol: What field is it that you are trying to go into? I might have some good pointers for you.
 
Jngrbrdman said:
Hey, welcome to the club. :) My associates degree was in the same field. Only out here we call it a 'paralegal' and not a 'para-legal'. :lol: What field is it that you are trying to go into? I might have some good pointers for you.
Click to expand...
:rofl :no: :no: :no: At 19 years of age and going to college, he wants pointers from the Fuzz, not some old married man like you. :stick

Charles
 
Jngrbrdman said:
Hey, welcome to the club. :) My associates degree was in the same field. Only out here we call it a 'paralegal' and not a 'para-legal'. :lol: What field is it that you are trying to go into? I might have some good pointers for you.
Click to expand...


Mortgage Title for now. Still unsure as to what I want lying ahead.
 
Look at contracts and intellectual property. That is the most fun I ever had as a Paralegal. :bigups And just to prove that I can give sage Fuzz-like advice too, I'll tell you that copyrights and patents are smooooooth with the ladies. :naughty :lol:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top