Easiest engine to detail...

Clean Dean · 07-30-07, 04:04

One of my favorite engines to detail are these late model Audi engines. This 2003 Audi A4 engine bay took no more than 5 minutes to completely detail and the results are evident by the customers reaction. All that was done wash:

Pressure wash
Spray with APC diluted 50%
Spray on water based APC
Let engine run for 10 minutes to evaporate moisture

Dab dry with old shop towel.

Charge: $35

todd@bsaw · 07-30-07, 05:02

I agree. I do tons of Audis and love detailing the motors (most of the times just as an extra).

D&D Auto Detail · 07-30-07, 05:07

Yes, they are very easy to detail. Did you remove the covers when you did it?

GregCavi · 07-30-07, 05:40

In addition to those, cadillac sts, cts are very similiar. Easy money.

Greg

White_07_G6_GT · 07-30-07, 06:37

Ok stupid question but what's the difference between an APC diluted 50% and a water based APC. I'm assuming that you would dilute the first APC with water.

Great looking motor though!

sdat1333 · 07-30-07, 07:26

must be a pain to have to remove all those covers to do any basic checks or maintenance though.

Clean Dean · 07-30-07, 08:29

D&D Auto Detail,

I would only remove those covers if the customer requested they be removed. And if that were the case, I would charge more for the additional work. This customer, like most only cared that the engine looked better cosmetically. In the end he was happy, and so was I.

White 07 G6 GT,

In this case I used Meguiars APC diluted 50% with water. The APC is already water based, but on an engine like this one a full strength APC would not be necessary to remove the little oil residue on the valve covers.

Most of these newer engines are a breeze because of the plastic covering, but most customers are completely paranoid about pressure washing their own engine bay. The only engine I am a bit hesitant about pressure washing is the 96-02 Mercedes Benz 3.2 liter V6 engines, because the check engine light tends to come on after pressure washing and requires a computer reset to clear the sensor. This has happened to me about 3 times on these over the past 10 years.

resek · 07-30-07, 09:07

wow, really clean !

I'll post pictures from my "before" and "after" engine bay.

i hope i will have good results like this Audi.

=)

bitterchild · 07-31-07, 08:40

any late model european is about as easy as well as most acura, lexus and infiniti models.

i use a citrus degreaser since the APC's are pretty nasty to breathe

Accumulator · 08-01-07, 10:45

Some of the Audi covers R&R quite easily. I pull the two that cover the shock towers off the A8/S8 at every wash (and never fail to find stuff down in there).

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdat1333

must be a pain to have to remove all those covers to do any basic checks or maintenance though..

Yeah, it is. A friend has an A4 like that an he never checks some of his fluids because it's such a PIA. Caught him once when his power steering fluid ran low.

But at least you *can* check them with some effort, I read that some new BMWs have "electronic dipsticks" that are horribly unreliable...the dealers have to drain the oil, measure it, and then put it back it to tell if it's low

Clean Dean- Covered or not, that sure looks nice.. let alone for the little bit of time it took you!

stiffdogg06 · 08-01-07, 09:08

I love doing 2006 and up Acura TL's Everything is covered by the black plastic.