What is the SAFEST and most efficient way to detail a car engine?

[markw78]

FWIW I've never covered anything... Spray it down with degreaser, let soak, then rinse.



Best to be done on a cool/cold engine, and rinsed without a nozzel, just bulk water from a hose.



That said I've never had problems using a power washer.



I've never had water get down my air intake, though I've never intentionally sprayed water at high blast into the air filter box like an idiot... or tried starting the car while the air intake is soaking wet.



Cars are designed for thier engines to be washed, the important stuff is sealed except for the air intake if your worried.



If you spray water IN your intake you will water lock and destroy your engine when you start it, if your doing that... YOUR DOIN IT WRONG



Your milage may vary

 

[David Fermani]

You're a ****ing retard.



If you don't cover up an air filter and just spray water down the intake, then start the car, you have a ton of water in the engine, meaning that engines going bye-bye. BTW, learn how to speak english.

What's your malfunction Darkstar? You complain on Detailing Bliss that everyone here is stupid and picks on you and then you blatantly attack & disrespect someone like this. You obviously don't want to be a positive part of this community by running your mouth about us/this forum on DB. After this stupidity you'd be lucky to not be banned from here.



From your 8-28-09 post on Detailing Bliss:

I stopped going on Autopia, the final nail in the coffin was GoudyL if anyone remembers him, he just down talked me by saying that buffing wasn't necessary, and that claying got rid of swirls. A lot of people act like they are pro's with OTC products and no paint correction tools, and talk down on everyone, here you just get an honest, level headed opinion.



Think about Autopia this way, as the ricers of the detailing community. They think they know everything, that they're the best, when really they are just using POS products and getting equal results. While they think they are the ****, the people who know what they are talking about just laugh at them. Don't get me wrong, they're some great people over there, like Bob and dsms, who are here also, but the majority of them don't know what's going on. Here at detailingbliss, you get honest answers. People that think they are the best don't like what they hear, so they downtalk us, even though we know we're not like that.



Don't let it get to you bro, you know yourself and your family(which is what I consider DB, 2nd family) better than anyone. If you let them get to you, they win. I couldn't be happier with this site, awesome people, equal opinions, fun to be on. I don't care what other people say, this site is effing awesome.

 

[CocheseUGA]

Cars are designed for thier engines to be washed, the important stuff is sealed except for the air intake if your worried.

Eh, not so much. You can still get in a lot of trouble from putting water where it's not supposed to go - especially on older cars.



There really is no good general rule for all cars. The best general rule is to use your noggin and understand what can go tits up when water goes places it shouldn't, and what's most susceptable to it.

 

[Apollo_Auto]

Aluminum foil can be used to cover all those "not so safe" parts of the car like electrical plugs and what not and the rest... well it helps to know a bit about cars, too . When in doubt, don't spray it.

 

[sejodiren]

wow, big guy behind a monitor. i swear, some people on here and the most rude, arrogant, worthless pieces and crap i have ever ran across in cyberspace, and its all bc they hide behind monitors. when he posted that, i was picturing a normal car that has an airbox with the filter inside. not the ricer crap where the filter is exposed. read what i have posted in my first reply, and youll see its the right method of doing this.



i guess youre the retard, with your statement about "spraying water DOWN an intake." why would anyone spray water down the intake anyway..you want to clean the inside? theres a difference in completely soaking an air filter, and just getting a light mist on it from washing surrounding parts. do you think air filters always stay dry? ever heard of ram-air induction? do you think that maybe, just MAYBE those air filters see the slightest bit of water? yea....but it doesnt make it through. my car has ram-air and the filter gets wet all the time, theres just no way around it. believe me, i know what hydrolock is, and also know what makes motors go "bye bye" as i have rebuilt my share and know them in and out. im not sure what language you think i am speaking in, but it is indeed english. i'm not sure what other language it would be? was anyone else aware that i am indeed speaking another language?

Nice reply for Darkster! He's one of those guys I like to call a "Monitor Macho Man". The only thing his balls are good for is sitting on them!

