Engine Detailing - Submit Your Tips & Tricks

That's why you have to be careful when you detail an engine. You don't just go in with the high pressure wand blasting. You go in with towels and spray bottles and do it with your hands. I haven't seen any evidence that suggests that leaving the hood of your car down all the time extends the life of the hoses either. I don't think that keeping them clean is such a bad thing. Vacuuming out your car probably doesn't extend the life of your carpet but it sure makes being in your car a better experience. I think that the engine doesn't need a deep cleaning all the time. If you stay on top of it then you can get away with just spraying it with whatever you need to just get the dust off. Its the 10 year old cars that come in with enough grease and grime to make you puke that need the detailing. A brand new car doesn't really need much care under the hood anyway.



I don't really 'detail' under my hood either. I just stay on top of it. I've kept it clean since I've had it and it rarely needs much work. I think the longest I've ever spent on it is like 20 minutes when I'm really getting all the hard to reach spots. I just enjoy knowing that someone could look at any part of my car and know that I practice what I preach. :) Its a good feeling.
 
Acura RL,



As far as cleaning priorities the only part of my car that isn't wiped down at least once a week is the undercarriage and wheel wells. The engine is dusted and wiped after every drive and only takes 5 minutes max.



I agree 100% that electricals on newer cars are of major concern when you introduce cleansers and water but if you have the time and can take precautionary measures it's worth it.



I personally haven't seen the Meg Video on engine detailing but I think "Shining" is the incorrect word to use. I think protection is a more appropriate word for the rubber parts of the engine bay. The absolute number one killer of rubber components in my car (and any other 500E) is the intense heat. The car wasn't designed originally to handle such a large engine and the heat hardens rubber like nobodies business. So protecting (and shining secondary) makes alot of sense to prevent replacing parts regularly.



As far as corrosive liquids I agree that distilled water is agressive but when blended 50/50 with antifreeze should be neutral. When oil get's old it is acidic so yes it is important to clean the inside of your engine with new oil regularly (good point on your earlier post).



I also have an engine cover and you would be amazed how much crap gets underneathe it. That was the hardest part in my engine to get clean due to neglect in the past.



Don't mean to upset you, I'm just trying to be constructive.:)
 
2wheelsx2 said:
I wash my greasy shop towels all the time. The trick is to run a rag with some degreaser or detergent around the tub when you're done. There usually is a bit of residue from when the tub is draining. Since I do a lot of laundry, I've had to learn to do that, so that I don't have to kill myself! ;)
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Good tip....



I usually fill the utility sink with warm water and a couple shots of Simple Green, then pre-soak the really filthy towels and shop rags.



10 minutes later, wring them out and wash in the washer as usual.



Works great.
 
Lynn said:
Just for clarification: If memory serves, MBZ500E agreed to start this thread because both of us are getting ready for Concours events. There, you don't have an option about engine-detailing; every bit of it must be spit-polish clean, OEM finishes, etc.
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How long does it take you to do all that? :eek: I've heard that these judges stick their arms inside the bay and swipe their fingers in some of the most vulnerable spots. Do you go and clean from underneath as well?
 
I'd like to detail me engine as well but I'm worried about getting some solution or water on some of the sensors in my car. Especially since my car has a charger in it with a lot of electrical connections. This would certainly make a dent to an already time consuming affair in getting the car to run it's optimum.



I know that I need to detail my engine bay since the last meet I went to some people pointed out that I had to clean my engine bay to match the BLING of my exterior. I just dont really want to damage the electronics.



Any suggestions?
 
I think Jngrbrdman was spot on with comment "Its the 10 year old cars that come in with enough grease and grime to make you puke that need the detailing." Unfortunately my car nearly fell into this category when I bought it.



It does take quite a while to get an engine back to it's almost new condition and yes you do have to get underneath it to clean the lower sections. I recently had my undercarriage steam cleaned.:shocked , talk about major difference.



No matter how much you clean it always seems like there is more to do.



