How do you guys dress engines?

Kind of re-activating this post....

Here's a pic of a 20-year-old Mercedes engine bay. I seriously doubt that the engine had EVER been cleaned!!!

1. Saturate warm engine (not hot) with Simple Green
2. Wait 5 minutes
3. Scrub with long handle tire brush or toilet brush
4. Rinse with a gentle TRICKLE of water. No pressure.
5. Saturate with Tire Foam (entire engine bay)
6. Let soak 5 minutes
7. Wipe down with old terry towel

Total time less than 30 minutes.
6491mer_eng.jpg
 
spray vinyl dressing after cleaning, close hood with engine running, done.
also check out RespectTheMullet.com.
 
mrdetail123 said:
spray vinyl dressing after cleaning, close hood with engine running, done.
also check out RespectTheMullet.com.
Click to expand...
for those who don't remember this guy is a spammer/ham :chair:
 
Luster said:
Kind of re-activating this post....

Here's a pic of a 20-year-old Mercedes engine bay. I seriously doubt that the engine had EVER been cleaned!!!

1. Saturate warm engine (not hot) with Simple Green
2. Wait 5 minutes
3. Scrub with long handle tire brush or toilet brush
4. Rinse with a gentle TRICKLE of water. No pressure.
5. Saturate with Tire Foam (entire engine bay)
6. Let soak 5 minutes
7. Wipe down with old terry towel

Total time less than 30 minutes.
6491mer_eng.jpg
Click to expand...

Impressive work LUSTER....I know working on the older models can be a hassle....I'm glad that you did nto spray that off with a presure washer....I've read that on this thread but have a real problem doing that on any car.....I'm more of a degreaser, brush and hose trickler myself.
 
While detailing engines do you need to have te engine running or cut off? Does the motor need to be kool? Sorry for such a stupid ?
 
I also spray it down with Simple Green but pressure wash the engine from one side, then the front and then the other side. Then with the a spay bottle with half water and half Auto Magic's Super DressIt, spray the engine in the same pattern and slam the hood. After washing the car,I start the car and finish up the Mini Detail and by the time I'm done (15 minutes or so) the engine bay is dry and shiney. Takes about 5 minutes and adds $40.00 to the ticket.

benze13ql.jpg

benze25gn.jpg
 
SA Detailer said:
40 to 50 engines, is that all. I've clean over 1,500 in this manner and not a single problem.
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I've cleaned over 15-20K motors the same way as you. I've had my mishaps but like you said most the time there was something already wrong. And most the time some Blaster or compressed air and everything was fixed right up.
 
joe.p said:
Hi pei i thought a guy like you living in cananda would've told him to dress the engine in a warm coat, gloves, scarf, mitten's etc
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Yeah, it was summer. Even we get summer (well, kind of summer).

SA Detailer, the guy's uncle was a mechanic and suggested that the moisture put a bad distributor over the top. The guy was great about it, but I'd prefer not to see him again. I called the tax office for an interpretation, and they said, "OK, let me transfer you to Mr. B's office," and it was the guy with the engine! I said, "actually, sorry, I gotta go."

It all happened at a discouraging time. I was excited cause I love doing engines, and the guy found me through my website, which was a first. Then it all went bad, in a bad week.

And I wasn't bragging about "40-50" engines, just saying I wasn't a complete novice.
 
also another easy mod u can do for all the factory black plastic is use a engine enamel clear coat and the peices will stay wet looking for a really long time, i know a guy that has had it on for over a year now and it still looks wet

FSCred04
 
FSCred said:
also another easy mod u can do for all the factory black plastic is use a engine enamel clear coat and the peices will stay wet looking for a really long time, i know a guy that has had it on for over a year now and it still looks wet

FSCred04
Click to expand...


Then you risk overspray on the fenders, ect....
At the dealership I work at, I was told to use clear......not the best way, I could think of a million ways better. After a while, the paint would flake/chip off. If the plastic was not cleaned well, for instance, engine detailed before with a silicon based product, then the paint would fish eye, thus causing more problems. IMHO, too much at risk for something so simple.

So, now I use a no name dressing at work.....just spray down the engine with it. Works wonders, though I wouldn't use it on my personal vehicles.
 
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