Removing Oil from Engine

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dstn8r

New member
I'm putting this in concours because I plan to detail my engine for shows. I was changing the oil last night on my '96 A6 and I found that my oil pan gasket has a leak. There is oil all underneath the car and a good way back as I guess the wind spread the oil. What do you guys use to clean oil off the engine etc? I'm going to change the gasket so I'll use that time to start my concours detailing on the underside of the engine. Thanks.



While I'm at it, my Audi has an engine cover for the underside. For a show, would you remove that or leave it stock? Obviously everything under there will be clean, so I'd figure it would be better to show it off, but maybe judges would prefer a stock look?
 
To clean my Boxster engine I spray with P21S Total Auto Wash (citrus degreaser) and them wash off with water. I then fully dry the engine with compressed air and finish with a coat of Griots Engine Gloss Spray.



As for the question on the engine cover underneath, I would leave it on:



1. Keep it original

2. Keep out the judges hands! If the concours is like a Porsche concours, then you will find they recruit judges with double jointed arms that are 5 foot long...lol They literally try and get their hands anywhere to try and find some dirt/grease. Therefore its best to not make it any easier for them (because your fellow competitors sure won't) :)
 
As far as the engine cover underneath.



Take it off and clean it, they collect plenty of crud. Put it back on for judging.



It does depend on the judging rules of the show. Most I'm familiar with have a sheet of paper that lists all of the items and the points for each item. Add up all the points, that is the score for a car as it comes from the factory. Judges assume the car is perfect, then deduct as they inspect each item.



Extra points are usually available for age and high milage.



Missing any part or compnent is a deduction, so leave the pan on - if it is a factory item.



Lou
 
Do you guys think it's safe to let motor oil sit on the engine and just burn off from the heat? Or will this make it impossible to clean later?



I was changing oil yesterday, and my gf insisted on pouring the oil in for me. Well, I let her, and she held the bottle so tight it crushed and slipped and 1/8th of the bottle poured all over half a cylinder bank of my engine (v8). It's synthetic (mobil1), and there are spark plug crevices and fuel injector ports that have oil, I can't soak enough of it up and know there is some behind cables and along the engine that I can't reach no matter what. In fact it started dripping oil from the middle of my car, which means the oil traveled pretty far.
 
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