Cleaning Engine Bay with EF HI?

[imported_Ronin]

My engine used to be immaculate several moths ago. Add a new baby and a new job and the engine bay has slipped a little. It's a little dirty, but not filthy. Will EF HI cut it for cleaning my engine or should I order the EF citrus based degreaser? More importantly, is it safe to spray on engine hoses and plastics ect? How does the EF HI cut grease? I don't really want to have to order another product if I don't have to. Anyone used the EF HI to clean their engine bay?

 

[JasonC8301]

Well, Ef HI is a bit strong full strength and really basic in terms of pH scale. If you're engine is not that dirty, try attacking it one section at a time. Lots of towels and rags, rubber cleaner (Meguiar's #39 for me), QD for painted parts, and metal polish for metals.



If you want, I have some Valugard engine degreaser. It gets the job done and is cost effective. PM me for a shipping address and I'll send out enough to make a 24 ounce bottle (needs to be diluted 10:1 for light jobs, 4:1 for heavy jobs I think.) www.autoint.com



Jason

 

[chris0626]

Ronin, when I converted to Autopianism and detailed an engine that had been neglected for 2 years, EFHI/citrus was a gift from Heaven! :up I'll continue to use it on the hardcore cases. And brake-parts cleaner was great on the lower-engine parts. (Just don't make my mistake and use it near the spark plugs while the engine is running! ) But when detailing engines that have just had a few months of neglect, I find I can either dilute EFHI or use less-expensive products like Orange Blast or diluted Simple Green. In those cases, I don't try to spray-down the whole engine; I just work on one component at a time, spraying with the product, and cleaning-up (maybe using a couple of applications) with a shop towel. Then I hit the rubber hoses etc. with something like gummipflege, the plastic with Plexus or another plastic "polish." Still trying to decide about the "bright metal" parts (like brake master on my '75 car); I know carnauba's useless at those high temperatures, but haven't yet tried a polymer sealant and QD as some here have suggested.



To answer your more specific questions, based on my experience:

- Yes, it's great at grease-cutting.

- No, it does not damage hoses, rubber, etc.



Keep firing-away with more detailed questions if we're not really addressing your concerns. And keep us posted on your progress.