need recommendation for good engine cleaner

3

31st330i

New member
I used EF-HI diluted to 50% on one of my cars and the results were pretty decent but what I'm looking for is some sort of an engine compartment cleaner that leaves a slight sheen behind as well. I'm after that new car look. any recommendations?
 
From my exsperience engine cleaner and the shine are acomplished with two seperate products. I have used 3M silicone spray on a clean engine for the shine. It works pretty good and lasts. I'm gonna try this product from Griot's next. It's some type of "engine shine" I'm sure someone on this forum knows something we don't and can recomend a good product.

PEACE
 
The product from Griot's is called "engine gloss" They also have it in a kit. I think I'm going to check it out. The kit contains.........

ENGINE GLOSS

ENGINE CLEANER

FOUR DETAIL BRUSHES

SPRAY BOTTLE

The kit is $24.95

www.griotsgarage.com

;)
 
I am a huge fan of the CD2 engine detail kit. It really lays down a shine on the hoses and other parts. Its a 2 part system so I think it will have the effect that you are looking for.





Click here to purchase



<img src="http://communities.msn.com/_Secure/0NQAAALkSB!rOD5AKQE2QV48KLqzVIkELyaYa1SWdpezZTfdixtmUSJ9sYJZVU1F2WsFyaYO1tiGCD533UEIrWA/Engine.JPG"
 
Where'd you find that CD2 Kit? Ive seen a similar product packaged individually before, but am not sure if it is the same thing?



Any body know about Simple Green engine detailer? Picked up a kit from a Kmart going out of business for 2.50$ and it had some hand cleaner, tire/engine cleaner and a general purpose simple green spray. Semed like a deal!



And also, anyone tell me the best way to detail the engine? Im sort of nervous about spraying stuff in there, as it might short something out (cover alternator?) Please advise...
 
I get it at K-Mart. I've seen it elsewhere but that has always been a good source for me. I've seen em packaged seperatly at AutoZone before. The cans look a little different but its the same product.



When you detail an engine you want to cover any electronics or exposed air intakes and carburators. On older engines it is really tough to keep it all covered. Spray the engine with the degreaser and let it sit. After awhile rinse the engine with low pressure water. Dry it well. With the CD2 kit you can then spray the second treatment on the parts you want to shine. The hoses, valvecover, electronic covers, etc. Wipe those down with a dry towel and viola! Clean engine and great shine!
 
X-MAN said:
From my exsperience engine cleaner and the shine are acomplished with two seperate products. I have used 3M silicone spray on a clean engine for the shine. It works pretty good and lasts. I'm gonna try this product from Griot's next. It's some type of "engine shine" I'm sure someone on this forum knows something we don't and can recomend a good product.

PEACE
Click to expand...



Silicone in the engine compartment? I try to stay silicone free on all my car, but in the engine is a must! From what I understand, silicone can eat through hoses and block O2 sensors.
 
I've used Eimann Fabrik's Engine Degreaser to clean and then used luster lace and 303 Aerospace protectant. :bounce jj
 
Hey Red Wing man...engine looks tight! Good pic.

:up

chuckmotor, I hear ya' about the silicone...not saying it's the bomb.That's why I'm open for suggestions. I don't think It's going to eat through any hoses or anything though. The only problem I have found with it is...if you accidently get it on chrome, it looks like crap! Then it smears trying to get it off. Other than that it's OK untill I find something better. It even brings back faded metal & it's not slimy.

The thing about CD2 is, once you have a clean engine, you don't need the degreaser in the kit. I've never saw it sold seperatly before.I'll have to check that out. The other thing about CD2, it seems like it goes on sort of HEAVY & THICK. I think dust sort of sticks to it too. Oh BTW the 3M is an aerisol, so you can direct your application. I'm still gonna check out this engine kit from Griot's. 25 bucks seems kinda high but you can get the pieces seperatly too. The engine gloss alone is $9.95

There is one more thing that I use....(prepare to laugh)..I spray tire foam( NO TOUCH) on the black rubber and plastic pieces. It knocks the dust off & does'nt look too "gleemy & fake".

OK...I'm through now

:doh
 
X-MAN said:
Hey Red Wing man...engine looks tight! Good pic.

:up

chuckmotor, I hear ya' about the silicone...not saying it's the bomb.That's why I'm open for suggestions. I don't think It's going to eat through any hoses or anything though. The only problem I have found with it is...if you accidently get it on chrome, it looks like crap! Then it smears trying to get it off. Other than that it's OK untill I find something better. It even brings back faded metal & it's not slimy.