 

[Bobby G]

Darkstar752 is on a timeout for a while. Thanks to those who reported the issue.

 

[snowskate]

I'd appreciate the occasional photo of an "in process" engine cleaning. That way we could see what was covered with what and how much soap or APC was used, etc etc. People seem to have their own style on this. Different people use varying degrees of caution.

I know this thread has had a lot of great info, but *seeing* the process would be beneficial as well.

 

[CocheseUGA]

I'd appreciate the occasional photo of an "in process" engine cleaning. That way we could see what was covered with what and how much soap or APC was used, etc etc. People seem to have their own style on this. Different people use varying degrees of caution.

I know this thread has had a lot of great info, but *seeing* the process would be beneficial as well.

I'd be happy to take copious pics this weekend.

 

[snowskate]

I'd be willing to bet there are a number of people here (mostly weekenders like me) that are just waiting for the right time and enough confidence to finally break the ice and just do it. Once that happens, I'm sure it gets easier and more frequently attended to.

 

[gregdavidson]

I'd appreciate the occasional photo of an "in process" engine cleaning. That way we could see what was covered with what and how much soap or APC was used, etc etc. People seem to have their own style on this. Different people use varying degrees of caution.

I know this thread has had a lot of great info, but *seeing* the process would be beneficial as well.

I found several videos on Youtube but all of these videos with the exception of one did not show the person covering any parts. I didn't find this video that useful though because the guy only covered the alternator and the process he used was not unique.

 

[Dan O]

For myself, the safest way is not my most efficient way. My most efficient way is to pressure wash the engine, spray down with T.A.W., scrub with various brushes and power rinse (avoiding any heavy spray near fuse boxes, computer, etc...).

My safest way is with my dry vapor steamer. If it is not a high end or anything that would damage easily, I mist with T.A.W. , agitate with brushes any stubborn or heavily greasy areas, then proceed to rinse with the steamer. With the high end or exotic ones I section the engine off just like when you are buffing the paint. I will spray my cleaner onto a rag and wipe each individual hose, valve cover, etc..., then I rinse on a medium or low pressure with my steamer while holding a rag underneath the item I am cleaning. I'm wiping dry any moisture that is accumulating as I'm steaming. I work from the top down so I don't drip any dirt or grease on the part that I have cleaned. If I am at a customers home or a place that I can't have anything drip onto the ground, I place a couple of drip pans lined with grunge rags under the car. With my steamer there is very little moisture introduced in the engine compartment, and I can control how much aggressiveness of cleaning ability I need by varying the distance of the steamer tip to the part I'm cleaning. The down side to this method is time. It takes hours to do it this way, but if you are detailing an exotic it is better to go slow and to be safe than to rush it and cause damage. This is just my method for engine cleaning and it may or may not work for you, but I hope it gives you an example of a safer albeit, less efficient way of engine cleaning.

 

[gregdavidson]

For myself, the safest way is not my most efficient way. My most efficient way is to pressure wash the engine, spray down with T.A.W., scrub with various brushes and power rinse (avoiding any heavy spray near fuse boxes, computer, etc...).

My safest way is with my dry vapor steamer. If it is not a high end or anything that would damage easily, I mist with T.A.W. , agitate with brushes any stubborn or heavily greasy areas, then proceed to rinse with the steamer. With the high end or exotic ones I section the engine off just like when you are buffing the paint. I will spray my cleaner onto a rag and wipe each individual hose, valve cover, etc..., then I rinse on a medium or low pressure with my steamer while holding a rag underneath the item I am cleaning. I'm wiping dry any moisture that is accumulating as I'm steaming. I work from the top down so I don't drip any dirt or grease on the part that I have cleaned. If I am at a customers home or a place that I can't have anything drip onto the ground, I place a couple of drip pans lined with grunge rags under the car. With my steamer there is very little moisture introduced in the engine compartment, and I can control how much aggressiveness of cleaning ability I need by varying the distance of the steamer tip to the part I'm cleaning. The down side to this method is time. It takes hours to do it this way, but if you are detailing an exotic it is better to go slow and to be safe than to rush it and cause damage. This is just my method for engine cleaning and it may or may not work for you, but I hope it gives you an example of a safer albeit, less efficient way of engine cleaning.

