Engine detailing questions

[Zune]

Just planning on detailing my Audi SQ5 engine for the first time this spring, & I plan on using the Detailer's Pride Engine Degreasing formula (i.e. it has excellent reviews). Just curious exactly what I'm supposed to cover up when doing the detail work. Most "How Tos" I've read specify to cover the air intake(s) (obviously), but not quite sure about what else?

- alternator/fan belts -- are these rubber belts safe to get the degreaser on? None of the reviews I've read suggest covering the belts (??)
- alternator -- I assume the alternator should be covered so as not to get water inside...is this the case?

Just wondering about any other areas you recommend covering?

Thanks!

Cheers,

Al
London Ontario

 

[Accumulator]

Zune- My Audis are older and supposedly less moisture-sensitive than yours. IIRC you need to keep water away from its coil-on-plug ignition system. And yeah, keep water from getting into the alternator.

Overall, I've hardly *ever* had issues with water and I get my engines wet to some extent at most every wash. IME a little common sense goes a long way.

But:

Gotta say that, probably, I just wouldn't use that approach. Meaning I wouldn't spray an Engine Cleaner everywhere and then hose it off. I'd clean it in smaller areas (at a time) with a more controlled method, and I like solvents (e.g. the *very* safe ValuGard New Car Prep) as they flash off clean and don't require rinsing. OK, that's just me and few people seem to approach it that way, but I find it a very workable approach.

I do use degreasers/APC for some areas, but only those where I have no qualms about getting things wet. And I give thought to the runoff- don't want [the mess] to just move to somewhere else that's harder to deal with. Give a little thought to the [stuff] getting on your garage floor/driveway too.

I'm guessing you don't have a steamer...but OK, those aren't absolutely required (just handy for some areas).

Note that natural-bristle brushes (e.g.. boar's hair) are *great* for this as they rinse clean no matter what gets on them.

I'd also gather *lots* of rags and swabs, and different lengths/shapes of sticks to access different places with the rags.

Some areas are easier to get to from underneath, and with an SUV you don't always have to put it up on jackstands.

Recent worst-vehicle example: My '93 Audi's original owner *NEVER* had it cleaned under its hood, after more than 20 years it looked like somebody spraypainted the engine compartment black. (Your SQ5 can't be anywhere near that bad My very-used Crown Vics and the old Tahoe were easy by comparison.) I cleaned it up to near concours standards without using any of my Engine Cleaners or degreasers (I sure did use a lot of rags and swabs though). I didn't use my APCs on the engine proper, just used them for the inner fenders and some sections of the firewall, areas I could rinse without worry.

Once you get/keep the engine compartment clean (and note that the techs at the dealership will be more favorably disposed towards you and your vehicle when it's clean in there), you can move on to the undercarriage!

 

[Stokdgs]

I have had great success using Meguiars Super Degreaser all over the engine and compartment, including the underhood, hood jambs, and then pressure washing it all off..

You need to use common sense here and certainly not try to use anything that is 3gpm or higher because that would hurt things quickly if you dont know how to use it..
You need to, as has already been said, be careful around things like coils that are high up and exposed of course, and you will never pressure wash a Ferrari engine, especially an older one..

You would not want to use a "Pencil" type pressure washer nozzle, I prefer to use one that is a Fan that is adjustable from a small to a much wider Fan..

I will wash it all down, rinse it all, then use my Master Blaster Blower to dry it down, leave the hood open as long as possible to facilitate getting as much water out of the underhood insulation, let the sun dry it if possible, and know that it will drip down all that day and into the night..

I am going on the premise that all vehicles unless they are somehow hermetically sealed, will get water and junk in the compartment when driven anyway and that the Engineers have taken this into account, so my work under there is not much different, than say, driving in a rainstorm, etc...

l have never had any problems, issues, cars not starting, cars coming back later with issues, ever...

The Only thing I have gotten from this is incredibly clean engines, compartments, underhoods, cowls, radiators, in front of radiators, grilles, that look amazing and stay that way when sprayed with C/G Back to Black..

Good luck with your research !
Dan F