Engine bay cleaning question

[lsmkr01]

I want to clean my engine bay this week. Any product recommendations or areas that should be covered so the pressure washer does not wet it?

[lsmkr01]

107 people and not one has cleaned their engine yet?? Looks like we need an official group seminar video to teach us. Where is the guy from the Drive Clean video's when you need him?

[selshahE92]

Originally Posted by lsmkr01

107 people and not one has cleaned their engine yet?? Looks like we need an official group seminar video to teach us. Where is the guy from the Drive Clean video's when you need him?

All I did was run the car and sprayed it down. Then used a soft bristle brush and degreaser to break down the dirt and then sprayed it off with water. Dried it off and got the remaining stuff with a towel. Came out great.

[lsmkr01]

Originally Posted by selshahE92

All I did was run the car and sprayed it down. Then used a soft bristle brush and degreaser to break down the dirt and then sprayed it off with water. Dried it off and got the remaining stuff with a towel. Came out great.

Thanks for the reply. I was over thinking this job and will just do something similar to what you did using a degreaser and a brush.

[rjd598]

[W///]

Originally Posted by rjd598

I'm sure that's fine to do and all, but I'm way too paranoid for that. It's not like I pop the hood that often, so I don't care if it's slightly dusty. I tend to only drive my car when it's nice out. I just clean it with a damp cloth.

[zeeman335]

I dont know how i feel about pressure washing the engine. Ok fine if not pressure wash, then maybe using a garden hose. Even then im not sure what needs to be covered up with so that no water seeps through to engine components and messes something up.

[nick3753]

Originally Posted by rjd598

Thanks for the vid. Detailing the engine bay is so easy and rewarding. Just did my 2007 x5 with 100k miles this weekend (first ever engine detail) and it looks great. Took all of 15-20 min. Dressed it up with Adams In and Out Spray. Used similar technique to the video, but I obviously didn't look as good doing it.

[tmntmn]

Originally Posted by lsmkr01

I want to clean my engine bay this week. Any product recommendations or areas that should be covered so the pressure washer does not wet it?

I didn't use a pressure washer i just use free flowing water, first i covered up my EDC on both ends (only thing that might needed to be covered on our cars) and the spray APC then use a brush rinse with water and then wipe down with a micro fiber towel. Started up the car for a few mins to make sure everything is tried and use CG Black on Black spray.

Step 1 - engine bay has to be completely cold
step 2 - quick rinse down with water
step 3 -APC let it sit for a bit then use a rush
step 4 - rinse with water
step 5 - wipe down as much as you can
step 6 - start engine for 5mins+ to get rid of all the water build up you can't see
step 7 - pick your dressing of choice, i use some CG matte finish dressing and CG Black on Black spray

Before

After

[JJunkins]

I use Adam's All-Purpose Cleaner as well in pretty much the same steps as above. I've never had an issue.

[JR M3]

Adam's APC, Adam's In and out and a rubber feed (swissvax seal feed or 1Z rubber stick)

This is what I use on every engine bay detail

[RingMeister01]

Hhmmm love blondes.

[lsmkr01]

Originally Posted by tmntmn

I didn't use a pressure washer i just use free flowing water, first i covered up my EDC on both ends (only thing that might needed to be covered on our cars) and the spray APC then use a brush rinse with water and then wipe down with a micro fiber towel. Started up the car for a few mins to make sure everything is tried and use CG Black on Black spray.

Step 1 - engine bay has to be completely cold
step 2 - quick rinse down with water
step 3 -APC let it sit for a bit then use a rush
step 4 - rinse with water
step 5 - wipe down as much as you can
step 6 - start engine for 5mins+ to get rid of all the water build up you can't see
step 7 - pick your dressing of choice, i use some CG matte finish dressing and CG Black on Black spray

Before

After

Thanks for the tips and pictures! I'm assuming the EDC modules are the ones right above the strut towers so i'll take a note to fully seal those. I will post before an after pictures of mine this Friday so you guys can evaluate my job.

[lsmkr01]

Originally Posted by JJunkins

I use Adam's All-Purpose Cleaner as well in pretty much the same steps as above. I've never had an issue.

Originally Posted by JR M3

Adam's APC, Adam's In and out and a rubber feed (swissvax seal feed or 1Z rubber stick)

This is what I use on every engine bay detail

Thanks for the product tip.

[positiveions]

Steps that I use:
Take WD40 and spray all the electrical connectors. Let it sit for a while, like 5 minutes. For areas that has heavy grease, spray some brake cleaner; that way it will loosen, and break away the grease. Rinse the engine with water.

I use a degreaser, like Adam's all purpose cleaner (make sure you dilute this product), soap and water, a brush, and a good 'ol elbow grease.

Spray Adam's all purpose cleaner, and with the brush, dip in the soap/water mix and start scrubbing.

Rinse off, and dry area really well with bunch of towels.
Let it sit for an hour or so.

Have done this on all of my cars, and never had a single episode of any problem.

[shuggy]

You can also dilute ONR in a bug spray. Spray directly onto Costco microfiber towels, wipe dirty engine bay parts, and then discard the towels. No need to use running water and no need to worry about buffing streaks, which is common with cleaners.

[aussiem3]

Originally Posted by W///

I'm sure that's fine to do and all, but I'm way too paranoid for that. It's not like I pop the hood that often, so I don't care if it's slightly dusty. I tend to only drive my car when it's nice out. I just clean it with a damp cloth.

Same here ... after each wash just wipe down the engine bay and all the black trims to avoid water spotting.

[Topgun2012]

Originally Posted by rjd598

Does the girl come along with the cleaning supplies?

[4corners]

The car is designed to run in the rain, snow, and other extreme conditions. When you hit a puddle of water at 70 miles an hour it sprays water everywhere including the EDC stuff on top of the shock towers. I don't think reasonable spraying without too much pressure is going to hurt anything. Compressed air can blow off a lot of water when drying.

[JFlo]

Originally Posted by 4corners

The car is designed to run in the rain, snow, and other extreme conditions. When you hit a puddle of water at 70 miles an hour it sprays water everywhere including the EDC stuff on top of the shock towers. I don't think reasonable spraying without too much pressure is going to hurt anything. Compressed air can blow off a lot of water when drying.

My thinking exactly! Have any of you guys opened the hood after driving through a heavy rain storm? It's soaked all over the place in there!

[Z K]

I usually use wheel cleaners for under hood cleaning. The kind that is acid-free, good for "all wheels" and foams up when you spray. Not stuff like Sonus which is stronger and possibly react with metals under the hood.

Just spray on and hose off. Remember to cover electrical connections. Much easier than APC because you don't need to scrub. Totally safe for all the automotive surfaces under the hood. Won't dry out rubber, plastics etc. Doesn't quite degrease as well as APC but if your engine is maintained well there isn't much grease under the hood anyway.

[Raydogg920]

This thread motivated me to do mine, I was tired of the dirty strut towers.
I used simple green as the cleaner / degreaser and aerospace 303 to shine afterwards. Came out great