Thanks for the info. What kind of vapor steamer do you use? What's the difference between a vapor steamer and a regular steam cleaner. Will a McCulloch steam cleaner get the job done?

 

[My5ABaby]

Eh, not so much. You can still get in a lot of trouble from putting water where it's not supposed to go - especially on older cars.



There really is no good general rule for all cars. The best general rule is to use your noggin and understand what can go tits up when water goes places it shouldn't, and what's most susceptable to it.

Prior to my Autopian days I washed my engine bays with a pressure washer and with the engine running. All I did was avoid large electrical parts. I never had a problem with this method. It may not be best, but always worked for me. Now, I probably wouldn't do that again, at least not with the battery hooked up and engine running. However, it's not like engine bays are waterproof to begin with so they're made to get water and moisture in there.



Side note: I love having a rotary engine that's hard (read: basically impossible) to water lock. One way to clean our engines is to actually suck water INTO the engine while it's running. Cleans out the carbon buildup... :2thumbs:

 

[Dan O]

Thanks for the info. What kind of vapor steamer do you use? What's the difference between a vapor steamer and a regular steam cleaner. Will a McCulloch steam cleaner get the job done?

I use the VX-5000 dry vapor steamer. I think the older description of a steam cleaner, was a pressure washer with a heater or burner attached, usually a kerosene fired burner. The McCulloch looks like it could do the job but just doesn't have the different pressure settings and the electronic controls. I think it depends on the amount of work you plan on doing with the steamer. If it is just for your vehicle and maybe a couple of friends and family, the McCulloch would be fine. If you plan on using this for a business on a regular basis, you might want to invest in a more durable or commercial oriented type of machine.

 

[CocheseUGA]

Prior to my Autopian days I washed my engine bays with a pressure washer and with the engine running. All I did was avoid large electrical parts. I never had a problem with this method. It may not be best, but always worked for me. Now, I probably wouldn't do that again, at least not with the battery hooked up and engine running. However, it's not like engine bays are waterproof to begin with so they're made to get water and moisture in there.



Side note: I love having a rotary engine that's hard (read: basically impossible) to water lock. One way to clean our engines is to actually suck water INTO the engine while it's running. Cleans out the carbon buildup... :2thumbs:

Older vehicles are much more susceptable. It's kinda funny on those rare occasions that I need the coin-op to see the guy with the 70's Toronado wondering why his engine won't turn over after he washed it out.



If I had a LT1-based car (92-96 Corvette, 93-97 Camaro, 94-96 B-Body) water wouldn't get anywhere near my motor. Same with my 75 Elky.

 

[JonFD]

I Dilute simple green or any APC and go in spots doing the engine. I'm sure alot of the time spraying down the engine is ok, but I never feel safe. I'd rather spray the spot im doing so I have the most control where my liquid ends up.

 

[The Enforcer]

Older vehicles are much more susceptable. It's kinda funny on those rare occasions that I need the coin-op to see the guy with the 70's Toronado wondering why his engine won't turn over after he washed it out.



If I had a LT1-based car (92-96 Corvette, 93-97 Camaro, 94-96 B-Body) water wouldn't get anywhere near my motor. Same with my 75 Elky.

opti spark FTL!!!

 

[CocheseUGA]

opti spark FTL!!!

:werd:



/10char

 

[imported_ZimRandy]

opti spark FTL!!!

I must be doing something right. My Impala SS has 187k miles on it and gets regular pressure washings under the hood.



The opti is probably original, too, as I haven't touched it since I got the car 9 years ago.



*knocks on wood*



Randy

 

[CocheseUGA]

I want to say the B-Bodies might have gotten the better version.



Either way, count your blessings.