I think there are goals that you need to attain such as first removing the sludge and heavy buildup of crud. Then you want to start doing the finer cleaning to remove the surface residues (I hate this part). Finally you want to apply your protection to various surfaces.



If your willing to spend a few hours I think you would be surprised what a few rags, some cleaners and some protection could do for your engine bay.......who knows you might even get addicted.;)
 
Lots. ;) Seriously, there have been a lot of good threads about engine detailing. There is even an article about it somewhere. The eBook is also a good tool for any detailing project. Just search under "engine detailing" and I'll bet you get a ton of threads. The advice is always the same... Take your time and do it right. Don't be in a hurry because it is sensitive stuff down there. Nothing under your hood is going to freak out just because it gets a little wet. If that were the case then the bottom of the engine bay would have to be sealed. Just use spray bottles and shop towels to clean the sensitive areas and keep the hose away from it. If you are detailing for show then just plan on spending a couple hours with your car. I think Redcar GUY and BradB could offer some other useful tips on this subject. In fact, they already have. The tips are just in different threads. ;) Gotta look for em. :xyxthumbs
 
MBZ, I'd love to see pics of your car. It sounds like you put a tremendous amount of work into detailing that engine bay.
 
Acura_RL said:
How long does it take you to do all that? :eek: I've heard that these judges stick their arms inside the bay and swipe their fingers in some of the most vulnerable spots. Do you go and clean from underneath as well?
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Most Concours Judges are super-anal. They are specifically looking for dirt that you cannot see with the naked eye.



For my last show, I spent 20 hours, just in the ENGINE BAY alone. The judges they gave my engine an 81 out of 100 points. It was perfect, but, somehow, they managed to take off 19 points.



(I still took 1st place, though!)....But it just shows you how picky these guys are!



One lady-judge actually had white gloves on and was checking behind the spokes on the wheels for dirt!



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Jngrbrdman said:
If you are detailing for show then just plan on spending a couple hours with your car.
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OK, Jngrbrdman. If you can teach me how to detail this Jag engine after a long hard winter in "a couple of hours," then I will gladly buy you a roundtrip airplane ticket to come out here and do so!!! :bounce So far this month, I've spent 3 -- count 'em, three -- 12-hour days, and it's still not where I want it to be for the upcoming Jag Concours. :( Of course, I do realize that the rest of the season, when I just have to maintain, will be faster and easier. And my discovery of EF degreaser and APC+ have definitely sped up the process. It's all that work with Q-tips and tiny art brushes that's wearing me out.
 
I have read some say let your car engine warm up a bit and then detail/clean it and others say do your cleaning/degreasing on a cold engine. What do you guys suggest?
 
Acura_RL said:
Are these show cars you guys use for Concours also daily drivers?
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Mine is. My secret to a clean engine bay is to raise the hood and wipe the engine EVERY TIME I wash the car. Just takes a few minutes.



To borrow a phrase from JNGRBRDMAN.....I use a "twice-demoted Absorber" for that purpose.
 
Acura_RL said:
Are these show cars you guys use for Concours also daily drivers?
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Mine is. You can see her in the gallery.

ashsarna said:
I have read some say let your car engine warm up a bit and then detail/clean it and others say do your cleaning/degreasing on a cold engine. What do you guys suggest?
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Yeah, I picked up that tip on Autopia this year, and it did make the grossest grease/oil come off a little easier. I just idled the engine for about 5 minutes. But wow! even at that, the block was mighty darn hot!! :eek:
 
Acura RL,



I'm glad your enjoying this thread, I bet you think we're nuts.:D



Mine isn't a daily driver but she does come out on weekends and vacations. (about 6K a year) Currently the car has 62K well cared for miles on the clock.



Here are a few shots. Note how packed this bay is.
 
Thanks Lynn,



I will try it this weekend since I have some simple green. At the store (Myers,Target) they even have a "new"? simple green sprayer that says "Automotive...) Would that already be diluted to the appropriate ratio? I presume so but was not sure if it was strong enough/or not.
 
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