Author Topic: who can clean engines good? (Read 2048 times)

Damon · « **on:** 08:08AM 04/26/2004 »

Do any shops or car washes steam clean engines? Or, something as comparable?

Mar_DC2 · « **Reply #1 on:** 12:06PM 04/26/2004 »

steam washing can ruin rubber hoses. what i do is get some simple green, take it to one of those DIY carwashes, cover the distributor with a plastic bag and cover the entire engine bay with the simple green. let it soak for a while, then get a scrub brush (you can get an engine cleaning brush at autozone or something) and scrub the hell out of the whole bay, then cover it with the simple green again, let it soak for a while, and use a pressure sprayer (on low pressure) to spray it off. then put armor all on all of the rubber/plastic pieces. looks like new!

i've also heard of some people using that degreaser foam, covering their engine with it, and letting it run for about 10-20 minutes and supposedly it looks awesome and you dont have to wash it off with a hose or anything. ill try to find something about that.

Dïºck · « **Reply #2 on:** 02:54PM 04/26/2004 »

WD-40...

I used to do the simple green method, by my car has alot of plastic covers and such under the hood and simple green causes issues with them

I don't have a distributer, so I don't cover it

however you do need to do that, and also take care when working around the Alternator.

Instead of simple green and armor all I use WD-40 on all of my hoses and plastics, it works wonders just spray it on let it sit and wipe it off. Leave your hood up, and let it bake in the sun. You'll get a pristine shine.

WD-40 or a silicone based lubricant.

Its a trick I learned from the Motorcycle/ATV crowd, they will take WD-40 or even regular motor oil rub it into their plastics let it bake in the sun (and evaporate some) and any leftover residue wipe off.

Give it a shot... First try a small area and see if you like the results.

Also I still caution the use of Armor all on Plastics as a few diferent armor all products have been proven to dry out some plastics and eventually lead to cracking... My sister has a 98 Cavalier and she used Armor all every week, and now she has a nice cracked up dash trim, that I associate with Armor all use due to others' experiences.

Mar_DC2 · « **Reply #3 on:** 03:47PM 04/26/2004 »

yeah, if you don't like armorall i'd get that meguier's rubber/plastic cleaner, can't remember what it's called exactly, but i like it better than armorall.

also if your valve cover is starting to get those lines around the sparkplug holes, a good way to get rid of that is using honda brake parts cleaning fluid.

utahteg · « **Reply #4 on:** 05:46PM 04/26/2004 »

I can show you a few tricks when I clean the car this friday or saturday for the car show. I've become an expert!

Tyler · « **Reply #5 on:** 10:45PM 04/26/2004 »

Power wash the engine bay from every angle from a distance.

Cover the engtire engine with degreaser, let it sit for a min or two

spray it ALL off from every angle again.

If you need to, get some prosolv and sray and scrub. I had to.

Here is the after shot. Too bad I didnt think to take a before shot.

And for a show, a light spray of amor all works well for shine.

BnLake · « **Reply #6 on:** 09:34AM 04/27/2004 »

I refuse to use Armor all! If any of you have ever talked to someone about true leather seats or Real vinyl, then you'll know that you can't use Armor all to wash it or it will screw it up bad so Meguires is where it's at. I am not so sure about rubber hoses and stuff, But I just don't even wanna touch Armor All

Tyler · « **Reply #7 on:** 05:36PM 04/27/2004 »

Quote from: OsKaR on 09:34AM 04/27/2004

I just don't even wanna touch Armor All

Armor All will crack your stuff if you use it heavily and consistantly. I use it 2 times a year. Its been fine.

utahteg · « **Reply #8 on:** 05:54PM 04/27/2004 »

Avoid armor all, that stuff will only leading to cracking, it actually takes the moisture out of the leather or vinyl and drys it out.

ZChick · « **Reply #9 on:** 06:04PM 04/27/2004 »

I agree with twinner avoid armor all. My dad used it on his truck dash- it dried out and cracked.

Jngrbrdman · « **Reply #10 on:** 11:49AM 04/28/2004 »

I do engines all the time. I've been running my own detailing business on the side for about 7 years now. Engines are way fun to do. Here's a good example:

Before: After:

There is a little more to it than just power washing it or spraying armor all everywhere. I guess everybody has their own methods though. I've been doing show car engines for 4 years now. Detailing an engine is a lot different from just degreasing or washing
an engine. I have spent up to 3 hours on an engine before. There is nothing better than a clean engine though... Its super important for shows.

- edit -
Just edited the pics so they would tile and not fug up the forums layout

Damon · « **Reply #11 on:** 11:51AM 04/28/2004 »

Anthony!!!

Homieeee, how much you want to make my engine blingy-blingy?

Jngrbrdman · « **Reply #12 on:** 11:55AM 04/28/2004 »

It depends on how bad it is.

We should hook up sometime and I can do kind of an evaluation on what can be done to your car. If you want more than the engine done then I can do that too. I do white cars like nobody's business. See here and here if you want to see more. Its a bit of an obsession for me...

I generally charge by the hour, but you run a tight website and a smooth car show so I'll cut ya a break.

Damon · « **Reply #13 on:** 12:00PM 04/28/2004 »

Yeeee...

It's just the basic dirty shiz. Nothing excessive. I'd just like it to be clean. I'm cool with whatever. Hourly, flat, blah. What am I looking at per hour? You can IM me if need be.

Jngrbrdman · « **Reply #14 on:** 12:15PM 04/28/2004 »

IM sent.

And OsKaR.... I am saddened that you didn't suggest me to begin with.

And I thought we were so close

lol j/k bro.

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who can clean engines good?