Engine cleaning or detailing? Engine compartment cleaning or detailing?

**edschwab1** · 07-30-2005, 03:35 AM

What is the difference between engine cleaning and engine detailing? Does engine cleaning or engine detailing include the engine compartment and under hood area? I will chime in with opinion later.

Eric

**edschwab1** · 08-09-2005, 03:30 AM

Someone has to have an opinion.

Here is mine.

Detailing: Time 1-3+ hours
Clean away loose debris from engine compartment
Remove plastic engine covers if possible
Cover fragile electrical components
Cover air filter, intakes or carburetors
Cover Breathers
Vacuum under hood insulation
Clean under hood insulation by hand with cleaner and towels (if applicable)
Vacuum under hood insulation
Clean painted edge of underside of hood by hand (if vehicle has under hood insulation)
Rinse engine compartment
Wet fenders, windshield and surrounding area or
Cover the fenders, windshield and surround area
Spray cleaner to engine compartment let dwell for 3-5 minutes
Spray cleaner to underside of hood if painted let dwell for 3-5 minutes
Rinse cleaner from engine compartment and underside of hood
Use leaf blower to blow water out
Dry using towels
Repeat cleaning steps with scrubbing if necessary
Remove covering from electrical components, intakes and other parts
Polish unpainted metal parts (if needed)
Wax painted engine parts
Wax painted areas of engine compartment
Wax underside of hood
Wax edges of underside of hood if vehicle has under hood insulation.
Install plastic engine covers
Clean under hood plastics and rubber if needed
Dress under hood plastic and rubber
Wipe down under hood plastics and rubber after 5-10 minutes to reduce dust and dirt collection and to gloss
Lube hood hinges or lift struts
Lube hood release assembly
Wipe down prop rod
Lower prop rod if applicable
Close hood

Cleaning: time 5-20 minutes
Possibly cover components
Spray cleaner let dwell
Rinse cleaner
Let engine idle to dry
Spray protectant over entire engine compartment
Lower prop rod if applicable
Close hood

Eric

**tubafeak** · 08-09-2005, 11:19 AM

That`s about right, I might not do two cleaner sprays on the detail, I might spray more cleaner and then brush but I probably wouldn`t rinse in between. Other than that you`ve got a pretty good description of what a good engine detail is.

**matthiasj** · 08-09-2005, 10:37 PM

my engine is already clean so just a wipe down and dressing works good, but on a dirty engine, hitting it with a pressure washer works good with some simple green on it. I pressure wash it real good, then you must let it dry for a while, tahts the only prop. I use the soft bristle wash brush from walmart and brush it down...the most important part is getting the little stuff, and shining up all the hoses and stuff. An engine is hard to keep clean

**TrueDetailer** · 08-10-2005, 10:38 AM

Thats a good list you have for a full detail on the engine bay. Though i wouldn`t go that far with it if its daily driver. Maybe if it was a show car or a car that sits in the garage.The first one list you have would be good for your daily driver.