Mobile - Do you do engine bays?

I

imported_Reflections

New member
Do any of you mobile detailers do engine bay detailing on dirty oily daily drivers? Is it practical? What is your method of removing the heavy grime without rinsing with water? How long might this process take? Comments and suggestions are appreciated!
 
This is something that can be done but should only be done where the water goes down a drain which is connected to a treatment plant, not just down the local gutter.



The EPA is starting to get serious about going after peole who do this....depending on where you live. Out on Westcoast is where it is coming down hardest and it will slowly spread eastward.



So yes it can be done but you may want to check with your local city officials first. You may need to go to a coin-op carwash and do it there as they have grease traps.



Anthony
 
I try to do as much as possible without having to rinse. Just make sure you invest in a ton of towels, as you'll usually ruin at least one if the engine is pretty bad. I usually spray some sort of APC while the engine is still somewhat warm (helps break down the grease), wipe alot of gunk off, and repeat. If you want to keep it under 20 minutes, you'll have to use the rinse method. If you've got more time, go for it.
 
I've had no problem with a good bottle of APC, a bunch of paper towels and a few brushes. Granted it takes me about an hour to do an engine that way, but the results have all been great and absoloutly zero waste water run-off.
 
All purpose cleaners and engine shampoos work ok for light grime.



But if you are dealing with heavy grime just get a litre of kerosene, a roll of shop towels and go to it. Kerosene is much more effective than the APCs or shampoos. You'll want to wear solvent resistant gloves and an old toothbrush can be handy in tight areas. Avoid getting kerosene on rubber parts.



Kerosene will leave a slight residue. You might use the APC or engine shampoo to remove that.
 
Thanks for the tips everyone. Yeah if I can do it about an hour by hand I think it would be worth while to provide the service! Sounds like I need to just use a lot of towels and go at it.
 
Why not just use a powerwasher on it. It is much quicker this way and you can still clean it safely using one. While the engine is off, I'll spray degreaser on everything and let it dwell for a couple of minutes. Then while the car is running, powerwash the underside of the hood and then the engine from front to back, keeping the nozzle about 2 feet or so away from the engine. Apply waterbased engine dressing and continue to let the car run while you're washing the rest of the vehicle. This will help to dry the engine bay quickly and allow the dressing to dry evenly. Engines come out looking great and this method will take you about 5-7 minutes at the most. To date, I've never had a problem with moisture in unwanted places or problems with a car starting afterwards. As a professional, who has time to devote an hour to an engine alone unless the customer requests that and is willing to pay for it?



Matt Williams

Silver Lining Detail
 
Matt, I think the original question was how to do this cleaning without rinsing with water, so a pressure washer is out. I suspect there are runoff restrictions where the original poster is located.
 
SilverLine said:
Why not just use a powerwasher on it. It is much quicker this way and you can still clean it safely using one. While the engine is off, I'll spray degreaser on everything and let it dwell for a couple of minutes. Then while the car is running, powerwash the underside of the hood and then the engine from front to back, keeping the nozzle about 2 feet or so away from the engine. Apply waterbased engine dressing and continue to let the car run while you're washing the rest of the vehicle. This will help to dry the engine bay quickly and allow the dressing to dry evenly. Engines come out looking great and this method will take you about 5-7 minutes at the most. To date, I've never had a problem with moisture in unwanted places or problems with a car starting afterwards. As a professional, who has time to devote an hour to an engine alone unless the customer requests that and is willing to pay for it?



Matt Williams

Silver Lining Detail
Click to expand...



This sounds like a great way but I am too scared to try this on a customers car.

I am very finicky(sp) when it comes to water in the engine bay.



Pat
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Matt, I think the original question was how to do this cleaning without rinsing with water, so a pressure washer is out. I suspect there are runoff restrictions where the original poster is located.
Click to expand...



Oh, I guess I didn't read the question correctly. Sorry about that.
 
boom-boom said:
This sounds like a great way but I am too scared to try this on a customers car.

I am very finicky(sp) when it comes to water in the engine bay.



Pat
Click to expand...



It's not as scary as you might think. As I mentioned earlier, if done carefully and with common sense it can be done safely. With the exception of older vehicles, most now have covers that protect electrical equipment and other areas you don't want to get wet. In addition, with the engine running while you wash the rest of the vehicle, everything dries pretty quickly under the hood. I admit, I get a bit nervous when working on an older vehicle as their engines tend to be rather finicky when moisture is introduced. I remember detailing a 69 Vette and having to clean the engine as this gentleman was going to sell the classic. I prayed :D ...then covered a few areas with plastic and sprayed WD-40 on the wiring, cleaned the engine using the same method mentioned above and everything came out fine. Honestly, I'd rather not clean engines on classics such as this, but have little worries when cleaning relatively new cars. Personally, I don't consider it a full detail if the engine is not cleaned. Again, just my personal opinion.



