Engine detailing

A

! apmljv

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How do you guys go about cleaning the engine? I'm not looking for perfectly clean process, I just want to get my engine bay nice and clean. I was told to just spray some Simple Green and hose it down with the water w/o covering anything(not strong water). Yet, reading on this board, it seems like I have to cover some stuff before hosing it. Is it really necessary? If so, what parts do I need to cover it?



My only fear is that the water will get into something and the car won't start or run properly.



Thanks in advance!
 
you should cover the electrical parts with towels, plastic bags or plastic bags. Better safe than sorry. I also use some engine gunk on the greasy stuff . Get a stiff brush and be prepared to scrub
 
How-To Detail Your Engine



About the only things I can think of to add are:



1. Something like a toilet brush makes a good tool for agitation. I use one for all underbody stuff (hood, wheel wells, undercarriage when I get around to it)



2. Some people have found Armour All foaming tire cleaner to be a good dressing for all the hoses and plastic bits in the car. Conventional dressings need more effort to apply and remove to get coverage and not get streaking.



3. Even with the covers, be carefull with water pressure. Even from a garden hose.



Hope this helps,
 
I have always covered anything I think looks a bit dodgy to get wet.



Using a low presure hose dampen the engine, I spray Autoglym Engine and machine cleaner liberally over everything, agitate with a variety off brushes. Low presure rinse again, try off using plenty of towels, cans of compressed air. Then dress with a good Vinyl and rubber cleaner. Polish paintwork and metal.



All it needs then is a quick wipe down after the weekly wash.



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Sorry I meant to have said dressing, I use either Autoglym Vinyl and rubber or 1Z Tierflenger on Smooth Surfaces. Auotoglym bumper care on textured.
 
Richt said:
I have always covered anything I think looks a bit dodgy to get wet.
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Hey Richt... when I saw your photographs, I just went :shocked WOOOOOW!!!!!!! It's SUPER impressive!



I've always wanted to detail my engine but am ultra-paranoid about wetting things that aren't supposed to be wet. Could you take some photos when you next detail your engine and share with us what parts you cover up and how you do it?
 
Thanks. Next time I do a deatil I will take photos off what I cover to be honest it differs per engine but off the top off my head



Battery

Carbs

Exposed Air Filters

ECU

Certain Air Con bits

Distributer Cap

Spark Plugs if they are exposed and water cab easily get down to them.



Then on other parts be carefull just not to get to much water near them, headlight and other various wires, Injector rail etc.



The key is only get the engine as wet as you need to, i.e if you can get away with wiping with damp cloths etc, just do that, if there is a layer of grime, keep the water to the minimum you need to clean the job, and a low pressure supply. I sometimes even use a watering can.





Some cars are prone to having problems with damp electrics, alot of new cars more seem to be better but I am told some still dont like it. the best thing on personal cas is once its done all it needs is a damp cloth wipe down with your wash routine to stay concours.
 
Jliao, what kind of engine are you detailing? I usually start my engine whenever I do any rinseing for a couple reasons. It helps dry it quicker with a little heat and air from fan, plus if you do get something wet you "MAY" have an idea what got wet from where you were spraying water when the engine died. I have an E36 M3 and have never had any problems. The COP's are covered so they don't get wet. I have heard of nightmares with COP's (on a Grand Marquis) where the COP's were ruined from getting wet. Gunk makes a citrus engine cleaner that works well.
 
I use a mist spray to get everything wet enough so that the APC will get sudsy, agitate with toothbrush/wheel brush/whatever and then rinse with low pressure and use the shop vac on blow and blast all the water out. If you wait for everything to dry before starting the car again, you should be fine. I make the engine the first thing to detail since it's easy to get overspray from the hose, apc, etc.
 
I'm trying to clean a Mazda Protege5 Engine.. I somewhat have an idea on what I need to cover, but I'm afraid I"ll get other stuff wet that aren't suppose to be wet. :(

I wish I know someone local to show me once on what to cover and what not.
 
I hope this will help. It's the best I could do from a single angle on a random picture, but you get the idea. The shaded red areas are where you should take caution; but you don't necessarily have to cover them all up.



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1 - Maybe where the computer is located? It can be cleaned, but I wouldn't go and flood it with water from all angles, just enough to get it clean.



2 - I'm assuming this could be where the MAF is located, but it looks sealed.



3 - Those spark plug wires will lead to some sort of distributor..or they'll go to some place where all 4 will meet in a close proximity. You can cover the area up with some alumnium foil.



4 - Looks like a place where air enters the intake, so just don't shoot water into it.



5 - Places like this where wire is exposed outside of the sleeving are caution areas.



I may be wrong on all my guesses, but these are the places I take caution with when I detail engines and I haven't had problems. Use water sparingly and if in doubt, wait for everything to dry. I doubt you'll run into any problems. :bestwish:
 
I spray Castro degeaser on the engine let it set for about 5 minutes, rinse with mild water spray, blow dry with shop vac, and dress with CD2 or Trim Shine



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I spray fine mist of water all over the bay and then I spray APC and let it dwell for few minutes. Then use a soft bristle brush and start agitale engine bay. After that I use compressor air to dry it.



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klnyc said:
I spray fine mist of water all over the bay and then I spray APC and let it dwell for few minutes. Then use a soft bristle brush and start agitale engine bay. After that I use compressor air to dry it.



IGOTVQPWR.jpg
Click to expand...



That's a MAXIMA. Makes me want to grow some balls and detail my engine.



Can you tell me which parts you covered?
 
truzoom, that looks about right. I think I have a better idea on what I need to cover it up. I suppose I Just cover anything that I think it would likely be damage by water. Thanks for the help, greatly appreciated!



klync, you said you spray some water mist. Do you do this after you warm up the engine? or before the engine? My process Im planing is warming up the engine a little, then spray Autogym EMC on and scrub it.
 
Yep, I let the car ran for 5-7 min..So this way the engine hot enough to vaporize some of water that trap on the intake manifold,exhuast headerd,etc.



I use a air compressor to dry it thou.. I use the Husky one :)



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So I poped my hood today to check where I need to cover it. It seems like there are wires exposed everywhere, basically anywhere when wires goes into a connector. I assume they're the cautious area?
 
I spay things down with simple green, 3:1, then give it a little scrubbing and rinse with water. Then I dress it with armor all and what ever tire shine I have. Also use QD on metal surfaces.

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The next two I only had to wipe down with simple green 20:1 then dress and QD.

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And polish billet or chrome with billet or chrome polish.

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