Cleaning the engine bay

[PSUstudentWITHfocus]

i agree as well, lol i used an engine bright on my escort (i love that car) and less than a week later i needed a new alternator......i even put a plastic bag over it when i cleaned the engine. ya just are asking for problemsss

[bluefcs]

That sucks, yea.. my clutch just blew and ive had my car since saturday, brand new 2003 duratec. Just great.
Kyle

[FrescoFoci]

I will sticky this cuz it's a common question nowadays.

[longarm]

For a quick shine/protectant you can spray some Stoners Trim Shine in there. It works pretty good. I detail cars on the side and I always use a product called 303 Space Age Protectant. That stuff is the best on the market that I have seen. I won't give you the ultra high shine some of you want, but for a commuter car, it's awsome stuff. A bit pricy too, but it will last longer than most protectants. I use it on my tires as well.

[midwestmuzikk]

then after i rinse it really good i spray an armorall or a tire shine while the engine still is wet.

I hope you dont have to get any body work done any time soon. A body shop's worst nightmare is armorall. It doesnt mix well with paint. Fish eyes anyone?

In all seriousness though, whenever we get a car in the bodyshop that has wax on it, has really shiny tires, or we can tell if it has armor all on the trim, we make sure and wash first with hot soapy water. Then we use PPG's Wax and grease remover (DX330) on the panels that we are working on a couple times, before we start any repairing. And of course before we shoot the paint. A simple paint job can turn to crap, if everything is not removed.

[Redlight]

I hope you dont have to get any body work done any time soon. A body shop's worst nightmare is armorall. It doesnt mix well with paint. Fish eyes anyone?

In all seriousness though, whenever we get a car in the bodyshop that has wax on it, has really shiny tires, or we can tell if it has armor all on the trim, we make sure and wash first with hot soapy water. Then we use PPG's Wax and grease remover (DX330) on the panels that we are working on a couple times, before we start any repairing. And of course before we shoot the paint. A simple paint job can turn to crap, if everything is not removed.

how right you are. I see it al the time. People don't realize that silicone is not that good of a thing all the time.

I know a guy that painted his dash and the next day put armorall on the unpainted areas and still got fish eyes.

Silicone can travel up to 5 miles through the air with the right wind. You spray that stuff close to a paint shop or a freshly painted car....u got probs. Always let the body shops know that you have wax or any silicone (tire shine, armorall, rain x) on your car so they can make arrangements to clean it off.

now as for cleaning the engine:
never drown your engine. You will get parts wet that don't need to get wet. Your best bet would be use a little degreaser (if needed) and wiping it down with a damp cloth and use a brush to get in crevices. Then go over it with some Meguiars final inspection. Rub on, wipe off.....

simple

[longarm]

When you get your engine cleaned go and get some 303 Space Age Protectant. That stuff is great at repeling dust and stuff. Spray it liberally on your engine and wait about 2 or 3 minutes, then fire up your leaf blower and blast it off. Then spot treat the larger hoses and stuff. You engine will look great. It will stay that way for awile too.

[CaysE]

2:1 water:Simple Green in a spray bottle, elbow grease + rags/toothbrush, and No Touch Tire Care when it's clean and dry. Straight from autopia.org, and damn the results are awesome.
http://autopia.org/forums/showthread...threadid=46188

[JeffG]

I JUST CLEANED MY ENGINE BAY. JUST WATCH OUT FOR WATER SITTING AROUND THE SPARK PLUGS. IT WILL MAKE THE CAR SPUTTER.

[sleeperlove]

All I have to say isand that I'd like to purchase this product ASAP....

i didnt even notice the V8 i only saw the brakes and wheels at first o man I'll take three of what ever that stuff was

[riprock]

well bluefcs...i feel your pain with the clutch. ford is becoming known around my area for their clutches because my 03 svt has 20k miles on it and is on its 3rd clutch. and thanks for all the info guys. yall are great!

[Focus126]

use a steam machine to clean your engine bay. not too much steam on any electrical connectors, and you will be fine.. wipe the condestation off the parts as you go. then youse some after makert products do polish them up if you want.

[iRebound]

simple green and rag does the trick for me!

[BLUE_02_ZX3]

my freind had this stuff called like super 8 or 8 ball. something like that. and he just sprayed the engine with water then the cleaner then water again after about 5 mins of letting it sit, and his motor (a late 80s ranger that had never been cleaned before) I swear you could eat off it. I was throughly impressed.

last time I cleaned mine I used something they use on semi's and it was awesome!

but since then Its been so clean that form time to time I just lightly spray the whole underhood with armorall. seems to work fine. (i stay away from the things that dont need sprayed)

oh btw. My freind used a carwash sprayed, Ive only used a garder hose, still had good pressure. but is that kosher? to use high pressure sprayer? Ive heard it was Ive heard it wasnt.

[BLUE_02_ZX3]

so anyone know if its okay to use the carwash sprayer?

[silver02svt]

All I have to say isand that I'd like to purchase this product ASAP....

Just dont let it set too long or this will happen:
[image]http://www.focusfanatics.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3811&sort=1&cat=500&page=1[/image]
before
[image]http://www.focusfanatics.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=5680&sort=1&cat=500&page=1[/image]
after

[MAlby7]

.

[MAlby7]

Before Foamy Engine Brite:




After Foamy Engine Brite:


As you can see it does wonders

Holy Crap using that stuff gets you rims and a Corvette LS1 engine.

>>>> Goes to store to get some engine degreaser <<<<<<

[Nells]

I agree, you should just hand clean it, get a towel wet and clean it, i mean if you take care of your car and clean it often you are never going to need that junk to take off grease buildup, and dont just hose the engine down that wont do much and you take a risk of damaging something. even use a toothbrush and you can get in those tight places, but using a small cloth and a toothbrush prevents water from going where it shouldnt be going.
Kyle

What if you now have oil all over the engine bay and need to get it off? I am planning on scrubbing it tonight, but what sorts of things do I need to be careful of (like which parts of the engine should I not touch)?

[aliencds]

im gonna try some polish on the engine bay maybe see if i can get the caked on dirt

[focushere]

lol love that photo shop

[QWK_123]

[QUOTE]
[QUOTE]

After Foamy Engine Brite:


As you can see it does wonders

Jeez, sign me up! Give me as much of it as eleventy billion dollars will buy!

[paulkots]

Greased Lightning is the best. Takes care of all oil spills and dirt.

[BCE03SVT]

I use Gunk Engine Brite to get the bulk of the engine. After that I go in by hand and get all the little details.

[bustonit]

I recently used Greased Lightning Orange Blast shop degreaser. It worked so well I couldn't believe it. I do use a small pressure washer too, but the Orange Blast loosened up the filth perfectly and leaft no residue whatsoever. Also, some like to treat their engine compartment to a clear type product coating. I can skip that with the Orange Blast.