recommended products to make the engine shine?

T

Tino D'Voe

New member
I tried doing an enging wash yesterday on my car. I used some gunk brite stuff and rinsed it off. It definately cleaned it up but I'd like to make it sparkle! I have lots of poorboy products and some 303. Are any of these recommended for under the hood? Where can I find this CD2 stuff in Canada? it doesn't seem to exist here.
 
Water based product like bold and bright would be a good choice.... I spray on them wipe off electrical areas so as not to drip into the alternator and the likes....Then I start the engine and run for 5 minutes to dry it up....has worked for me
 
TrueDetailer said:
Use whatever you have that is waterbased.
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I agree with this.


It seems that the CD2 Engine Detailer is highly recommended by some on this board but there is no way this stuff is water based. It is very greasy and slimy and although it looks good I don't know how good this is for the rubber and plastic.
 
After I wash the engine I top it with WD 40, let it sit & then wipe the more visible areas. Seems to work pretty good for me. I'll turn the engine on for a while once I'm all done with the complete detail & let it run for a couple of minutes so the smell of the WD 40 can go away.

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hemin8r said:
After I wash the engine I top it with WD 40, let it sit & then wipe the more visible areas. Seems to work pretty good for me. I'll turn the engine on for a while once I'm all done with the complete detail & let it run for a couple of minutes so the smell of the WD 40 can go away.
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Not so sure this is a good idea for engine details. WD 40 is flammable so I must assume that you run the risk of a fire under the hood from the WD 40. It also wouldn't fare too well in the altinator or near the battery either.
 
budman3 said:
Not so sure this is a good idea for engine details. WD 40 is flammable so I must assume that you run the risk of a fire under the hood from the WD 40. It also wouldn't fare too well in the altinator or near the battery either.
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WD 40 under the hood? Hmm this just isn't something I would do or recommend.
 
I've done several engines using WD40 & never had any issues. I've even sprayed some on metal & held a torch to it & no fire. I don't spray into the alternator nor on the battery terminals nor spray a huge amount onto one spot. I lightly mist over the engine let it sit & wipe the accessible areas. If the method I am using is for sure not a good idea & you know for a fact please let me know I am open to new ideas & methods. Thus far this has worked for me.

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hemin8r said:
I've done several engines using WD40 & never had any issues. I've even sprayed some on metal & held a torch to it & no fire. I don't spray into the alternator nor on the battery terminals nor spray a huge amount onto one spot. I lightly mist over the engine let it sit & wipe the accessible areas. If the method I am using is for sure not a good idea & you know for a fact please let me know I am open to new ideas & methods. Thus far this has worked for me.
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I can't give you any scientific facts or chemistry about why WD40 is not a good idea. I look at it this way. It's not made for what you are doing with it. There are plenty of products that are. So why use a flammable solvent in a hot engine? Clean it with an APC. Than dress with one of the hundreds of the water based dressing available. I just can't see WD40 being good for rubber and plastic. Add the fire risk and I see no good reason to use it. Your before and after pics are very nice but I think they are the result of process more than product. I have no doubt you could have achieved the same excellent results with an APC and 303.
 
Not to mention that WD-40 is a oil product if you want to atract dust and dirt wipe your engine down with a oil product...
 
303 for me. Only on rubber/plastic/vinyl parts. All areas wiped as well.

Painted areas, a good QD will work or any spray/wax on those areas.

I polish metal by hand with Flitz.

I'd stay away from any oil based products for the reason given above: Easy dust/dirt attraction.

Deanski
 
I'll try a water based product next time. Only because this has worked for me I didn't bother using anything else. Never had any problems with attracting dirt/dust. I have a lifted truck in which I spray the suspension & frame followed by wiping it down. Stays clean for a good time. Of course unless I get into mud. :D

Thanks for the advice fellas & as I mentioned before. I'm open to different methods which I will try out.
 
Isn't WD40 litterally made for military purposes to protect the engines from water? I could've sworn I read somewhere it stands for Water Displacment(?) 40th attempt. I think it's more than safe, in fact, that was the original purpose.
 
Here is some info on WD40 that I pulled off of http://www.distant.ca/UselessFacts/fact.asp?ID=316:

The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and de-greaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company.

Its name comes from the project that was to find a "water displacement" compound. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40.

The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their Atlas missile parts. The workers were so pleased with the product, they began stealing it to use at home. The executives decided there might be a consumer market for it and put it in aerosol cans.

It is a carefully guarded recipe known only to four people. Only one of them is the "brew master."

About 2.5 million gallons are manufactured each year. It gets its distinctive smell from a fragrance that is added to the brew.


I still wouldn't use it in the engine bay. Like others said, I would use an APC and a water based dressing.
 
audiboy said:
The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and de-greaser to protect missile parts.

It gets its distinctive smell from a fragrance that is added to the brew.
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Sounds good to me!

FRAGRANCE? You've got to be kidding me.
 
I looked online about the wd40 stuff and ran across a site that mentioned the propellant was flammable not the wd40 itself. Similar to hairspray.
 
I would go for Meguiars #40
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I know I missed a few spots but my garage is dark, when I moved the car out I fixed it
 
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