Matt Williams

Silver Lining Detail
 
Water on engines might not generally be a bad thing, but I would never put running water over an engine unless I knew something about it first.



For example, if you were to pressure wash or rinse an LT1 engine, which is used in early to mid 90's Z28 camaros, formula firebirds, Corvettes, Caprices and the like, you would most likely fry the distributor, which could cost up to $1500+ to replace if you had a shop do it.
 
Where's that "jacked" smiley when you need it!! :LOLOL I don't have any concerns about pressure washing an engine. The thing is in my city in Canada (and all 50 US states) it is illegal to wash degreaser/soap in to the storm sewer. So the idea here is to find a way to clean the engine at the client's house without rinsing anything on to the ground that a single towel underneath wouldn't capture.



While getting my business insurance, the insurance agent expressed interest in me detailing the engine bay on his '99 5 series. I told him I'd get back to him. Around here I think dealerships charge like 60 bucks to spray out an engine but a lot of people don't trust that process and I don't blame them. I'd probably charge 80 or so to do it by hand and if I could do it in an hour-hour and a half then it's worth my time. Any other suggestions are appreciated thanks.
 
Anthony Orosco said:
This is something that can be done but should only be done where the water goes down a drain which is connected to a treatment plant, not just down the local gutter.



The EPA is starting to get serious about going after peole who do this....depending on where you live. Out on Westcoast is where it is coming down hardest and it will slowly spread eastward.



So yes it can be done but you may want to check with your local city officials first. You may need to go to a coin-op carwash and do it there as they have grease traps.



Anthony
Click to expand...



I know from my days of using coin-op bays in college that most do not allow engine cleaning in my area and will sue you if you are caught doing it. They have sensitive reclaim systems that are not set up to deal with heavy grease or oil and will have to have their entire system purged and cleaned if someone does this. I remember reading about a carwash operator in the South that had signs everywhere to this end and caught a mobile detailer dumping his dirty wastewater in his system after hours and sued him out of business. Just be careful.
 
ShineShop said:
I know from my days of using coin-op bays in college that most do not allow engine cleaning in my area and will sue you if you are caught doing it. They have sensitive reclaim systems that are not set up to deal with heavy grease or oil and will have to have their entire system purged and cleaned if someone does this. I remember reading about a carwash operator in the South that had signs everywhere to this end and caught a mobile detailer dumping his dirty wastewater in his system after hours and sued him out of business. Just be careful.
Click to expand...



Yea Scott is correct here....be careful to read any signs at the coin-op places that may forbid cleaning engines.



I know at a few of the local coin-ops close to me they allow engine cleaning, in fact they advertise it on the walls....."Engine Degrease".



Thanks Scott :up



Anthony
 
Reflections said:
Where's that "jacked" smiley when you need it!! :LOLOL I don't have any concerns about pressure washing an engine. The thing is in my city in Canada (and all 50 US states) it is illegal to wash degreaser/soap in to the storm sewer. So the idea here is to find a way to clean the engine at the client's house without rinsing anything on to the ground that a single towel underneath wouldn't capture.



While getting my business insurance, the insurance agent expressed interest in me detailing the engine bay on his '99 5 series. I told him I'd get back to him. Around here I think dealerships charge like 60 bucks to spray out an engine but a lot of people don't trust that process and I don't blame them. I'd probably charge 80 or so to do it by hand and if I could do it in an hour-hour and a half then it's worth my time. Any other suggestions are appreciated thanks.
Click to expand...



Your best bet here is to bite the bullet and purchase a "PROFESSIONAL" steam vapor cleaner....not one you see on TV or the home shopping network. You want on-the-fly refill, at least 65 psi, multi-power and on/off switch at the handle. You'll also want a good warranty as many units boilers burn up within a year.



Anthony
 
Anthony Orosco said:
Your best bet here is to bite the bullet and purchase a "PROFESSIONAL" steam vapor cleaner....not one you see on TV or the home shopping network. You want on-the-fly refill, at least 65 psi, multi-power and on/off switch at the handle. You'll also want a good warranty as many units boilers burn up within a year.



Anthony
Click to expand...



Sorry to get a little offtopic...



Anthony, what are your opinions about the saeco piccolo steamer? Do you think that would be a good investment....especially since it's so inexpensive and I think it has about 50psi, etc.?
 
ajbarnes said:
Sorry to get a little offtopic...



Anthony, what are your opinions about the saeco piccolo steamer? Do you think that would be a good investment....especially since it's so inexpensive and I think it has about 50psi, etc.?
Click to expand...



From the thread where some folks bought it and posted up their experience I would say it's an OK steamer and you're basically getting what you pay for. For everyday use I would say continue shopping but for the occasional user I assume it would be OK.



Although once you get one (a steamer) you'll be finding uses for it all over.......and yes even the wife! My kids use mine when they clean their bathroom...they enjoy using it because it's so fast and no cleaning chemicals needed.



Hope that helps,

Anthony
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top