Best engine bay cleaner?

So I’ve been in my rabbit hole of detailing and came across the super cleaner, Nonsense, from Chemical Guys. Saw a YouTube video where they used it for the engine bay and looked like it did wonders! So went over to my nearest Detail Garage and got me a bottle of Nonsense.

Definitely buying again!

Here are the results:

How does it work? Spray on, let sit and lightly spray off with water? Did any of the pulleys become noisy?

Scrippy wrote

How does it work? Spray on, let sit and lightly spray off with water? Did any of the pulleys become noisy?

I sprayed on and used a detailing brush to get into the tough spots. Then wiped off with a microfiber. Drove it around after and no noises.

xmiggiex wrote

I sprayed on and used a detailing brush to get into the tough spots. Then wiped off with a microfiber. Drove it around after and no noises.

Ok, awsome! Sounds easier than simple green. Simple green degreased my pulleys and made them sound like shit.

Scrippy wrote

Ok, awsome! Sounds easier than simple green. Simple green degreased my pulleys and made them sound like shit.

Ouch. Thankfully this did none of that! And it’s like $10 online I believe.

xmiggiex wrote

So I’ve been in my rabbit hole of detailing and came across the super cleaner, Nonsense, from Chemical Guys. Saw a YouTube video where they used it for the engine bay and looked like it did wonders! So went over to my nearest Detail Garage and got me a bottle of Nonsense.

Definitely buying again!

Here are the results:

Nothing like a clean engine bay, looks the business mate!

Scrippy wrote

Ok, awsome! Sounds easier than simple green. Simple green degreased my pulleys and made them sound like shit.

I do the same, decreasing spray and then water spray, done (not nice like OP but does the job). Yes the pulley belts makes some noise but goes away quickly when starting the engine right after the shower.
3 min job few times a year, makes people think I do nothing but cleaning the bay...

Helmsman wrote

I do the same, decreasing spray and then water spray, done (not nice like OP but does the job). Yes the pulley belts makes some noise but goes away quickly when starting the engine right after the shower.
3 min job few times a year, makes people think I do nothing but cleaning the bay...

Be careful with the simple green man. It’s a great degreaser and if it gets in the pulley bearings it will not go away. I gave it a couple days when I was dailying the car at work. During work I drive a lot from project to project, so mileage went up real quick for me. After hundreds of miles it would not go away. If you can keep it away from the pulleys it works great. If I do another deep clean with simple green I will remove my pulleys this time. I may try what OP presented next time though. Sounds super easy and fast with great results.

Scrippy wrote

Be careful with the simple green man. It’s a great degreaser and if it gets in the pulley bearings it will not go away. I gave it a couple days when I was dailying the car at work. During work I drive a lot from project to project, so mileage went up real quick for me. After hundreds of miles it would not go away. If you can keep it away from the pulleys it works great. If I do another deep clean with simple green I will remove my pulleys this time. I may try what OP presented next time though. Sounds super easy and fast with great results.

Not sure what Simple Green really is but seems the regular degreaser I buy at the station is easier on the belts cause works like a charm.

My worry with cleaning the engine bay is drying out the plastics and other non-painted things. There are cleaners available, and I believe this chemical guys nonsense is one of them, that are specifically formulated to degrease without drying out plastics and seals. Simple green works good but I have heard it can dry out plastic bits.

A detailing friend recommended to spray everything down with a hose real good before applying cleaner to help prevent plastic drying out. He uses diluted Purple Power and/or regular car was soap in a foam gun (soap with OUT wax additives).

I must pick up a bottle of this chemical guys stuff. Sound like it is the right thing. And my engine bay is DUSTY

Random update: I recently used a motorcycle cleaner for me engine bay with very good results. Spray liberally, agitate with detail brush, and rinse away. Left it looking shiny. Finished with Motul shine-n-go which is oil based so it does not dry out plastics. 2 months later still looks ood.

If you use simple green, you have to make sure to hose off all the simple green and dry. Letting any residue to dry in the engine bay is bad. Also, avoid belts, electronics, wiring and other normally lubricated areas as others have said.

I just spray and wipe quick detailer to clean the engine bay plastics. Heck, normal car wash shampoo works in the engine bay too.

If your engine is covered in grease/oil and you need a degreaser, you got oil leaks or bigger problems than a dirty engine bay.

simple green has a specific automotive formula that is dirt cheap and comes in a gallon. I dont know if it dries plastic but it is designed to not etch aluminium like the regular formulation. I have always used it to degrease the engine bay and also get rid of wax on the cars surface. It is safe for CF as well. At this price point its a total no brainer over CG marketing machine or anything else for that matter. I load it into my foam cannon and soak the bay

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Simple-Green-1-Gal-Max-Automotive-Cleaner-and-Degreaser-0210100604128/319878777

I use the sonax engine bay cleaner. Get two full cleans out of a bottle and it dries with a matte finish. ,

I also use simple green to degrease the bay. I then use Ballistol to protect and shine it after. This stuff is amazing. I used to use it at the phone company to keep cables from deteriorating.

I use Griots Engine Cleaner and CarPro Perl

Griots Engine Cleaner and diluted Meguiars Hyper Dressing. Then just a quick wipe down with a drying aid or QD to maintain that brand new factory look.