The thing about CD2 is, once you have a clean engine, you don't need the degreaser in the kit. I've never saw it sold seperatly before.I'll have to check that out. The other thing about CD2, it seems like it goes on sort of HEAVY & THICK. I think dust sort of sticks to it too. Oh BTW the 3M is an aerisol, so you can direct your application. I'm still gonna check out this engine kit from Griot's. 25 bucks seems kinda high but you can get the pieces seperatly too. The engine gloss alone is $9.95

There is one more thing that I use....(prepare to laugh)..I spray tire foam( NO TOUCH) on the black rubber and plastic pieces. It knocks the dust off & does'nt look too "gleemy & fake".

OK...I'm through now
Click to expand...



I haven't really had a problem with dust sticking. It goes on thick but you wipe it down with a towel afterwards and that sort of sprads it around. The dust problem comes from the areas that I don't get wiped down well enough. :)



Don't laugh about using tire foam. I've used it from time to time myself. Armor All (yes, armor all) makes a tire foam called Detailer's Advantage that goes on very shiney. I used to use that on the hoses only before I found CD2. At this point when I detail my engine all I really have to do is clean the white parts of the engine bay and wipe down the rest after a couple shots of CD2. Much less effort. Regular maintanance is the key to keeping any project short.
 
Chuckmotor said:




Silicone in the engine compartment? I try to stay silicone free on all my car, but in the engine is a must! From what I understand, silicone can eat through hoses and block O2 sensors.
Click to expand...

I assume you're speaking about the potentially harmful dimethyl silicone oil.



There is a difference between silicone and the potentially harmful type of silicone oil. I won't pretend to be a chemist and explain the differences between the many different types of silicone but I will say that I have seen a tendancy of those on this board to fear "silicone" in general.



What if I told you 303, Vinylex, Griot's 'Safe' Rubber Protectant and many others contained "silicone?"



Please don't spread this fear of all things silicone. You're afraid of silicone oil, not silicone.



End of rant! :D
 
Chuckmotor said:
From what I understand, silicone can eat through hoses and block O2 sensors.
Click to expand...



ding! ding! ding! YES! former master mechanic here....



silicone spray will permanently destroy an O2 sensor. O2 sensors have DUAL tips. one inside the exhaust and one inside the little canister that the wire pokes out of. what an O2 sensor actually measures is the *difference* in oxygen content between the two tips (exhaust gas and outside air). the output is 0-~.9 VDC. a higher difference in oxygen content (a richer mixture) makes for a higher voltage. and conversly, lower difference (leaner condition) makes for a lower voltage.



CAUTION!!!:nono



speaking of silicone.... I work in silicon valley and when I was on a business trip to mexico city one of my mexican counterparts (after hearing that I was from silicon valley) invited me out to a place called *silocone* valley. youcan guess what that was. ;) too bad I didn't have time.
 
puterbum said:


I assume you're speaking about the potentially harmful dimethyl silicone oil.



There is a difference between silicone and the potentially harmful type of silicone oil. I won't pretend to be a chemist and explain the differences between the many different types of silicone but I will say that I have seen a tendancy of those on this board to fear "silicone" in general.



What if I told you 303, Vinylex, Griot's 'Safe' Rubber Protectant and many others contained "silicone?"



Please don't spread this fear of all things silicone. You're afraid of silicone oil, not silicone.



End of rant! :D
Click to expand...



You know what I mean. In fact, you said it yourself-- "I assume you're speaking about the potentially harmful dimethy silicone oil."



I know about the differences between silicone and silicone oil, but the way I figure it, we can abreviate a couple things around here.



So please, you don't need to "pretend to be a chemist," as you said. But you can at least try to be a mechanic, just like my buddy 31st330i, here.
 
31st330i said:




ding! ding! ding! YES! former master mechanic here....



silicone spray will permanently destroy an O2 sensor. O2 sensors have DUAL tips. one inside the exhaust and one inside the little canister that the wire pokes out of. what an O2 sensor actually measures is the *difference* in oxygen content between the two tips (exhaust gas and outside air). the output is 0-~.9 VDC. a higher difference in oxygen content (a richer mixture) makes for a higher voltage. and conversly, lower difference (leaner condition) makes for a lower voltage.



CAUTION!!!:nono



speaking of silicone.... I work in silicon valley and when I was on a business trip to mexico city one of my mexican counterparts (after hearing that I was from silicon valley) invited me out to a place called *silocone* valley. youcan guess what that was. ;) too bad I didn't have time.
Click to expand...



Thanks for the great info! I'll be sure to keep silicone away from my 02 sensors!
 
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