MadIceV8

iTrader: (12)

Only way I know of doing this is by getting some aluminum polish and doing it by hand...

FI FREAK

i use simple green, high pressure hose and cloth washing mit. I also, leave the car running while I wash

SmokingWS6

iTrader: (1)

I just use water, but then again i've washed it so much its never gotten to the point of needing simple green After spraying i use Mr. Clean auto dry to keep it from spotting, wipe off, then i'll start it up for a few mins while i'm washing the car

bw8755

I recently got one of those steamers (the ones that look like a roll around canister vac). Says it's great for cleaning everything up to and including bbq grills and engine bays. Will have to give it a shot. Anyone have any experience, comments/suggestions/warnings about using one?

camar0guy

iTrader: (5)

i think he covered all that should be there....just use ur common sense

mike frasca

Try S100 to clean your engine bay this stuff is unbelivable the only place I know to get it at is a Harley Davidson dealer.

fab1

you can use the (computer keyboard cleaner)compressed air cans that you can buy from stapes,office max etc. to clean/dry hard to reach places, its also good for getting in hard to reach places in your interior!

Bad-ss

after I clean my engine I use a lite coat of wd-40 to protect the alum. to mutch is a dust catcher, but a little on a soft cloth makes it shine and keeps road grime loose for the next cleaning - I use dawn to clean up

SixPak

When I bought my car (used, from a dealer) it had that slimey silicone **** all over the engine. I bought 2 cans of gunk engine degreaser and headed off to the quarter(now a dollar) car wash.

I sprayed the **** outta those 2 cans, and spent another 3 or 4 bucks on the high pressure sprayer. I had to rinse all the over spray off the car as well.
It got all the slime off the engine, and guess what? The car started right up, no problems.

That was four years ago, and still no problems.

Don't be so afraid of getting the engine electrics wet. Keep in mind, they are designed to be driven in the rain. A really heavy rain, at that.


In the past I have used high pressure steam to clean really oily munged up engines/engine bays.

My philosophy was if the car didn't start up after being douched like that, something needed to be fixed/replaced.

Cleaning it up did not cause the problem. The problem existed before the car got to me.

Getting it wet just exposed a problem that might leave you/your customer stranded on the side of the road on a cold rainy night.

JackZ28

Oh yeah, I use the 2 stage CD2 process. It comes in 2 cans. One is a degreaser and the other is a beautifier, for lack of a better word.

Joker

I have used dawn to wash the engine before but then again I have never let it get all that dirty to begin with. I use a very small amount of soap to a large amount of water. I rinse thoroughly to remove any leftover and instead of blowing the water off with a leaf blower, I use my wet/dry vac to remove it. A leafblower can force water and any debris left over across paint. I've used the compressed air to blow off small things like electronics and crevices/vents inside the interior. I also use the vac on the crevices on the body after a wash, these cars hide water everywhere. Works for me, hope it helps somene else.

screamin chicken

After I wash my car I dry it off with a Leaf Blower, then I do the same to the engine bay.I then wipe the ext./and the engine bay down......

79/99ta

I read in a how-to article that after cleaning an engine compartment, use "CD-2" to coat the surfaces for a lasting shiney look.
Does anyone know what CD-2 is and where a person can purchase it?

97LT1

iTrader: (3)

Corrosive engine cleaners are bad for factory decals in the engine bay as well.
,be carefull

mc63

What does everyone use on all the black plastic and rubber hoses to make them look good?

Flawless02SS

iTrader: (9)

Autozone.........

MadIceV8

iTrader: (12)

Apply some good tire shine onto a foam pad and rub it in. Then take a dry cloth and wipe them off. Has worked great for me, dark black with a low gloss finish.

GotMoney?

TurboZ28

Should I worry about getting my opti-spark wet?

baddogz28

iTrader: (6)

No, read the thread pleeeeeeez.