best way to clean engine

[Por2geezSupra]

Hey guys, ive seen some of you do some pretty awesome stuff with engine bays, and make them look better then new. Could you guys explain your process, and which products show the best results for long lasting finish? Do you cover anyhting up in the engine bay when you wash them down? Im lookin to do this to my dads lexus, and also to others in the future.

And also, what is the best degreaser that can be used on the paint in the engine bay if its covered in grime and dirt, but i dont want to wash my engine bay in my supra cuz everything is polished, so washing it would just dull the finish. I want to clean the paint without having to hose it down. Any suggestions on that too?

[BMW335i]

ONR works well. Just buff off the excess if you put too much.

[Por2geezSupra]

Ive seen a lot of people use meguiars hyperdressing to clean the engine. They say they mix it in a 4:1 ratio. I was wondering what the best way to mix it to the 4:1 ratio would be? Do you mix it in a seperate spray bottle?

[paul34]

Originally Posted by Por2geezSupra

Ive seen a lot of people use meguiars hyperdressing to clean the engine. They say they mix it in a 4:1 ratio. I was wondering what the best way to mix it to the 4:1 ratio would be? Do you mix it in a seperate spray bottle?

Anyway you want. What you have to ask yourself is... how much will you use? If you see yourself dressing these sort of things a lot, then dilute it in gallons. Otherwise, a spray bottle will suffice.

For example, I only have my degreaser (Meg's APC 4:1) diluted in a spray bottle because I don't need such a strong product often at all.

My humble process:
1) Turn engine on for maybe 10 minutes
2) Shut off
3) Spray everything with Meg's APC at 4:1 strength (the only thing I cover is the alternator with foil)
4) Let that sit for maybe 15 minutes or so
5) Come back with an old body brush my dad used to use, and a bucket with dishwashing liquid + water (this step probably won't be necessary unless you've got a really filthy bay) and get accessible areas. Try not to soak anything, but don't be scared.
6) Rinse off with a gentle flow. In fact, usually I only do, at most, a low free-flow hose (no attachments), and angle it up in the air a little so its basically "raining" in there.
7) Immediately blow off whatever water I can with a leafblower
8) Start engine immediately afterwards and let run for about 15-20 minutes. Close hood once engine is started and everything looks like its working.
9) Shut off engine. Open hood. I spray everything with AA Tire Foam, close the hood for about 10 minutes again. Come back and try to wipe the hoses a bit.

You're good. It might sound long, but just do it once and I'm sure you'll get it. Just use common sense and you'll be fine - stuff like don't go blasting water into places, drowning fuseboxes, etc. Things under the hood are pretty well sealed against the elements - so don't do anything it might not experience in regular driving and you'll be good!

good luck

[Por2geezSupra]

Ok, thanks fot the write up. Do you cover up the battery terminals, or even the battery when you do it? Also, do you usually just do 4 cups of megs apc to one cup of water? Is that how you usually measure it when you do it?

[mikebai1990]

paul34, thanks for the thorough writeup. I'm slightly more inclined to do an engine detail now. Before I was pretty scared because I'm afraid I mess up some internal engine parts. So as long as I cover up the alternator, I should be okay?

Curious about the battery terminals too.

[evenflow]

Originally Posted by Por2geezSupra

Ive seen a lot of people use meguiars hyperdressing to clean the engine. They say they mix it in a 4:1 ratio. I was wondering what the best way to mix it to the 4:1 ratio would be? Do you mix it in a seperate spray bottle?

People use the HyperDressing to dress and protect the engine. Usually people will use the APC or D-Greaser for cleaning.

[lex89]

I use EO All Wheel and Tire Cleaner to degrease and CD-2 Engine Detailer for dressing. Looks great afterwards

[BMW335i]

What is the most popular engine dressing treatment on this board??

[paul34]

Originally Posted by BMW335i

What is the most popular engine dressing treatment on this board??

I'm going to have to say that CD-2 is one of the most praised engine dressings around here... but there are so many... just take a look around

Originally Posted by mikebai1990

paul34, thanks for the thorough writeup. I'm slightly more inclined to do an engine detail now. Before I was pretty scared because I'm afraid I mess up some internal engine parts. So as long as I cover up the alternator, I should be okay?

Curious about the battery terminals too.

Yea, I was really scared too, but one night of some unintentional mudding forced me to just take a chance.

And yes, you should be ok on any modern car. In fact, I don't even think a lot of the pro detailers here even cover up the alternator, but I do it just to make myself feel a little better I guess . No, but the pro detailers around here tend to use pressure washers which isn't all water but also has a large amount of air - no doubt a way to effectively clean without trapping water in places where it shouldn't be.

I just free-flow rinse to try to eliminate trapping possibilities (also why I use the leafblower then immediately turn on the engine and allow it to get hot so any water is completely dried away).

About the battery terminals... yea, I wondered too, but I had mud all over it (and even in the little plastic tray it sits in) and knew it would be next to impossible to clean up with a towel and ONR. I just took a chance... and nothing happened! Yup. Got hit with APC and my mix of dishwashing soap and water, and of course plain water. Nothing happened to it... Of course, I don't keep it soaked in water... I try to dry it up a bit with the leafblower.

I think as long as you don't go blasting water into components you should be ok! Just take it slow, and remember at the end to turn the engine back on as quickly as possible. Just make sure you took your stuff and family members out of the fans and belts

Originally Posted by Por2geezSupra

Ok, thanks fot the write up. Do you cover up the battery terminals, or even the battery when you do it? Also, do you usually just do 4 cups of megs apc to one cup of water? Is that how you usually measure it when you do it?

No I don't cover the battery. Well, what I did was I have these Rubbermaid spray bottles... 32 oz. I just calculated the ratio according to that and filled accordingly within the bottle.

It's just 4:1 of whatever measurement you use. It could be 4 gallons of water to 1 gallon of APC, or one oz of apc to 4 oz water, or one martian fort knox edition cup of major doom... well, you get the idea

[LangMan37]

CD2 Engine detailer is the bomb!

[evenflow]

How do you all use CD2 engine detailer. Just mist entire engine with it like 5 ft away from engine?