I do think that the Autopia Store needs "update" their information about engine cleaning, as both the McKee`s 37 Engine Degreaser and the McKee`s 37 Turbo Blower are both "discontinued" items (IE; they are no longer sold or available) at the Autopia Store.
I would suggest Optimum Power Clean or Meg`s Detailer Line M108 Super Degreaser as alternate degreaser products and the Blackfire Car Dryer or Metro Vac Air Force Quick Draw Compact Dryer as alternate dryers, all products currently available at the Autopia Store.
I am also "surprised` to see engine cleaning using a garden hose and fire nozzle to wash/rinse the engine compartment. I would think this introduced way too much water into those areas, even if someone has taken the time to wrap senors, engine computer control boxes, and fuse boxes with plastic to mitigate the entrance of said water into these water-sensitive electrical components. I would think a garden-type hand-pressurized insecticide sprayer with a sprayer wand, like the IK Pro Foam 12 , might be a better way to wash and rinse and control the amount of water introduced into the engine.
As far as engine cleaning and detailing, does anyone use a high-end steamer like the Vapor Systems VX5000 or the Reliable Brio Pro 1000CC to do so?? I`ve watched product demonstration videos for both of these steamers and they show them being used to steam clean engine compartments.
Neither one of these are available or sold at the Autopia Store (sorry!). The Autopia Store offers the Vapormore line of steamers and the only one that is a true high-end pro model is the MR-1000 Forenza Steam Cleaner.
By the way, the engine compartment is the FIRST area you should clean if you are doing a vehicle detail, for obvious reasons. Chances are overspray and such will get on the exterior front fender panels and grill and windshield, requiring a follow-up cleaning /washing of those areas when done OR the entire vehicle exterior (preferred).
More common sense suggestion:
Watch what you use for a de-geaser or engine cleaner. Many over-the-counter degreasers, like OTC Simple Green or Super Clean (the Purple Stuff) are NOT safe for use on aluminum components so prevalent on today`s vehicles. They will cause whitening or aluminum "bloom" on such parts if allowed to dwell too long or not rinsed or dried completely. A popular OTC engine cleaner aerosol spray is Gunk Engine Brite. I am just not "keen" to using that either.
And for safety`s sake, PLEASE refrain from using gasoline as an engine cleaning solvent and degreaser (my readily-available redneck "solvent" in my younger day. Might "explain" a lot of why your as are today, Captain Obvious! Just sayin`...). While very inexpensive and very effective as a de-greasing solvent, its detriment to personal health, the environmental, and flammability far out-weigh its use for engine cleaning.
ALWAYS READ THE LABEL DIRECTIONS AND WARNINGS BEFORE USING ANY PRODUCT FOR ENGINE CLEANING.
Edit:
Since I detail and clean daily drivers almost exclusively, engine compartments and the underside of the hood collect far more than just grease and dirt. Perhaps the "worst" is leaf, pine needle, lawn litter in the cowl area where fresh air is taken into the interior. I prefer to first remove what I can by hand and then take a vacuum to those areas. Sometimes I take a tweezers to extract embedded litter in the cowl vents. That`s the litter that plugs drain holes and then causes rust to form in cowl areas.
I have also removed rodent debris, like mice nests or chipmunk seed-&-nut "stashes". You just need to cognitive and vigilant about such things happening in daily driven vehicles when you open the hood. I have not encountered live animals, like snakes or lizards or rodents. I did remove a dead bird from the grill of my own vehicle.
Insect and bugs can really collect on the radiator and front underside of the hood. A good long brush, like the E-Z Detail brush can help get the bugs off the radiator and a bug mesh sponge works well for under the hood. I`ve used Poorboy`s World Bug Squash as a pre-treater for those areas, but I am sure a de-greaser or All-Purpose Cleaner can be substituted for that purpose.
Heh heh, some brake cleaners are kinda nasty, but they do get things clean...just wear the right protective gear.
