Engine bay, and trim detailing tips needed

[Beach]

Hey guys, been lurking and learning around here for awhile now but I would like to know what you guys recommend doing to clean your engine bay? I hear people advising not to use any chemicals that can wear out rubber hoses and what not, so just go in there with a tooth brush and some water?



Also, my 83` RX-7 has what looks almost like water streaks or calcium buildup on some of the trim pieces, especially the rear bumper. And idea how to get this off? Clay bar the plastic?





Pics of said streaks,



http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6042/6313962394_9987aa363b_z.jpg



and pics of the engine bay for you guys,



http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6208/6091176573_b533f32397_z.jpg



Thanks! :heelclick

[togwt]

These may help



http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/136609-engine-bay-detailing.html#post1448628



http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/136918-removing-most-%91everyday%92-type-stains-paintwork.html

[SpoolinNoMore]

Usually a degreaser (ie: Megs Super Degreaser) or APC sprayed in a rinsed engine bay and then agitate the dirty areas with a natural or synthetic detailing brush until clean.



The streaks you`re seeing on trim look like there was too much dressing applied to the trim and when it first saw water it made streaks in it. Same story with clearing up that trim, agitate with a brush and degreaser then *lightly* apply a good protectant afterwards.

[Accumulator]

Beach- Welcome to Autopia!



I just recently sold my (22K mile) `84 RX-7, and before I did I got it pretty much concours. The underhood/underneath rubber bits weren`t all that fragile and I used solvents on them with no problems. A nice safe one is New Car Prep from AutoInt/ValuGard. Clean things up thoroughly and then lightly dress the rubber with something like Wurth Rubber Care or 303 protectant.



For areas where you`re not using a solvent, I like Optimum Power Clean, and if you have a steamer this is a good application for it. Don`t heat up the little plastic hood prop rod retaining clip with the steamer though ;)



You can clay the bumper, but I sorta doubt that will solve the problem. Neither of my first-gen RX-7s ever got so far gone for me to *really* know how the bumpers were finished, so I can`t say whether the black is a paint/finish...but I suspect that it is. So go easy lest you make things worse instead of better. I`d probably lean towards some kind of "leaves oils behind" approach, see if that makes it look uniformly black. You could always consider refinishing the black with ValuGard`s ETR kit, but I`d kinda hate to do that unless it really looks bad.

[David Fermani]

I hear people advising not to use any chemicals that can wear out rubber hoses and what not, so just go in there with a tooth brush and some water?





I really doubt that will happen and you probably won`t need to use a toothbrush. Especially if you use a safe product like Optimum Power Clean (http://optimumcarcare.com/opclean.php?li=7) I`d spray it on while the engine is cool, aggitate and rinse. Then use either a leaf blower or compressed air to remove all the wetness from the engine bay and then hand wipe everything.

[lostdaytomorrow]

I`ve used APC cut about 10 to 1 with great success, it sure will get your MFs dirty as heck though. I usually don`t dress anything in the engine except plastic covers gets 303 aerospace.

[dschribs]

Good info here...



How to Detail Your Engine Bay – Detailed Image (http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-Pro/how-to-detail-your-engine-bay/)

[Accumulator]

I usually don`t dress anything in the engine except plastic covers gets 303 aerospace.



I hear you on that dressing stuff...too easy to make treated surfaces retain dirt. But OTOH, I`ve done some stuff with Autoglym Bumper Care and, as long as I buff buff buff away any excess, it doesn`t behave too badly in this regard, at least not like I`d expected it to. I`ve even had good results using it on oxidized alternater cases!

[5.0GTCS]

How good/bad is a mild concentration of Simple Green for engine cleaning if it needs a good degreasing? I`ve heard it is pretty much safe for everything like the hoses and small plastic pieces.

[Accumulator]

How good/bad is a mild concentration of Simple Green for engine cleaning if it needs a good degreasing? I`ve heard it is pretty much safe for everything like the hoses and small plastic pieces.



There are apparently different formulations of Simple Green. The "regular" version has been known to seriously mess up aluminum bits. I for one don`t use Simple Green on my vehicles, period. There are all sorts of effective products that don`t damage anything, and I just use those instead.



Generally speaking, I wouldn`t worry much about the hoses and plastic bits. IME they aren`t all that fragile; I use solvents/etc. (let alone safer products) on mine as needed and I`ve never had any problems.

[boxcartommie22]

try simple green motorsports safe on all surfaces including alum.

[2clean4u]

I only use P21S Total Auto Wash All Purpose Degreaser. Its safe for all hoses, wires, aluminum, metal, plastic, chrome and rubber.