Questions before I detail my engine

I was looking at using Meg APC (10:1) sprayed all over the egine, then hosed off, use a brush and towels to get into the tight areas, dry, then some CD-2, for the paint use some ONR as a QD followed with Duragloss AW?

I was also thinkin of removing the alt, blet and battery as it only takes 10 minutes tops. I need to replace my spark plug wires and put the new ones on using looms to give it the real clean look, so I was thinking while the wires are off I should fill the spark plug holes with tin foil as I clean the engine? Any other pointers or other products I should use?

Here are some pics

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I would leave the old spark plugs in while doing the cleaning!! Take your wires off sure thats fine but i wouldnt leave any chance of water getting in the engine even if u covered them!

Your plan of attack is perfect IMO and id just set the pressure washer at medium strength so u dont break any electronics etc!!
 
Agreed with the guys above. No way would I try to clean an engine with the plugs taken out...no matter how well I covered the holes.
 
I could've sworn you were taking the plugs out too.



Nevertheless, I would cover the exposed plugs with foil or plastic wrap. Either way, you'll be fine.



sal329 said:
The plusg are stayin in as they only have 1k miles on them. I am replacing only the wires.
 
I cover my alt/gen so nothing gets in the housing. I've seen photos of fires caused by dressing igniting in the housing and burning up cars.



You may also have to go more like 5:1 or 2:1 on the concentration.



dont dress the belts



go easy on the CD-2 and run the engine to warm helps set the CD-2
 
Greg Nichols said:
I cover my alt/gen so nothing gets in the housing. I've seen photos of fires caused by dressing igniting in the housing and burning up cars.



dont dress the belts



Not entirely accurate unless you're using solvent based dressing. That's a big NO-NO! :angry :nono





An old competitor of mine burned down his detail shop with a bunch of vehicles inside after detailing a Jaguar. It caught fire and exploded because he used solvent based tire dressing (flammable) and it ignighted a fire when it backfired.



Use water based dressing on engine compartments!!!!
 
I'm quite ignorant as to what solvent-based tire dressing are out there. David or anyone for that matter, if you could, please list the solvent-based tire dressings that you know of for our reference? Thanks.
 
Sorry for the confusion guys the wires are being replaced. I will remove the belt, alt and battery as it only takes 10 minutes. What are water based dressing that you recommed? Will Meg APC be a good idea for engine cleaning?
 
Here's the MSDS sheet for Turtle Wax CD-2 Engine Detailer. Here are just a few things that stick out about it's flammability. I can e-mail the entire MSDS sheet if anyone wants it.



SPECIAL FIRE FIGHTING PROCEDURES: Aerosol cans are under pressure, can explode when

heated above 120°F and can become projectiles. Treat contents as flammable liquid/explosive vapor fire.

Keep unignited containers cool with water. Vapors are heavier than air, may collect in low areas, and may

travel to distant source of ignition and flashback.





13. DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS

Ignitable hazardous waste, EPA Hazardous Waste Number D001



HAZARD CATEGORIES

Acute Health Yes

Chronic Health Yes

Fire Yes



RCRA STATUS: If discarded in its purchased form, this product would be an ignitable waste with an

EPA Hazardous Waste Number of D001.



HMIS CLASSIFICATION Health 1

Flammability 4



POSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS

COMPONENT CAS NUMBER CONCENTRATION (wt %)

Petroleum Distillates 64742-48-9 60 – 70

Propane 00074-98-6 10 – 15

Isobutane 00075-28-5 10 - 15

EXPOSURE LIMITS 8 hrs. TWA(ppm)

OSHA PEL ACGIH TLV

Petroleum Distillates 100 ppm 100 ppm

Propane 1000 ppm 1000 ppm

Isobutane 800 ppm 800 ppm



 
Seems to me that engine looks pretty clean especially compared to some I've seen. In this case I think I'd just use an APC and wipe down the key components rather than spray 'n wash the whole thing - I'm mean I dob\n't hose down my interior either!
 
Denzil said:
Actually I was thinking of finding out the list of the solvent-based stuff to stay away from.



Pretty much all solvent based dressings. Anything clear or blue tinted.



I second that the engine doesn't look too bad.



Spray APC, let dwell for a few minutes and rinse. Respray APC and scrub any areas that need it. Drip dry for a minute and spray a water based dressing and let air dry.
 
I am amazed at how clean you can get a pretty dirty engine just lightly spraying it with a diluted APC in a squirt bottle, then agitating with an assortment of brushes and rags, then rinsing with a pesticide sprayer with water and a little ONR. I then wipe (dry) everything, and will apply a dressing, like Meguiar's Water Based Dressing diluted 1:1 or more.
 
What are some good water based dressings that you can recommend?

I replaced my waterpump and belt tensioner the other day at work and while I was at it I cleaned the timing case and only the timin case with some engine degreaser and carb cleaner.
 
As a noob, I find it just silly that one thread is all about "just pressure wash and spray some dressing in there" and it'll look great and then the next thread is "it's gonna exlode!"



sorry BOT
 
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